Ocean Isle June 7, 2007
Brant, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream is still giving up piles of gaffer dolphin, along with wahoo around 40 lbs. and some smaller blackfin tuna.
In deeper water, boats are reporting good numbers of blue marlin. Troll skirted ballyhoo to hook up with the meat fish, and larger live or dead bait (or big lures) for the marlin.
Bottom fishermen are bringing in solid catches of grouper. Most of the fish are coming from 100-120’ of water, and live baits, particularly pogies and cigar minnows, are getting most of the bites.
King mackerel are moving into their traditional summer spots, and there have been good bites at the Jungle and the 390/390 over the last week. Most anglers are still hooking up with kings by trolling dead cigar minnows.
Cobia are also feeding in the traditional king holes. While they’ll often turn their nose up at most baits, they rarely can resist a live brown eel. Smart king fishermen will add a few to the live well to tempt any cobia that approach the boat.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel are running the beach, and they will pounce on trolled Clark spoons.
Kyle, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the area flounder fishing is excellent. Anglers are catching good numbers of flounder by drifting Tubbs Inlet, and the fish have gotten bigger, with most fish running 16-18”. Bigger doormats are coming from the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly Rivers.
Carolina-rigged peanut pogies and mud minnows will get attention from flounder no matter where they are.
Some speckled trout are still around the area and feeding. Live shrimp fished under a float are the top trout bait, and anglers have found trout in the creeks, around Sunset Beach Bridge, and at the Little River Jetties over the last week.
Chopper bluefish (up to 10 lbs.) are also hanging around the jetties, and they will eat just about anything.
Spanish mackerel are feeding hard just off the beaches.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the biggest action off the pier last week was the morning speckled trout bite. Live shrimp produced most of the trout.
Anglers fishing mud minnows on the bottom have caught a few flounder.
Bottom fishermen are catching an occasional pompano in the daytime and some big whiting at night. Both species are falling for cut shrimp
Plug casters are scoring with 1-4 lb. bluefish and a few spanish mackerel.
