Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Ocean Isle June 5, 2008

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that dolphin fishing is red hot in the Gulf Stream. Most of the fish are over 10 lbs. with a lot of big 20+ lb. gaffers in the mix. The boats are generally finding the fish cruising in pairs or groups of 3-4 fish instead of large schools. The action has been best in the deeper water over the past week, with the strongest bite and lots of flying fish in 400-600′ of water.

Wahoo are still feeding along the break in 130-150′. The Blackjack Hole has been the hot wahoo spot recently.

A few blackfins are still mixed in with the wahoo and dolphin. Ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted trolling lures will tempt bites from the dolphin, wahoo, and tuna.

The grouper bite has been best around structure in 80-100′ lately, where anglers are hooking up with some fat gags along with a few very large sea bass. The fish will fall for a variety of baits, but live baits offer anglers chances at the larger gags.

Some dolphin have pushed inshore of the Stream, and they’re feeding in the 80-100′ depths as well. Keeping a weightless light-line out while bottom fishing should attract attention from the dolphin.

King mackerel have moved into spots in the 50-65′ range like the 390/390, Lighthouse Rocks, and the Shark Hole. Dead cigar minnows have been producing plenty of action with the kings, and the bite has been best on days with light winds out of the south.

Boats trolling Clarkspoons are finding good action with spanish mackerel right on the beaches in 10-20′ of water.

 

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing is still good in Tubbs Inlet, Shalotte Inlet, and the Shallotte River. Live peanut pogies or other baits fished on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flatfish. There are still some short fish around, but anglers are landing more and more keepers by the week.

The speckled trout bite is still good at the Little River jetties. Anglers are landing even larger trout at inshore spots like the Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp are the best baits, but live mud minnows and peanut pogies are producing well with the trout, as are artificial lures.

There are plenty of red drum feeding at the jetties and throughout the ICW, and they should fall for the same baits and lures anglers are fishing for the trout.

The spanish mackerel bite has been wild along the Brunswick County beachfront lately. Boats are hooking up with the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons and casting a variety of lures to the feeding fish.

 

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel bite has been hot at the 90/90 lately. Dead cigar minnows have been producing well with the kings. There have been some rumors of pogies on the beachfront and in the Cape Fear, but with the kings biting dead baits well, not many anglers are burning the gas and time to look for the pogies yet.

Dolphin fishing remains hot in the Gulf Stream, where anglers are landing a lot of larger gaffers.

Boats are still landing a few wahoo as well.

Several blue marlin releases have been reported around the 100/400 over the past week, and a number have been seen and hooked but not successfully released. The marlin bite has been best in at least 500′ of water.

Ballyhoo rigged under Ilanders or C & H lures are producing most of the Gulf Stream action.

Inshore, spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent between Holden Beach and Little River.

Flounder seem to be everywhere, and anglers are landing them consistently while fishing around the inlets and bridges. Live mud minnows or tiger minnows on Carolina rigs are drawing the most bites.

Red drum are feeding well at docks off the ICW.

 

Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that plug casters are landing some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel. Gotcha plugs will get bites from both.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with a few whiting while baiting up with shrimp.