Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – December 2022
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the speckled trout action has finally started to pick up in the area. Anglers are finding some of the bigger trout out in more open water and not quite pushing back into the creeks just yet. Both live shrimp and swimbaits, such as Saltwater Assassin in root beer or pink color patterns, are having success when targeting these deeper, main channel areas.
There are fish moving into the creeks down around Holden, but most of these schools have been a smaller (12-15”) class of fish.
The best bites in any area have been during the middle of a rising tide cycle, with water movement being key.
Anglers choosing the tactic of drifting live shrimp under corks are also finding black drum mixed in action.
Emily Bourbeau, of Bolivia, caught this redfish using a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig in the Lockwood Folly River.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that king mackerel fishing should continue to be good in the 60-100’ range (anywhere you can find water temperatures hovering at or just above that 70-degree mark). Slow-trolling dead cigar minnows can make for some nice strikes, if you can find these pockets of fish.
In the Gulf Stream, wahoo fishing is exceptional during the winter months. Water temperature is key as well with this fishery, and 70-degree water along the break is a prime place to find the wahoo. In addition, there will be plenty of blackfin tuna in these same areas.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that with the weather taking a little longer than normal to cool off, the speckled trout action is just finally starting to really pick up. Live bait in the area has been becoming harder to find, and this has made artificial baits the tactic of choice. Lighter (3/16 oz.) jig heads and soft plastic paddle tails have been working really well. On days the water is clean, anglers are having success with brighter color patterns, with darker baits working better in dirty water.
Trout schools are still holding in good current areas for now, but moving into winter, they school up tighter and move into either deep holes or the shallow backs of creeks. Working baits slowly will become more important for enticing strikes. Smaller MirrOlures such as the MR-17 are great for deploying this tactic, with color patterns following the same clean water/dark water rule.
Inshore redfish are mixed in the bite, and they typically follow a similar pattern to the trout.
Anglers can find most of the inshore species hanging around the jetties throughout the winter, with extra focus on the lower ends of the tides being a productive move.
Black drum are being caught by fishing around structure such as deeper docks and bridges.
John Snead, of Harnett County, caught (and released) this 6 lb. flounder using a mullet minnow in the Ocean Isle ICW.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are finding the speckled trout action to be absolutely on fire. There are plenty of fish in the 12-18” range feeding on live shrimp rigged under a cork. The top producing areas to target have been around the jetties or on inshore structures such as oyster rocks and shell banks. Tide cycles have not mattered much, as long as the water is moving.
The redfish bite has also been strong, but most fish have been in the smaller (16-20”) range. Live shrimp has produced most of these reds as well.
Black drum fishing has been steady for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged fresh dead shrimp around docks and deeper creek holes.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been really good over live bottom areas holding 68 degree water temperatures. Most of these kings are in 80’+ depths out towards the Frying Pan Tower area.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of black drum and sheepshead while casting bottom-rigged sand fleas or shrimp around oyster banks.
Speckled trout fishing has been getting really good in both the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte rivers. Anglers are having success fishing a variety of 4” Gulp baits, Saltwater Assassin baits, and D.O.A. shrimp under popping corks.
Anglers looking to get offshore have been watching for favorable weather windows, which recently are far between. When conditions come together, they are finding wahoo and larger blackfin tuna, both of which will provide good action into the colder months.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that offshore anglers have been having some great success finding wahoo and blackfin tuna when catching a window to make the long run. Both high-speed trolling and slower meat spreads are producing strikes, with the latter being more productive for the tunas. The action on both species only gets better as the water cools a little more and we move into a different moon cycle.
Bottom fishing has been strong and will remain a good option throughout the coming winter months.
Some bluefin tuna have already started to move into the area. Properly rigged anglers are looking forward to the season opening for a great opportunity to hook into one of these giant fish.
Todd Lewis (right), of Rigged & Ready Fishing Center, and his son, Timothy Lewis, caught these speckled trout using live shrimp in the Holden Beach area.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers fishing along the ICW have been finding a steady speckled trout bite. A wide variety of baits are bringing success, from paddle tail soft plastics and Vudu shrimp to MirrOlures and live shrimp or mud minnows.
Fishing around structure and deeper holes has produced sheepshead and black drum.
Surf anglers have been showing off some good-sized whiting that have been moving through the area. A few bluefish are also mixed in the surf fishing action.
Anglers looking to run off the beach have been finding really great black sea bass action while targeting the nearshore ARs and structured bottoms.
Rob, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a fair amount of the 14-16” class of whiting.
A few smaller speckled trout and a throwback flounder or two have also been landed.
A bunch of pufferfish started showing up for anglers fishing shrimp or bait strips on bottom rigs.
