Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – April 2022
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that big Virginia mullet have shown up in good numbers for anglers fishing deep holes around the river mouth.
Keeper-sized black drum have moved in alongside them, and bottom fishing with shrimp has been productive for both species.
Both red drum and trout showed up in waterways around the inlets almost overnight. With water temperatures rising, it shouldn’t be any time before more bait moves inshore and spring fishing is off to the races.
Dr. Glenn and Dr. Melissa Bonin, of Charlotte, caught this speckled trout on a purple Saltwater Assassin near Ocean Isle. They were fishing with Capt. Jeff Williamson of Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that spring weather finally arrived, and anglers getting out on the water were flustered by finding species in hard-to-predict transitions to warmer water patterns.
April sees action turn on starting with the bluewater trolling action. Wahoo, blackfin tuna, yellowfin, and even the first few mahi all start picking up this month. Trolling ballyhoo around the 30 fathom curve is the most common and effective method for producing some strikes this time of year.
Nearshore anglers will start to see spanish mackerel and even a few kings beginning to show up as more bait moves into the area. Look for these first kings to be staged out over structure in the 50-80’ range.
Spanish mackerel will push onto the beachfronts, particularly around schools of bait.
Bottom fishing for the larger black sea bass, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper will stay strong for anglers targeting structures in the 80-100’ range.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that the inconsistent spring weather transitions may be a drag, but fishing action has been picking up in recent weeks with water temperatures rising. Both red drum and speckled trout are still schooled pretty tightly as they were all winter. Now these fish are moving off the shallows and the backs of creeks on out onto deeper banks closer to the inlets and along the ICW.
Anglers fishing the ICW will have most success while targeting the deeper grass and shell banks. Live bait can be hard to come by but will produce the best action in these early spring months. Vudu shrimp worked both slowly along the bottom and under a popping cork has also produced some strikes from both red drum and trout.
Black drum remain staged around inshore docks, with the lower tide cycles being the best time to target them.
Stable weather patterns will help with cleaning up the water a bit and allow these fish to finish their transitions as more bait starts arriving inshore.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that speckled trout action inshore has been steady, with plenty of fish in the 14-18” range hitting live shrimp under slip corks. Target these fish along shell banks in the ICW and up into the large feeder creeks. In either location, good current is key.
Redfish (16-25” range) are holding in these same areas, mostly in areas of oyster rocks and shells.
Black drum are hitting Carolina-rigged dead shrimp around deeper docks. The lower tide cycles have seemed best in gathering the fish together.
Offshore anglers are finding king mackerel while trolling Drone spoons or cigar minnows in areas where water temperatures are over 67 degrees. Recently this has been the 85-120’ range.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing is on fire right now in the Gulf Stream. Anglers are having success in looking at surface temperature charts and targeting the hardest temperature changes in 150-180’ of water. Skirted ballyhoo ran at the 7-knot speed has been the top setup.
Boomer, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that offshore anglers have been finding some great wahoo action out on the break. Areas from the Same Ol’ all the way down into South Carolina have been holding fish in the 160-250’ range. Recent trips have found natural baits, both ballyhoo and split-tailed mullet, to be producing best.
Blackfin tuna have been around in good numbers all winter, and the action should stay strong through the month.
Some schoolie-sized yellowfin tuna (to 20 lbs.) have been caught, though anglers can still just hope to see a run similar to years past.
Dolphin could be showing up down south by the end of the month. Look to southern reports for signs that the migration of fish are pushing into our area.
Deep dropping trips have produced some large swordfish (to 275 lbs.).
Anglers looking to do some bottom fishing have found excellent beeliner action. Triggerfish are also mixed in at these same structured areas.
Nearshore anglers are starting to see bait moving onto the beaches. With them have come the first signs of bluefish schools, and not far behind will be spanish mackerel.
Jeff Hanes hooked this 6 lb. speckled trout on a live shrimp off a grass bank along the Sunset Beach ICW. He was fishing with Capt. Tim Disano of Tideline Charters.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers are catching a lot of whiting from the ICW out into the surf.
Black drum and scattered sheepshead are also holding in these same areas. They’re feeding on cut shrimp or crabs.
The first few bluefish of the year have started to show up in the surf, and this is a great sign that spring fishing is at the doorstep.
Inshore anglers have found red drum starting to move out into the ICW. This pattern will continue over the next month as they break out of their larger wintertime schools.
A few speckled trout are being caught on ICW ledges closer to the inlet.
Nearshore fishing has been producing black sea bass at the reefs in the 3-15 mile range.
Robert, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that whiting have started to show up in good numbers, with a few pufferfish mixed in. Anglers have been having the most success fishing with shrimp and Fish Gum artificial bait strips.
Some larger rays are mixed in to give anglers a little more drag-pulling action.
