Ocean Isle June 14, 2007
Brant, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream is still alive with 10-20 lb. dolphin. Boats are also finding a few wahoo out in the blue water, and they’re catching both on skirted ballyhoo baits.
From 20-40 miles off the beach, anglers are catching king mackerel (from 6-15 lbs.) and some dolphin (up to 20 lbs.). The best action is taking place near bottom structure in 80-110’ of water. The kings and dolphin are willing to hit live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Boats should not be surprised to find a cobia anywhere from the beach out to the 40 mile spots. Cobia will eat nearly anything, but a live eel is a particularly good bait.
Grouper (mainly scamps in the 5-10 lb. range) are feeding at bottom structure in 90-110’ of water.
The recent winds pushed the spanish mackerel off the beach, but boats are finding concentrations of spanish in water 50-60’ deep.
No kings have been caught in less than 80’ since the wind; however, there are plenty of pogies schooled up right on the beach, so the kings should be feeding nearshore again very soon.
Kyle, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing is recovering after stalling due to the winds and rain. The water is clearing up now, and the flatfish have begun to feed again. Most of the fish are running 1.5-3 lbs., with a few larger ones mixed in.
Tubbs Inlet is the go-to spot for numbers of flounder, but anglers will find some bigger fish in the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers. The standard Carolina-rigged peanut pogy or mud minnow is the best way to get in on the flounder action.
Anglers are catching solid numbers of red drum at the Little River Jetties. The drum are running large (up to 12 lbs.), and will strike mud minnows fished beneath floats or pogies on bottom rigs.
Josh, of the Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with trout and flounder in the mornings. Some of the fish are keepers, but many are undersized. Both are hitting bloodworms and shrimp.
Plug casters are catching bluefish on Gotchas.
At night, most of the action has come from sharks over the past week.
The water is around 70 degrees.
