Ocean Isle August 9, 2012
Brandon and Justin Blake, of Albermarle, NC, with 17", 18", and a 28", 9.5 lb. flounder they hooked in the Lockwood Folly River.
Barrett, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the nearshore flounder bite is hot right now. The best action is at wrecks in 40’ and shallower, with many anglers putting together limits (of fish from 17-23”). Live finger mullet are producing most of the flatfish action.
Spanish mackerel continue to feed around schools of menhaden in around 30’, and anglers are hooking good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons around the bait. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in.
The king mackerel bite is still going strong, with good action in the 65’ depths and some large fish in as shallow as 50’ over the past week. Live baits like menhaden and cigar minnows are the best bet for the biggest kings, but dead cigar minnows will also produce results.
Dolphin have been mixed in with the mackerel at spots in 65-80’, and they’ll also respond well to live or dead baits. A few sailfish and cobia have been in the mix as well.
Bottom fishermen are reporting plenty of action with gag and scamp grouper around structure in the 100’ range. Live baits are the best bets for the larger grouper.
Blue water trollers got in on the first of the fall wahoo run over the past week, with action in around 150’ of water on the break. Both ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures and high-speed baitless lures will attract attention from the wahoo.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are connecting with some dolphin and wahoo, with the best fishing out past the break last week. Both naked and skirted ballyhoo are fooling the blue water predators.
Bottom fishing in the 100-120’ depths has been very productive lately. Live baits are fooling the majority of the big fish and attracting attention from gag and scamp grouper, African pompano, and amberjacks. Black sea bass and beeliners are feeding in the same areas, and they will fall for cut baits or squid.
There’s still a decent king mackerel bite in spots from 65’ of water out towards the break, and a few dolphin are mixed in. Both live baits and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings.
Joe Smith, of Ash, NC, with an upper-slot red drum he hooked in the ICW near Shallotte Inlet.
The spanish mackerel bite is still going strong along the beaches, with most of the fish falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Large sharks are feeding in the same areas and will take a hearty interest in cut baits.
Flounder fishing at the nearshore AR’s and other structure has also been hot lately, with most of the fish falling for live finger mullet and menhaden. Larger baits are helping anglers weed out the smaller flounder and other undesirable fish at the AR’s.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that there’s been good action with speckled trout and red drum around the Little River jetties over the past week. Drifting live shrimp on float rigs down the rocks is attracting attention from both fish.
Flounder are also feeding in the inlet, and drifting live menhaden along the bottom is tempting bites from the flatfish and some more reds.
The flounder bite is going strong at the nearshore wrecks, where limit catches were common over the past week. Both menhaden and finger mullet have been producing results on the flatfish in the ocean.
Back in the creeks, anglers are finding action with red and black drum around oyster rocks. Live shrimp on jigheads are tempting bites from both.
Dave, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and pompano.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and taking an interest in live finger mullet and mud minnows.
