Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – October 2022
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder season was nothing short of phenomenal, as anglers easily filled their solo limit with one of the nice-sized fish that were staged up around inshore structure. Docks held quite a few fish, as did the grass lines and creek mouths where bait was pushing through the area. Live mullet was simply the top producing bait, with anglers also finding success casting Vudu shrimp.
These bottom-rigged mullet have also been producing red drum in many of the areas holding bait, and fishing near structure with shrimp has been hooking some black drum.
Moving into October, anglers have their eyes fixed off the beach for the run of king mackerel that should be pushing their way in.
There is usually a push of the bull red drum. Look at deeper nearshore holes and around the inlets.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers getting offshore along the edge of the break are starting to see some wahoo around, and this bite will be excellent over the next couple months.
Grouper fishing will typically be best in the shallower, 70-90’ range, as they push in with cooler waters.
The big news will be king mackerel action moving within sight of land. Fall is the time for big kings in North Carolina, with the fish schooled up anywhere from the 10’ depths on the beachfront out to 50’. Action will follow the concentrations of bait in the area, and anglers focusing on live bait fishing will typically have the most success.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that there was some great flounder fishing during this past month. Live bait has been the key, with many times anglers finding that the larger baits equaled the larger flatfish. These fish were being found both inshore in good numbers and at the nearshore reefs when calm conditions allowed for a run outside.
There is a nice-sized class of red drum (28-31”) moving through the ICW and around the rocks at Little River Inlet. With so much bait around, don’t expect this bite to slow down anytime soon.
Speckled trout are around, but most are only being caught during the really early morning high tides (with slightly cooler water temperatures) or at sundown.
Getting off the beach, anglers are finding spanish mackerel. The bite is a little slower, but cooler water should bring a new wave of larger fish in any day now.
King mackerel will be pushing onto the beachfronts right about this same time.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are finding good red drum action all along the ICW. Target the schools pushing water along the waterway edges with no docks around. Lower tides have seemed to be more productive, with Carolina-rigged live mullet producing the bite.
Speckled trout action has started to fire up moving into fall. Live shrimp rigged under a slip cork and drifted over oyster banks in the waterway has been successful in finding strikes.
Flounder are also plentiful inshore for anglers fishing Carolina-rigged mullet in the deeper holes.
Offshore trips have started to find wahoo showing up in the Gulf Stream. Both high speed lures and skirted ballyhoo are having success.
Blackfin tuna are mixed in the action, too, and they’re hitting the same lures.
King mackerel are feeding well out in the 65’ range, but look for these schools to be pushing towards the beach anytime now. Just a slight cooling pattern is all it will take, and then anglers will have plenty of success slow trolling live pogies or dead cigar minnows along the beaches.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that offshore anglers are finding both wahoo and tuna action picking up now that water temperatures are starting to cool a little. This trend only continues moving further into October.
Offshore bottom fishing has been really strong at producing some large vermilion snapper.
King mackerel are a bit spread out, though, as they’re just beginning their fall transitions. Anglers are having success at offshore reefs and soon will find fish while trolling up on the beachfronts.
The nearshore reefs were stacked with flounder throughout the entire keeper season.
Good-sized spanish mackerel have also moved onto the beachfronts. Fishing live baits has been producing the larger fish.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that flounder fishing has been hot both inshore and off the beach.
Anglers are finding that the action on slot-sized red drum is picking up in the ICW and around the inlet. There are a few bull red drum mixed in, with the big red action closer to the inlet and out at nearshore reefs. Live mullet or mud minnows have both been the best bait choices.
The speckled trout bite hasn’t quite kicked off yet, with most early action being seen up in the river.
Deeper holes in the waterway have been producing whiting, croakers, and sheepshead (if near structure).
Nearshore anglers are finding trolling for spanish mackerel as easy as it gets, with fish in the 3-mile range overly plentiful.
King mackerel are mostly still holding further off the beach, but any day they should be moving in close.
Rob, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are having a lot of success catching spanish mackerel and bluefish while casting jigs at fish feeding on bait balls.
Bottom fishing has been producing whiting, croaker, and a few spots.
Baits fished up tight to the piling structure have produced some sheepshead and black drum, and there were couple keeper flounder mixed in the action.
