Ocean Isle – July 10, 2014
Cory Jones, Capt. Rod Bierstedt, and John Thompson with three king mackerel, a cobia, and a spanish mackerel that bit live menhaden around the 390’s.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that inshore fishing in the area remains consistent in the wake of last week’s storm. Anglers are still seeing plenty of solid speckled trout action along the ICW, in the nearby creeks, and at the Little River jetties. Plenty of undersized fish are around, but anglers are catching good numbers in the 2-3 lb. range with some 5+ lbs. Live shrimp fished under slip floats are producing the majority of the specks both in the waterway and at the inlet.
Flounder fishing is also strong, with the best action lately in Tubbs Inlet and the Shallotte River. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and peanut menhaden are fooling most of the flatfish, with larger baits a better bet for the larger fish.
The area’s red drum bite is still a bit hit-or-miss, but anglers are finding some reds feeding around flooded grass and oyster bars inshore and at the Little River jetties (where anglers are seeing some upper and over-slot fish). The same live baits that anglers are casting for the flounder and specks will fool the reds as well.
Spadefish are schooled up on nearshore wrecks and reefs just off the area’s inlets and have been biting well recently. Anglers can chum the spades to the surface with cannonball jellyfish, and then use small pieces of the jellies as baits to hook up.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront, and anglers continue to catch good numbers when they can find clean water conditions. Both trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal jigs or suspending plugs at fish feeding on the surface will fool the spaniards.
Christian Cook (age 5) with a spanish mackerel that struck a Clarkspoon behind a planer in 25′ of water off Holden Beach while he was fishing on the “Pokey.”
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that offshore fishing has been slow since Hurricane Arthur stirred up the water.
Spanish mackerel have begun to bite again since the storm, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights in clean water along the beachfront.
The inshore bite has been excellent despite all the rain the area received, and anglers are landing speckled trout, flounder, and red drum while casting soft plastics and live baits around the inlets and in the ICW.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that Hurricane Arthur’s brush by the area slowed the offshore fishing to a crawl. Anglers were finding king mackerel in the 60-100’ depths before the storm, so hopefully the action will turn back on after the ocean settles down a bit.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. A few flounder are falling for small live baits fished around the pilings.
And there’s been a decent speckled trout bite for anglers baiting up with live shrimp.
