Ocean Isle Winter 2010-2011
Michael Ward with a wahoo he hooked near dusk while overnighting at the Steeples aboard the "Black Flag." The 'hoo fell for a ballyhoo behind blue/Mylar Blue Water Candy Jag.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that bottom fishing at structure east of the shoals has produced some good red grouper action lately, with the best bite in around 120’ of water.
Gag grouper have been feeding in around 80’ on the west side of the shoals, and both are falling for cut baits. The grouper action should remain relatively consistent until the fishery closes on January 1.
Gulf Stream trollers are still finding some wahoo action, and rigged ballyhoo and large trolling plugs are fooling the fish. The blue water bite should be good all winter as long as warm water stays over the break.
King mackerel fishing has been solid around Frying Pan Tower lately, where the fish are schooling up around temperature breaks and bait. Dead cigar minnows are highly effective kingfish baits in the wintertime, and the kings will bite all winter (as long as 65+ degree water doesn’t push too far offshore).
It’s time for bluefin tuna to show up in the area, and anglers are eagerly waiting to see if the 200-500 lb. giants make an appearance at Frying Pan Shoals this winter.
Brandon Sauls and Clay Morphis with 9.0 and 8.5 lb. speckled trout that they teamed up with a 6.2 lb. fish to handily take first place in the Ocean Isle Fishing Center Thanksgiving Inshore Classic. All their fish fell for live shrimp near Little River.
Inshore, anglers are hooking up with decent numbers of keeper speckled trout in the Lockwood Folly River. Soft plastic grubs are attracting attention from the specks.
There’s been a decent red drum bite up some of the area creeks recently, and soft plastics are fooling the reds, too.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are holding out hope for good wahoo fishing this coming winter. As long as mid to upper 70’s water temperatures are over the local break, the fishing should be excellent, and anglers can pick up some straggler ‘hoos in temperatures down to 70-72 degrees. Trolling ballyhoo rigged under dark-hued lures and high-speed trolling with standalone lures will both fool the ‘hoos.
King mackerel fishing will stay good as long as the water holds up near 70 degrees at spots that boats can easily run to. Hard temperature breaks should produce a wide-open king bite, and frozen cigar minnows should prove plenty tempting once anglers find the fish.
Black sea bass ought to provide winter bottom fishermen with plenty of action and tasty fillets, and anglers can find them at structure in 40-60’ of water until it gets truly cold, when the best fishing will be in 60-100’. The largest bass are generally in the deeper water. Squid and cut baits on bottom rigs will attract plenty of attention from the bass.
Several bluefin tuna have been landed in Morehead City already, so anglers are waiting to see whether the fish will make an appearance on Frying Pan Shoals and at local spots like the Horseshoe this winter.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the speckled trout bite is still on at local spots like the Little River jetties, Sunset Beach Bridge, Shallotte Inlet, and Shallotte River (with plenty of spikes but also decent numbers of keeper fish to 3 lbs.). Anglers are reporting a body of slightly larger fish to the east around Lockwood Folly Inlet and River. Live mud minnows are producing most of the action, but anglers can also hook up with specks on soft plastics and hard baits like MirrOlures.
Lindsay Gardner with a 25 lb. king mackerel she hooked on a live bait at the Horseshoe while fishing out of Holden Beach with Capt. Patrick Bryant of Twister Charters.
Some drum are hanging around the same spots as the specks, and the reds are also beginning to school up in the shallow water of area creeks and flats. They’ll take an interest in mud minnows or the same artificials the trout will.
Also mixed in at the Little River jetties are good numbers of black drum (to 10 lbs.) and sheepshead. Live shrimp will tempt plenty of bites from both when anglers can get them.
