Ocean Isle June 23, 2011
Nolan Newell landed this wahoo on a ballyhoo behind a pink/blue Ilander while trolling at the Steeples with Edwin and Bob Newell and Ned Garber on the "Black Dog."
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there’s been some good action at spots in the 100’ depth range when the weather has allowed boats to get offshore recently.
Bottom fishing in that area has produced plenty of large black sea bass, grunts, beeliners, and scamp grouper. The smaller bottomfish are taking an interest in cut baits, while live menhaden have been tempting bites from the scamps.
Amberjacks are feeding in the same areas and will also take a shine to live menhaden.
Light-lining while bottom fishing has been attracting bites from some dolphin, cobia, and king mackerel.
Groups of cobia have also been holding around many of the area’s offshore buoys, and a live menhaden or cigar minnow is tough for them to turn down.
Some spadefish are also schooling around the buoys, and bits of jelly ball jellyfish are their top meal choices.
Some king mackerel have been feeding in around 60’ of water straight off Holden Beach. Live menhaden are fooling them.
Spanish mackerel continue to feed along the beachfront, and anglers are catching good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers.
Blacktip sharks are feeding in the same areas. Large cut baits are difficult for the sharks to turn down.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that king mackerel are scattered from the inlet sea buoys out to offshore spots like the Horseshoe and Shark Hole, but the bite hasn’t exactly been phenomenal over the past week, likely due to the weather.
Live menhaden are the way to go for the kings when anglers can find some fish in a feeding mood.
Some large (to 60+ lbs.) cobia have been feeding in many of the usual king mackerel spots and having a tough time resisting a live menhaden.
Spanish mackerel fishing is still decent just off the beaches, where anglers can hook the fish while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, shiny lures.
Chloe Grant with a king mackerel that attacked a live menhaden on a king rig off the end of Ocean Crest Pier.
Jacob, of J&J Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder bite has slowed down a bit. Anglers are still putting some keepers in the boat while fishing live baits and soft plastics around the inlets and inshore structure and holes, but it’s been tougher to cobble together a good catch than in previous weeks.
The inshore water temperatures are holding at around 85 degrees, meaning it’s a good time to go looking for flatfish at nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef and AR-460. As the water continues to warm, the flounder bite should only improve in the ocean.
Some red drum are feeding around ICW docks at lower tides. Docks close to deep water are producing the best action, and live shrimp have been the most productive baits lately.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the flounder fishing in Tubbs Inlet is still excellent. Typically, the bite slows down when the water’s as dirty as it’s been recently, but anglers are still catching good numbers of fish on Gulp baits, mud minnows, and small menhaden on the rising tides (with some fish in the 6-7 lb. class recently).
Flounder fishing has also been solid in Little River Inlet, where live menhaden have been producing good numbers of fish (on average a little larger than the Tubbs Inlet flatties).
Good numbers of sizeable red drum are mixed in with the flatfish at the inlet (with reds to 52” caught lately).
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a few black drum and some sharks lately. The water’s been dirty, but when it clears up, anglers can expect to find some action with speckled trout, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.
