Ocean Isle – July 6, 2017
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing has really picked up inshore, and limits of 15-18” fish aren’t uncommon. using live finger mullet on Carolina rigs near waterway structure and around creek mouths has accounted for the best catches of flatfish.
Redfish have been holding in the larger channels and sitting a bit deeper than in weeks past. Rigging a 3-4” pogie on a Carolina rig has worked best for the reds. Black drum have been in some of the same areas, but they’re holding closer to the oyster beds. Live shrimp on either a float rig or a Carolina rig will get the job done.
Speckled trout are feeding well in the area marshes. Most fish have been between 16-18” and are willing to take live shrimp or live mullet under float rigs.
Derek, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the nearshore spanish bite has become scattered. While the numbers aren’t great, the quality of fish is. Some spanish have been in the 3-5 lb. range, and some bluefish in the 1-2 lb. range have been mixed in. Most everything is coming while trolling Clarkspoons on #1 planers.
When trolling near the bait pods off the beach, anglers have hooked some ladyfish, as well as spotted a few tarpon. Blacktip and hammerhead sharks have also been feeding around the bait pods, and drifting cut bait for them should do the trick.
Anywhere between 10-25 miles, kings in the 15-20 lb. range have been landed using live sardines or menhaden, as well as trolling dead cigar minnows or sardines. Some amberjacks have been in the mix as well.
Bottom fishing in the 80-120′ range has produced some good catches of gag grouper, scamp grouper, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and hogfish.
Lauren Corriher, of Mt. Ulla, NC, with a 22” flounder she caught fishing some docks in Holden Beach.
Jacob, of J&J Charters, reports that redfish, trout, and flounder have been holding in 6-8′ of water around schools of pogies. Targeting structure in this depth has been successful for landing high numbers of fish, and using live peanut pogies rigged on Carolina rigs has been the best method for targeting these fish.
Black drum fishing has slowed down a bit, but tossing a live shrimp will still draw a strike. Finding deep water structure (10’+ of water) has been the key to hooking up.
Shane, of Fin-Fisher Charter Service, reports that flounder fishing has stayed steady, but the fish have moved to deeper water (6-12′). Tossing a bucktail tipped with a Gulp plastic has produced the best numbers of fish.
Citation trout are still hanging around oyster structure and are willing to take a Zara Spook Jr. or a live shrimp under a float rig. Focusing in on the rips and eddies around the oyster bars has been the key to landing limits of trout.
Fishing with cut pogies on Carolina rigs or fresh shrimp on jig heads has kept anglers busy catching redfish. Casting baits to docks with deeper holes along the waterway has been the most successful way to catch the reds.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that spanish are still feeding well just off the beach, and trolling Clarkspoons has been the best way to fill the box. When fish are busting near bait pods, casting Stingsilvers and other metal jigs has been a great way to hook up.
Sharks have also been hanging around nearshore bait pods and structure, and they will take cut or chunk bait while drift fishing.
Kings are feeding in the 20 mile range, and trolling dead cigar minnows has been the best bet to hook a few. Most fish have been between 5-12 lbs.
Bottom fishing in 120′ of water has produced good numbers of grouper, and live cigar minnows have worked best. Beeliners have also been predominant and in the mix.
Cecil, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that black and red drum have been feeding in area creeks near oyster structure and deep holes. Black drum will fall for fresh or live shrimp, while the red drum prefer a Carolina-rigged mud minnow.
Flounder fishing has provided anglers with limit catches by targeting waterway docks and deeper marsh lines. Fishing a live finger mullet hooked on a Carolina rig has been the best method for the flatfish, and most fish are ranging from 16-20”.
Anglers fishing the surf with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have filled the coolers with whiting, spots, croaker, pompano, and black drum. Some bluefish and spanish have also been landed when throwing jigs from the beach, such as Stingsilvers or Hopkins spoons.
Just off the beach, anglers have spotted a few tarpon migrating.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that flounder numbers have stayed steady in the Tubbs Inlet area. Fish that have been landed have been a mix or short fish and keepers, but targeting cleaner water with live finger mullet or pogies hooked on a Carolina rig has been the best bet.
Dock fishing for redfish has been productive for 18-20” fish while using live mud minnows and finger mullet on Carolina rigs. A few over-slot reds have been landed at the Little River jetties while drifting with live mullet on the bottom.
Speckled trout fishing has slowed down a little, but targeting the waterway near Little River and the Sunset Beach Bridge has given anglers some action. Live shrimp under float rigs has been the most effective method for the trout.
Sheepshead fishing has remained consistent, and a live fiddler crab or shrimp has been the ticket. Targeting deep water docks and bridge structure has boxed the most fish.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that bluefish have been hitting Gotcha plugs early in the morning and late in the evening.
Those electing to fish the bottom with sand fleas and fresh shrimp are landing good numbers of whiting and black drum.
Speckled trout are still feeding off the pier, and those tossing live shrimp have connected with limits of fish in the mornings.
A few kings have been hooked from the end of the pier, but none have been landed.
