Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – March 2022
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that black drum action has been steady for anglers looking to get out and enjoy the water.
Speckled trout are in the area, though the bite has been hit or miss most of the winter. A slight uptick in inshore water temperatures should entice some of these trout to move out of their back-channel holes and feed a little more actively.
Red drum action is largely spotty, with wintertime patterns of large schools in either a feast or famine mindset on any given day.
Signs of spring are becoming more common each day, especially with the arrival of bait inshore. It is only a matter of time before stable weather over a span of a couple of weeks will fire everything off.
Charles Johnson (left) and Andrew Demas hooked this wahoo on a ballyhoo offshore of Ocean Isle. They were fishing with Capt. Anthony Whitford of Salt Fever Guide Service.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that trolling action in the Gulf Stream has already begun to fire up. Anglers are seeing strong catches of blackfin tuna and large wahoo from the 100/400 area down past Winyah Scarp. Recently, pulling smaller ballyhoo has been the key to strikes in the area.
Snapper and grouper remain closed, but bottom fishing anglers are finding plenty of great eating triggerfish in the 100-150’ depth range.
Large black sea bass have been plentiful in the shallower 70-90’ range.
There hasn’t been a lot going on within the 20-mile range with water temperatures being so cool. Over the next few weeks, temperatures pushing into the 60s will see this area come back to life. Atlantic bonito show up around this time starting in the 40’+ range. On calm days, anglers can target them by finding surface-breaking schools under birds.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that anglers are glad to be moving away from the tedious wintertime fishery which has been filled with cold water temperatures and sluggish fish.
Anglers have been having the most success getting out on warmer afternoons that coincide with a low tide cycle. Look for deeper pockets in shallower creeks for action from speckled trout and redfish.
Anglers targeting docks with cut shrimp along the ICW during lower tides are catching a few black drum.
As water temperatures warm up, the patterns of trout and red drum go back to where they would usually be in the late fall months. Trout will be pushed up against deeper grass banks, while redfish move tight up against rocks around the jetty. Slowly working soft plastics on lightweight (3/16 oz.) jig heads will provide most action until more bait pushes into the area.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers have found the redfish action to be strong in the shallower creeks on warm, sunny days. These schools have been striking at a variety of artificial lures or mud minnows rigged on jig heads. Over the next few weeks, anglers will continue to find these 15-30” class reds in their bigger winter schools until water temperatures rise.
Black drum fishing has been decent, with most fish coming off dead shrimp fished around deeper docks near the inlet. Lower tide cycles have been best for this 13-16” class of drum.
Speckled trout fishing has been slow this winter, with the few fish being caught by anglers fishing soft plastics extremely slow. Anglers anticipate this changing, though, as water temperatures push up in the coming weeks.
Offshore bottom fishing has been really good in the 100-200’ range. Bait-tipped chicken rigs are producing a mixed bag of yelloweye snappers, beeliners, hambone snappers, pink snappers, and triggerfish.
Anglers making the run to troll the Gulf Stream are finding good action on blackfin tuna and wahoo. A mix of skirted ballyhoo, hard lures, and high-speed tactics all are producing strikes.
Jonathon, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that bottom fishing has been strong all winter, with the bite not shutting down throughout the colder months. Anglers can find plenty of good-sized black sea bass in close, with triggerfish and vermilion snapper out on deeper structures in 90’+.
Gulf Stream efforts are producing a few large wahoo. Over the next few weeks, the wahoo and bottom bite gets even better as a result of more weather windows opening up to make the long run.
Bill Bostick, of Belmont, caught this 7 lb. 10 oz. gray triggerfish using squid while he was fishing about 40 miles off of Holden Beach.
Boomer, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream trolling trips are producing great right now for anglers looking to make the run. Targeting times around the full and new moon cycles has been even better for focusing in on the high level of wahoo activity offshore. Multiple wahoo trips haven’t been uncommon, with most of these early season fish being a larger class (45-60 lbs.) and up to 100+ lbs. being possible.
Using high-speed trolling tactics has been really effective, with anglers finding it best to be prepared to also pull ballyhoo if needed.
Anglers have found a few schoolie-sized yellowfin tuna (20 lb. range) on recent trips. Hopefully, this is a sign that the yellowfin will make a run through the area as in past seasons.
A few sailfish are also mixed in with the trolling action.
Around the end of the month into April, it’s a possibility to start seeing the first few mahi of the year trickling into the counts.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that speckled trout fishing has been good for anglers working areas along the ICW up into the river, and they’re mostly using Vudu shrimp under popping corks and MirrOlures.
Some red drum are also being caught on the inside, as anglers scout the area for the tight-knit groups of wintering reds.
Surf fishing has started producing a few whiting and scattered black drum.
Both nearshore and inshore structures will be holding black drum with sheepshead mixed in.
A few bluefish are being found in the area, which is a great sign that spring fishing is on its way.
