Ocean Isle July 5, 2012
Sam and Addie (age 9) Milburn with a 26.25" red drum that Addie hooked on a sand flea in the Holden Beach surf.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that, after a weeklong hiatus, the spanish mackerel have started biting again along the Brunswick beaches. Most of the fish are feeding around schools of menhaden in the 30-35’ depths, and trolling Clarkspoons behind planers, torpedo weights, and birds will tempt the tasty little mackerel to bite.
The king mackerel bite has slowed down in the 60’ areas, but there’s still decent action from 80-110’ of water. Dolphin and cobia are mixed in with the kingfish, and all three find a live cigar minnow or menhaden tough to resist.
Gag and scamp grouper along with plenty of smaller bottom fish are on the feed around structure in the 100’ range. Live baits like menhaden are top choices for the grouper, and squid or cut baits will tempt bites from beeliners, triggerfish, and more.
Closer to shore, anglers are hooking plenty of black sea bass around structure in 60-70’ of water on cut baits and squid.
Ashleigh (age 8) and Jeff Stocks with Ashleigh's first king mackerel, hooked on a live bait at the Jungle.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the red drum bite is still on around ICW structure in the area. Anglers are hooking the majority of the fish on live shrimp and finger mullet on Carolina rigs and jigheads.
More reds and some black drum are looking for meals around the Little River jetties, and drifting live shrimp under floats along the rocks will tempt bites from both.
Black drum are also feeding around oyster rocks in the creeks, with the best fishing at lower tides. Live or fresh shrimp will attract attention from the black drum.
Some speckled trout are also feeding around the oysters, and there’s been a good trout bite (though mostly smaller fish) around ICW structure and creekmouths as well. Live shrimp or Gulp and Billy Bay artificials fished under popping corks will connect anglers with the specks.
Flounder are feeding in Tubbs Inlet, around ICW structure, and in the shallows of some of the area backwaters. Anglers are tempting the flatfish to bite live finger mullet and mud minnows on Carolina rigs in the inlet and jigheads in the backwaters.
Brian Richard with a scamp grouper that bit a dead pinfish offshore of Little River Inlet while he was fishing on the "Cyclone."
Josh, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the strong winds dirtied the water last week, slowing down the bite for everything except small sharks.
Now that the winds have moderated, anglers can expect to see some sea mullet falling for fresh shrimp on bottom rigs and speckled trout taking an interest in live shrimp in the early morning hours.
