Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – July 2024
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers continue to find red drum action by targeting docks along the ICW. In summertime fashion, these fish are scattered, and many times efforts will require a lot of moving around to locate the target species.
A few black drum are mixed in around these same ICW docks, and black drum can also be found near deeper oyster beds. Shrimp is the best bet for black drum.
The area is seeing a ton of big flounder being caught. The flatfish are everywhere and absolutely tearing up any live bait put on the bottom.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that water temperatures at 85+ degrees have fish starting to scatter into their summer patterns.
Trolling at the break for wahoo, tuna, and mahi will be spotty at best in the coming weeks.
The most consistent summertime action comes from bottomfish like vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and grouper species.
King mackerel are another summertime staple in the area, and they will best be located in the 65-90’ range.
Spanish mackerel are everywhere along the beaches. To best locate the spanish, stay closer to the inlet mouths or look for them feeding on schools of menhaden.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that there is a strong red drum bite going on in the area. The sizes are all over the place, with smalls, slots, and over-slots all cohabitating in similar areas. If anything, the larger reds in particular are mostly around the inlet. Live bait has been best, with menhaden present almost everywhere and mullet also now showing up. Anglers will find it best to fish presentations with the lightest weight possible around inshore structures such as docks or oysters.
Speckled trout are mixed in, though the trout action has mostly dwindled down at this point. Fishing areas of clean water on higher tides during low-light hours will offer the best chances of success.
A bunch of sheepshead are on the inside structures.
Nearshore anglers have been catching plenty of spanish mackerel out along the beach.
Fisher Nichols, Easton Deal, and Jack Frick, of North Myrtle Beach, found this wahoo in 175′ while fishing out of Little River using a bullet rig. They were fishing aboard the FV “Buddy Roe.”
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout fishing has held steady, with most action coming from live shrimp floated under a cork. Anglers will do best targeting areas around oyster rocks that have some good tidal flow.
The red drum bite has been consistent, with most fish staged up along the ICW. Target any casting efforts around docks and shallow flats along the bank. Most of these reds are being caught with cut menhaden or mullet on a Carolina rig.
The black drum bite has slowed, but a few fish are being hooked by anglers floating shrimp for trout.
Offshore runs are seeing the grouper bite (for the species still open) stay strong in the 100-200’ range. Both live and dead baits have been catching fish.
Gulf Stream runs are seeing pretty good numbers of mahi, blackfin tuna, and scattered wahoo while trolling ballyhoo. With warm water all over, look for the temperature breaks and flying fish to key in on a good starting location.
King mackerel have started to show strong. The most consistent action is in the 60-90’ range, with fish hitting live menhaden and dead cigar minnows.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that inshore anglers are catching a bunch of flounder with paddle tail soft plastics and Vudu shrimp.
Red drum have been scattered in small groups throughout the shallows in the area. Live mud minnows or cut mullet on Carolina rigs have done the trick in enticing bites.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel fishing has been pretty good, with #00 sized Clarkspoons behind #1 planers consistently being the top producing setup.
Anglers pushing off the beach are finding strong bottom fish action in the 150-200’ area. Cut squid or cigar minnows are generating strikes from a variety of species.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that bottom fishing offshore has been really good in the 180-200’ area. Anglers have been catching scamp grouper, as well as a handful of exotics such as yellowtail snapper, African pompano, and mutton snapper. These exotics are in addition to the more common variety of bottom species, such as triggerfish and vermilion snapper.
The area is seeing a handful of smaller dolphin (4-6 lbs.) pop up around the boat while bottom fishing.
Gulf Stream trolling is producing dolphin, tuna, and some small wahoo. With all the warm water around, the blue water trolling action will remain scattered for some time.
Closer to the beach, a few cobia are still hanging around the nearshore reefs. Structure in the 55-90’ range will also be holding large amberjacks (40+ lbs.) and some king mackerel.
Ray Waldrop, of Southern Pines, NC, caught this 28″, 13 lb. sheepshead in the waterway behind Holden Beach using a fiddler crab.
Teresa, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that surf anglers have been hooking croakers, spot, and a bunch of small sharks (especially at night).
Nearshore anglers have been catching decent numbers of spanish mackerel, with the majority of the action right on the beach.
King mackerel have mostly been holding further out.
Inshore anglers have had success finding red drum in the ICW and out towards the river.
Scott, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing whiting and a couple croakers.
Anglers fishing during the low light hours have been catching speckled trout using live shrimp.
The pier also had a king mackerel (45 lbs.) caught recently.
