Ocean Isle July 8, 2010
Grayson Spell, of Autryville, NC, and Kevin Collie, of Fayetteville, NC, with a pair of flounder they hooked on live mud minnows in the ICW near Ocean Isle. They were fishing with Capt. Kyle Hughes of Speckulator Charters out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of bait (mostly pogies) along the area’s beaches, and there’s been some good fishing along them as well.
Trolling Clarkspoons along the beaches and just offshore is still producing plenty of spanish mackerel.
Some king mackerel and cobia are on the hunt in the same areas, and they’ll have a tough time turning down a live pogy.
Sharks are cruising the beaches as well, and large cut baits will get their attention.
Offshore, there’s been a good king bite along with decent numbers of dolphin and a few cobia at spots in around 65’ of water. Again, live pogies or other baits are producing most of the action, though anglers can tempt the fish to bite dead baits as well.
The kings and dolphin are also feeding in around 100’, where anglers are picking them up trolling and on light-lines while bottom fishing.
Bottom dropping at structure in that depth range has been producing plenty of grouper, black sea bass, and amberjacks. Live baits are best for the grouper and jacks, while the bass will take an interest in squid or small cut baits.
Amberjacks and grouper are also feeding out along the break, but the jacks are so thick they’re making it tough to get a bait to the grouper.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite was on fire last week before the front moved through, and they had started firing off again after the NE winds shifted last weekend. The fish are not only numerous but getting bigger (most 12-15 lbs. with some in the 20-30 lb. range). Most of the action’s been at spots in 50-65’, and live pogies are tempting the kings to bite.
The pogies have been plentiful along the beaches from Oak Island to Ocean Isle.
Divers are reporting seeing some scamp grouper around bottom structure in 100-120’, but the fish aren’t stacked up by any means.
The spanish mackerel bite is still excellent on the beaches, with the best action in 20-30’ of water. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the spaniards.
Jeter Allred, of Waxhaw, NC, with an 18 lb. red grouper he hooked while fishing some bottom structure offshore of Little River Inlet aboard the "West Wind" out of Calabash.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the fishing’s been a bit hit-or-miss over the past week, but it’s been excellent when the bite is on.
Flounder are still feeding in the inlets and around inshore structure. Tubbs and Shallotte inlets and the Shallotte River have been producing the best action lately, and live pogies on Carolina rigs are drawing most of the bites.
Some red drum and speckled trout are scattered in with the flounder (some to nearly 5 lbs.), and they’re falling for the pogies as well.
The red fishing has also been hot around the Ocean Isle docks and at the Little River jetties (where anglers are picking up some fish to 20 lbs.). Drifting the inlet with live finger mullet, peanut pogies, and shrimp is producing action with the reds. Some healthy flounder have also been pouncing on baits in the inlet.
Ian, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the water’s cleared up a bit recently, and anglers are hooking up with some red drum, flounder, and speckled trout as a result. Live shrimp and mud minnows are fooling them.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms has been producing decent numbers of flounder and whiting lately.
