Ocean Isle – June 22, 2017
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that live shrimp rigged under popping corks has produced many double digit days on speckled trout. Targeting creek mouths and marsh points on the falling tide has led anglers to the most success.
Redfish are feeding on live pogies in the creeks and in the waterway. Rigging the baits on Carolina rigs and working them around oyster structure and docks has produced many over-slot reds when the tide is coming in.
Flounder have also been feeding well and have ranged from 1-4 lbs. Working white and chartreuse Gulp shrimp off the bottom (or live shrimp under floats) has put limits of flatfish in the boat. Black drum have also been mixed in with the flounder, and most fish have been between 10-17”.
Derek, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that nearshore in the 1-3 mile range, spanish have been hitting Clarkspoons on #1 planers. Fishing around bait pods has also produced some great shark action. Fresh cut bait and bluefish works great for shark bait, but if you can find large croakers, that has been the top producer.
Anywhere between 3-20 miles out, small kings in the 6-10 lb. range have been feeding. Trolling cigar minnows or light lining live menhaden has been the best bet for the kings. A few cobia have been seen near bait pods around the 3-5 mile mark.
Bottom fishing out to 20 miles has slowed down, with mostly smaller black sea bass and dogfish around and willing to take cut bait.
Out to the 30-40 mile range, kings around the 10 lb. mark and dolphin ranging from peanuts to 15 lbs. have been feeding in 90′ of water.
Fishing the bottom 50 miles out has been productive with large black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and limits of gag grouper. Cut squid has been the bait of choice for the bottom fish.
Jacob, of J & J Charters, reports that speckled trout have provided the most action in the waterway and area marshes. Anglers floating live shrimp around docks have landed keeper-sized fish, as well as a few citations.
Red drum have moved in around area docks and have been willing to eat a live shrimp, too.
Targeting black drum has also kept anglers busy. Casting live shrimp on Carolina rigs around deep holes near docks and oyster structure has been the best way to put some keeper black drum in the cooler.
Teresa Maness, of Sanford, NC, with two citation class speckled trout near Calabash, NC. The largest fish weighed 6.15 pounds at 25″ the other weighed 5.15 at 23″. The fish fell for live pogies.
Shane, of Fin-Fisher Charter Service, reports that the speckled trout bite remains hot, and live shrimp has been the key to success. Targeting 6-9′ of water around mud and oyster banks has produced the best numbers of fish. Most trout have been between 2-4 lbs., but many 5-7 lb. fish have been landed also.
Anglers looking for redfish are having the most luck using cut pogies on Carolina rigs. Most fish have been holding around docks in the waterway and have been between 18-21”.
Flounder have also been feeding well, and on many days anglers are bringing double digits back to the dock. Pogies have been the way to go, unless you can find some larger finger mullet. Most of the flatfish have been hooked in 3-5′ of water.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that catching spanish while trolling Clarkspoons has kept anglers busy just off the beach. Sharks have also been feeding nearshore, and using a fresh spanish for cut bait has been the key to non-stop shark action.
Out to the 20 mile range, kings are feeding well on trolled cigar minnows. Most kings have been in the 10-15 lb. range. Out around 40-50 miles, dropping live cigar minnows has produced good numbers of grouper. Small beeliners and snappers are also willing to take cut bait dropped to the bottom.
Cecil, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that many anglers are having double digit days on flounder. While most fish are short of the legal limit, some keepers have been in the mix. Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs have been the best bet for the flatfish.
Out in the surf zone, whiting and pompano have been hitting on fresh shrimp and sand fleas. Red drum have also been in the surf, and live pogies have worked best when anglers can find them. When they can’t, cut bait can do the job.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that live shrimp and menhaden rigged under a popping cork have been doing the trick for the speckled trout. Most fish have been in the 1-2 lb. range, but many fish pushing the 5 lb. mark have been landed. Black drum have been mixed in with the trout, and they are willing to take live shrimp, too.
Flounder in the 14-16” range have been landed, and anglers are boating a few each day. Most fish have been landed on mud minnows on a Carolina rig, but menhaden has been the better bait when anglers can find them.
Targeting docks in the waterway has provided plenty of redfish action. Most fish have been in the 17-20” range and fallen for live mud minnows on Carolina rigs. Some larger reds, in the 27-31” range, are feeding around the Little River jetty and are willing to take live or cut menhaden fished on the bottom.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers tossing live shrimp from the pier are being rewarded with limits of keeper speckled trout. While fishing for the trout, many are also hooking into black drum.
Pompano and whiting are feeding in the surf zone, and anglers dropping fresh shrimp to the bottom are putting fish in the cooler.
