Ocean Isle June 26, 2008

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent over the past week, with the fish finally moving into the 65′ spots like the Jungle and Shark Hole where they’re overdue.

Trolling live baits or dead cigar minnows should attract attention from the kings, and boats are catching them from snake-sized on up to 30+ lbs.

Boats trolling for kings are also encountering good numbers of dolphin willing to bite the same baits, mostly in 60′ and deeper. A few cobia have also been sighted, and king trollers hooked several sailfish in 60-80′ last week.

Red grouper fishing has been excellent at ledges in 110′ and deeper, particularly around and to the east of Frying Pan Tower. Some scamps are mixed in, and live baits are the most effective way to target the larger grouper. Plenty of amberjacks are holding at the same structure the red grouper are, and this is sometimes making it difficult to get a live bait to the bottom.

The gag bite has been a little slow, with the fish scattered over a wide depth range.

Spanish mackerel fishing is still excellent on the beach. Trolling Clarkspoons will produce results with the spanish.

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing is still solid in Tubbs Inlet and the Ocean Isle canals. Live peanut pogies and finger mullet on Carolina rigs are the standby flounder baits, and they work well.

Anglers are catching some red drum off docks in the ICW, and some speckled trout are mixed in with the reds. Live shrimp fished on float rigs or Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the trout and drum, and finger mullet and pogies will also produce results.

Anglers are catching some larger trout (18-22″) on float-rigged shrimp at the Little River jetties.

There are still plenty of spanish mackerel feeding in Little River Inlet and nearby along the beaches. Anglers can cast lures like X-Raps to the breaking fish to hook up with the spanish.

David, of Captain Hook Outdoors, reports that anglers have caught a bunch of kings (most in the 10-18 lb. range) around the Shark Hole and the Jungle over the past week. Live pogies have been getting plenty of action from the kings, but they are sometimes hard to find. Cigar minnows will also produce results.

Some dolphin are mixed in with the kings, and most are decent 12-15 lb. fish.

Inshore, the flounder bite is still pretty good for anglers drifting the inlets with small live baits.

Red drum are feeding around dock pilings in Craven’s Creek and on the west side of Sunset Beach Bridge. Live baits should prove nearly irresistible to the drum as well, and there are plenty of peanut pogies and finger mullet around for anglers to net.

Hannah, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout on live shrimp.

Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas.

by Gary Hurley