Ocean Isle – June 11, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some good king mackerel fishing at local spots in 50-65’ of water at present. Both live menhaden and dead cigar minnows are fooling the kings and a few dolphin and cobia feeding in the same areas.
Holden Mizell (age 3) and a 26 lb. blackfin tuna that struck a live menhaden at the Shark Hole.
There have been plenty of menhaden schools working along the beach in 25-30’ of water and plenty of predators following the bait around. Cobia, sharks, and spanish and king mackerel are also possibilities around the bait pods, so anglers may want to fish in the area where they’re catching bait a bit before heading offshore.
The dolphin bite in the Gulf Stream has slowed a bit, but anglers are still finding decent numbers of fish along the break and offshore. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are top choices for anglers looking to connect with the dolphin.
Justin Whitley, of Wilmington, with a blacktip shark that bit a live menhaden near Bald Head Island.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers are seeing the best flounder bite of the year thus far around the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte rivers and inlets. Most of the fish are falling for peanut menhaden.
Smaller king mackerel and some huge spanish are feeding around the local nearshore reefs. Anglers are fooling both with downsized king mackerel rigs and slightly larger menhaden.
More and larger kings along with some dolphin are looking for meals 20-35 miles offshore and biting live and dead baits.
Offshore bottom fishing has also been hot at structure in 80’ of water and deeper. Live and cut menhaden are producing bites from sea bass, beeliners, grunts, porgies, and grouper around structure in that depth range.
Kyle, of Speculator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been some decent flounder action in Tubbs Inlet recently (with plenty of short fish but keepers mixed in). Larger fish but smaller numbers have been coming from the Shallotte River. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live menhaden and mud minnows, with larger fish on menhaden but more action on the minnows.
Speckled trout are feeding around flooded grass and shell banks in the area and biting live shrimp and artificials. Not many anglers have fished the Little River jetties due to the wind recently, but there should still be some larger trout feeding around the rocks when the water is calm.
Some red and black drum are feeding around structure like docks in the ICW. Both will bite live or cut shrimp fished near the pilings.
Anglers are also finding some action with reds in the creeks and fooling them with live baits, cut baits, and a variety of artificials.
Terry, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some drum in the early morning hours and a few speckled trout in the afternoons. Both are falling for live shrimp.
Bottom fishermen are decking some croaker.
