Ocean Isle August 9, 2007
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the wahoo bite has been solid all along the break over the past week. Most of the fish are in the 20-30 lb. range, but there have been a few larger fish (up 50+ lbs.) caught as well. Skirted ballyhoo, especially in dark colors, are top wahoo producers.
Boats are sighting and hooking some sailfish from the 80’ depths offshore to the break. The sails should take an interest in live baits or rigged ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with grouper (mostly reds and scamps) and snapper while fishing in around 100’ of water. Some gags are feeding a bit closer to the beach in the 70-80’ depths. The bottom fish will strike a variety of baits and lures, but live baits (such as pogies) are top choices for the bigger fish.
Some kings are feeding around structure in the 60’ areas, but the largest numbers of fish are out in 80-100’ of water right now.
A few large kings (25+ lbs.) are feeing on schools of spanish mackerel in 40-60’ depths.
Pogies have returned to the area in good numbers, and Sunset Beach is a good place to begin searching for them.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder are still feeding well in the area. The hot water seems to have slowed the flatfish bite down in the rivers, but anglers are hooking up with good numbers while drifting Tubbs and Little River Inlets. The fish are feeding well round the nearshore reefs, too.
Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are the tickets to flounder bites, and most of the fish that anglers are landing are solid keepers (from 2-5 lbs.).
Red drum (from puppies up to slot sized fish) are chasing bait beneath docks in the ICW. There are also some larger, over-slot fish feeding around the Little River jetties. Carolina-rigged finger mullet are as effective on drum as they are on flounder.
A few trout are falling for finger mullet beneath the ICW docks as well.
Gray trout are schooled up along with flounder at the nearshore reefs. Anglers should catch a few on live finger mullet while flounder fishing, but those who want to specifically target the trout should try vertically jigging spoons over the structure.
Big spanish mackerel (3-4 lbs.) are chasing bait on the shoals of Little River Inlet. Live baits will tempt these fish to strike, but anglers can also hook plenty by casting X-Raps or other lures to the breaking schools. The spanish fishing should only get better as the summer wears on into fall.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers fishing with live shrimp are hooking speckled trout and flounder in the morning hours.
Bottom fishermen are decking sharks and whiting at night on cut shrimp.
The water temperature is 79 degrees.
