Ocean Isle – June 19, 2014
Randy McKnight, of Winston-Salem, with a pair of cobia he and Eddie Rowell landed after they struck live menhaden near the Jungle.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some king mackerel action around spots in the 50-65’ range off Brunswick County beaches right now. Most of the fish in that range are falling for live menhaden, and anglers searching for bait are reporting that the menhaden have shown back up in the ocean off Ocean Isle in the past few days.
There’s been better king action in the 100-120’ depths recently, where anglers are hooking up while trolling live menhaden and other baits along with dead baits like cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront and taking a hearty interest in Clarkspoons trolled behind cigar weights and #1 and #2 planers.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some solid trout fishing in the area right now, with most of the action along the ICW between Calabash and Little River.
Targeting the trout around grass banks with some current flow during the higher tides has been the best bet lately, and live shrimp drifted under floats are tempting the specks to strike.
Aaron Broyles, of Woodstock, GA, with a red drum he hooked on cut mullet in the Ocean Isle surf. He released the fish after the photo.
The shrimp have been plentiful in the creeks lately for anglers throwing cast nets.
Good numbers of red drum are also falling for the shrimp while anglers are trout fishing, and the reds are also feeding around docks and other structure inshore. Live and cut menhaden, crab chunks, and soft plastic baits will fool the reds in addition to the shrimp.
More reds and specks (and some large examples of both) are feeding around the Little River jetties and biting live shrimp under floats as well. The jetty bite has been a bit unpredictable day-to-day but is producing fast action when the fish are feeding.
Flounder fishing remains solid in most of the local spots like Tubbs and Cherry Grove inlets. There’s still a large number of throwback fish mixed in with the keepers, but decent numbers of legal fish are around.
Some larger flounder (to 10+ lbs.) have been hooked in the Lockwood Folly River recently, and anglers are hooking them on live menhaden.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that the cobia bite has turned back on around bottom structure within a few miles of the beachfront. Anglers hooked good numbers of the cobes last week while chumming and fishing live menhaden around spots in the 50’ range last week.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
Speckled trout are starting to make a summer appearance around the pilings, and anglers caught good numbers last week on live shrimp.
