Ocean Isle – July 9, 2015
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing a steady speckled trout bite in the area, with most of the action coming from grass and shell banks along the ICW. The trout are mixed in size (from 10-12” to 5+ lbs.), and anglers are hooking them while using the current to drift live shrimp beneath floats along the shoreline.
Some red drum are mixed in with the specks, and anglers are seeing more around ICW docks and at traditional low-tide spots in the area’s creeks. Live baits are also fooling most of the reds, with shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, and peanut menhaden all effective.
There’s also a bite of over-slot red drum along the Little River jetties, where they’ll strike live baits or cut menhaden and mullet.
Black drum are feeding along the docks and around other ICW structure as well, and they’re biting live and fresh shrimp.
The area’s flounder fishing remains steady, with good numbers of fish coming from Tubbs Inlet, the Shallotte River, and spots along the ICW (also mixed in size from 14” to 5+ lbs.). The flatfish are falling for live baits as well.
Anglers are also seeing flounder begin to move into the area’s nearshore reefs in the ocean. The bite isn’t on fire yet, but it should be the next big inshore development in the area. Live baits fished with heavier sinkers are the way to go in the ocean as well.
Jordan Simpson, of Elon, NC, with a 26.5″ red drum that struck a live finger mullet in Shallotte Inlet.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that the weather has kept many anglers on land recently, but there’s still a good king mackerel and dolphin bite around spots in the 20 mile range. Both will bite live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
The spanish mackerel bite has slowed along the beachfront due to the strong winds and dirty water over the past week, but it’s clearing up with every tide change and the fish should turn back on soon. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and inline sinkers is the way to connect with the spaniards.
Inshore, anglers are still finding action with speckled trout, flounder, and red and black drum around the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly inlets and rivers. Live baits like shrimp, finger mullet, and small menhaden have been the best bets for the inshore predators.
Ivey Creech with his first speckled trout, a 22″ fish that struck a live mud minnow in the Cape Fear River.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still seeing solid king mackerel action around spots in 65-70’ of water. Big numbers of pods of cigar minnows are in the same areas and let anglers know where to fish as well as providing a convenient bait source. Dead cigar minnows and other live baits like menhaden will also fool the kings.
Good numbers of dolphin (most 5-15 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas and biting live and dead baits as well.
The dirty water on the beachfront has pushed spanish mackerel back to the 35’ depths, but they should be moving closer to shore again as the water settles down.
Tommy, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a few bluefish and the bite should improve, perhaps with some spanish mackerel, as the water clears up over the coming week. Gotcha plugs will attract attention from both fish.
Bottom fishermen are landing some black drum on shrimp.
The water is 79 degrees.
