Ocean Isle December 15, 2011
Amy McMullan and Zach Faulkner with a wahoo that bit a live spanish sardine 80' deep on the downrigger while they were fishing off Ocean Isle with Capt. Brant McMullan on the "Team OIFC" out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite is hot out around Frying Pan Tower right now. Anglers should be able to find the kings all winter long wherever they can find water temperatures in the upper-60’s and bait concentrations. Drone spoons and cigar minnows on dead bait rigs will produce plenty of action when anglers find the fish.
Gag grouper are feeding on bottom structure in around 100’ of water, and anglers have two weeks left to put a few in the cooler before the shallow water grouper season closes January 1. Live baits like pinfish and menhaden are the best bets for the grouper if anglers can find them, but dead and cut baits will produce, too.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream over the winter should be able to find some action with wahoo. Large ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored trolling lures are top choices for the wahoo.
Inshore, the speckled trout and red drum bite has been solid up the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers. Soft plastic baits on jigheads are getting plenty of attention from both.
Anglers are eager to see if the giant bluefin tuna will make a showing around Frying Pan Shoals this year. Looking for bird and bait activity in around 60’ of water is the way to find them if they make it this far south. Once anglers locate the tuna, trolling horse ballyhoo both on top and deep behind planers is the way to get them to bite.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has been solid around Frying Pan Tower recently, and it should continue as long as water temperatures in the area remain in the upper-60’s. Trolling dead cigar minnows will generally produce fast action when anglers can find the kings in wintertime.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna will be feeding along the break all winter long, as long as the Gulf Stream keeps warm water over the ledge. Trolling ballyhoo under dark-skirted lures or high-speed baitless lures will tempt them to bite.
Tyler Hailey, of East Bend, NC, with an inshore slam (including a 21" speckled trout, a 24" puppy drum, and an 18" flounder) he hooked from a dock on the Lockwood Folly River while fishing with live finger mullet.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the speckled trout action in the area has been excellent lately, and it should hold up for a while. Anglers are finding the fish all over, from Southport on down to Little River. The canals, creeks, and structure like docks and bridges are producing most of the action. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but they’re also getting tough to find. Anglers can also cast artificials like Billy Bay Shrimp, MirrOlures, and Gulp baits with success.
The area’s red drum are in the process of grouping up into large schools and moving to the shallow backwaters where they’ll overwinter. Anglers with shallow draft boats can find the schools feeding in shallow water (often under 2’ deep) all winter long, and they can cast mud minnows, chunks of crab, or Gulp baits to the fish to hook up.
