Ocean Isle – August 6, 2015
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking good numbers of flounder around Ocean Isle. A typical summer bite is developing around the area’s ICW docks, and last week’s high tides made for some solid action near the structures. The usual spots like Tubbs Inlet continue to produce some fish as well. Live finger mullet are producing most of the action with the flounder.
Some large flatfish are feeding on nearshore reefs in the ocean, but timing the bite has been a bit tricky recently. Live baits are the way to go when the fish are feeding in the ocean as well.
Spanish mackerel action has picked back up a bit along the beachfront. Anglers are fooling the spaniards while trolling shiny lures like Clarkspoons. Some larger spanish are chasing finger mullet around the inlets and even the ICW on higher tides. They’ll bite topwater plugs or live baits free-lined on the surface.
Black drum are looking for meals around docks and other structure inshore. Anglers are tempting the drum to bite live and cut shrimp. A few reds have been in the same areas and falling for the same baits.
Speckled trout are still feeding along shell and grass banks off the ICW, but many of the big fish seem to have moved toward the inlets and ocean. Live shrimp are the way to go for the specks. There’s likely a solid bite with the larger fish along with some red drum at the Little River jetties, but the weather hasn’t allowed anglers to fish in the inlet much over the past week.
Emma Humphries, of Raleigh, with a healthy speckled trout that inhaled a live finger mullet in Tubbs Inlet while she was fishing with Capt. Jeff Williamson of Get Busy Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still seeing some spanish mackerel action along the local beachfront, but it’s been spotty of late. When anglers find the fish, they’re biting Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo sinkers.
Plenty of sharks are feeding just off the beachfront as well and will pounce on live or cut baits drifted behind the boat.
King mackerel action has slowed down recently, but there are still a few feeding at spots in 50-100’ of water offshore. Anglers chasing the kings can fool them with live or dead baits.
Offshore bottom fishermen saw a good vermillion snapper bite during last week’s full moon.
Nate Snyder, of IN, and Ryan Felts, of OH, with 28″ and 26″ red drum they hooked on live menhaden while fishing in Tubbs Inlet on the “Zbreeze.”
Tyson, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder in the early morning hours. Most are biting live baits fished under the pier.
Some sheepshead are taking an interest in sand fleas and barnacles fished alongside the pilings.
Bluefish are biting bottom rigs along with casting lures like Gotcha plugs.
