Ocean Isle – June 18, 2015
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that hot weather and negative low tides have impacted the area’s inshore fishing a bit, but anglers are still finding plenty of ways to connect with fish.
The flounder bite has been best recently on rising tides as cooler water flows in from the ocean. Anglers are still finding the flatfish in Tubbs Inlet, the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly rivers, and along the ICW. Live peanut menhaden or mud minnows are producing most of the action.
Jack Darrah, of Harrisonburg, VA, with a 15 lb. black drum that struck a live shrimp on a Carolina rig near some ICW structure around Ocean Isle. He was fishing with Capt. Kyle Hughes of Speckulator Charters.
Speckled trout are still looking for meals around grass and shell banks near Calabash, as well as around ICW docks. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, and drifting them along on float rigs is the best strategy.
There are also still decent numbers of specks feeding around the Little River jetties and biting shrimp as well.
Kyle and Julie Warren with a pair of flounder that bit a live mud minnows in Tubbs Inlet.
Red drum are mixed in with the specks at many spots, and anglers are hooking them on the shrimp, other live baits, and artificial lures like Gulp baits.
Some larger (upper to over-slot) reds are feeding in the creeks and biting the same offerings.
Anglers are finding black drum mixed in with the reds under some ICW docks and fooling them with shrimp.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding just outside the inlets and biting trolled Clarkspoons and metal casting lures.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers are seeing excellent inshore action with red and black drum around docks and other structure off the ICW. The bite varies by the day, but anglers have been consistently hooking both on fresh and live shrimp.
Flounder fishing remains good inshore as well. Peanut menhaden are producing the majority of the flatfish bites.
Out in the ocean, anglers continue to find large spanish and small king mackerel around the nearshore reefs within a few miles of the beachfront. Downsized king rigs with smaller menhaden are fooling both in big numbers.
More kings and some dolphin have been feeding 20-35 miles out and pouncing on large live and dead baits.
Bottom fishing at spots in 100’ and deeper has also been productive lately, putting good numbers of grunts, sea bass, beeliners, triggerfish, grouper, and more in the boxes. Live, dead, and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are finding a solid king mackerel bite at spots off Brunswick County in 50-70’ of water. Most are schoolies, but some 20+ lb. fish are mixed in. Live menhaden have been the best bet for the kings, but anglers can often fool them with dead cigar minnows as well.
There have been plenty of menhaden schools working along the beachfront recently for anglers looking for bait.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are shadowing the menhaden schools. Anglers can hook both while trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal jigs around the activity.
Terry, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some spot and sea mullet while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp and bloodworms.
