Ocean Isle July 1, 2010
Hayden McKeithan (age 8), from Shallotte, NC, with a 22", 3.9 lb. flounder he hooked on his first flounder fishing trip. The fish fell for a live mud minnow in the ICW near Ocean Isle Beach.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that anglers are finding some solid flounder action inshore (with fish to 4+ lbs. lately). The Lockwood Folly inlet and river have been producing most of the fish, and anglers are hooking them on live finger mullet and mud minnows.
The spanish mackerel bite is still going strong along the beaches, where anglers are catching the fish by trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Plenty of big sharks are feeding along the beaches, too, and anglers are finding fast action with them on large cut baits.
Some king mackerel are chasing bait in the same areas, and anglers can hook them on live pogies.
Trolling live baits around spots like the Horseshoe lately has been producing plenty of action with kings, dolphin, and amberjacks.
The scamp grouper bite has been solid at bottom structure in around 110’ of water lately. Live baits like pogies and pinfish are attracting attention from the scamps.
Kimberly Bryan, from Pinehurst, NC, with a bull dolphin that fell for a skirted ballyhoo just east of the Blackjack Hole while she was fishing with Jason Bryan on the "Big Time Baby."
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the dolphin and king mackerel bite has been solid lately at spots in 55-70’ of water, with good action at the Horseshoe last week. A handful of cobia and sailfish are scattered in the same range, and all the fish will have trouble resisting live pogies.
The pogies are back on the beach, so loading up on bait shouldn’t be too challenging.
Spanish mackerel are feeding strong along the beachfront, and anglers can hook up with good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures around diving birds, bait concentrations, and leaping fish.
Bottom fishermen have found solid action with scamp groupers around bottom structure in 100’ or so. Live baits are the way to go for them.
David, Jamie, Justin, and Katie Sledge with their first king mackerel a 25.5 lb. fish that fell for a rigged ballyhoo offshore of Oak Island.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the area’s flounder bite is still pretty consistent, and the fish have a healthy average size (many 2-3 lbs. with some to 5+ lbs. mixed in). The best action has been in Tubbs Inlet and the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte inlets and rivers recently. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies are drawing the flatfish bites, and anglers should try to find areas with clean water for the best action.
Some speckled trout are still feeding in the area creeks and around the jetties and Sunset Beach Bridge. Staying on the move till anglers find some active fish has been the best strategy for the specks lately. Live shrimp are far and away the best baits, though the trout may take an interest in small pogies, too.
The red drum bite’s been good inshore and around the inlet jetties lately (where anglers are hooking some fish into the upper-30” range). Inshore, anglers are finding the reds around ICW docks and in the creeks.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few whiting and sharks in the hot and dirty water, but not much else has been going on of late.
