Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – May 2023
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that red drum action has been picking up, with anglers finding a good class of upper-slot fish (25-27”) moving around with the warmer water temperatures. Of course, there are plenty of under-slot reds as well, but the good news is the cold weather schools have now broken up and are spread out along the ICW and docks. This requires anglers to move around from spot to spot after catching a fish or two, but then they are able to work back and have success at these same spots later in the day.
Black drum are staged up along the ICW, with deeper docks or oyster structure with deep water nearby being the top target areas.
Off the beach, anglers have found really good numbers of both spanish mackerel and Atlantic bonito.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers headed out to the Gulf Stream are finding chunky blackfin tuna, scattered yellowfin, wahoo, and dolphin. Targeting these species all together will be productive through May.
For grouper, anglers will do best targeting structures out in the 80-150’ area. It’s hard to beat a live bait, but there will be plenty of fish caught with a variety of vertical jigs.
Spanish mackerel have started to move in and will fill the void once the bonito head out. The spanish mackerel bite in the area will stay strong well into June.
The schools of menhaden have started showing up along the beachfront. This helps increase nearshore activity from the spanish mackerel, but also king mackerel, cobia, and tarpon.
Chris M., of Virginia, with a 25″ red drum caught on a mud minnow while fishing a shell bank in the Sunset Beach area. He was fishing with Capt. Tim Disano of Tideline Charters.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that red drum has been the top target as they become more active with warmer waters. With dirty water around, cut baits with scent have been the best bet for producing strikes.
Speckled trout action has started to slow down as they spread out after moving out of their holes back in the creeks.
Black drum have been really cooperative for anglers targeting structures such as docks or oysters in the bigger creeks. Look for structure in that 5-8’ depth range to be good starting points.
Out on the beaches, anglers have enjoyed the opportunity to sight cast at schools of Atlantic bonito. These schools have been out in the 2-3 mile range, but these fish move a bunch as they migrate through, and subsequently you can find them anywhere from the inlet out to 5 miles.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers have started to see the speckled trout action slowing down, but the quality of size has made up for it as many are 20”+, with citation fish mixed in. Anglers will start to find these trout in the bigger waterways such as the Shallotte River, the ICW, and around the Little River jetties. Floating a live shrimp will be the best setup for any of these areas.
Drum fishing has been solid for both black drum and red drum. Both species have been staged up under docks and feeding on shrimp and softshell crabs. The best docks to target are ones with deeper nearby oyster structure, and the rising tide cycles have seemed to out produce other times.
King mackerel are starting to bite better as they are now moving into the 65’ depth range. For targeting kings, anglers will have better success trolling dead cigar minnows.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that good-sized blackfin tuna and wahoo are making up most of the current action, but the mahi are just starting to arrive. Many anglers have their own favorites, but any variety of ballyhoo-rigged Sea Witches or Islanders, as well as deep diver plugs or cedar plugs, will entice strikes.
Spanish mackerel action is starting to heat up off the beach. The go-to setup will remain a Clarkspoon fished behind a #1 planer.
Inshore anglers will be focused on the speckled trout action in both the rivers and along the ICW. With water temperatures warming, MirrOlures, soft plastic paddle tails, and live shrimp will all produce action.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that wahoo fishing has been really good.
Blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and the occasional sailfish are all mixed in with the trolling action.
There are some early season mahi showing up, with some nice-sized fish (to 20+ lbs.) around.
Anglers looking to load up on some meat are finding the bottom fishing action to remain strong, with vermilion snapper, large black sea bass, and triggerfish all part of the mixed bag.
May also sees the opening of grouper season, which will offer a better variety of catches from these 80-220’ bottom areas.
JP Lexa, Logan Lexa, Patrick Kranick, and Aidan Kranick, all of Holden Beach, with a wahoo caught on a ballyhoo. They were fishing at the Steeples.
Stuart, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers fishing nearshore are enjoying some action from the bluefish and spanish mackerel that have moved into areas from the beachfront out to three miles. Both casting and trolling has been producing strikes.
Surf anglers are catching better numbers of whiting, with the more stable weather patterns allowing for more fish to settle in along the beaches.
In the backwaters, there have been some nice-sized red drum, though anglers are finding these fish being tough to get to bite.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing a few black drum and some good-sized whiting.
Anglers are finding their Gotcha plugs starting to get some good usage, with schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel being seen more often.
