Ocean Isle March 29, 2012
Mike Morris, of Raleigh, with a red drum that bit a Gulp bait in Tubbs Inlet while he was fishing with his wife.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the blue water fishing has been decent to excellent lately, and it appears to be shaping up to be a good season. Boats running to spots between the Steeples and 100/400 have been finding action with wahoo and some blackfin tuna. More wahoo and blackfins are feeding around the Winyah Scarp and spots to the south, and there’s also been a good showing of springtime dolphin down there. The dolphin will be moving on up as the spring wears on, so anglers should be seeing more of them at the local spots in the coming weeks. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will fool all the blue water predators.
King mackerel have been feeding around Frying Pan Tower, but the fish have started to scatter out a bit and will hopefully be following warm water in toward the beaches soon. Dead cigar minnows will fool the kings offshore, but live baits are a better bet once they get closer to land.
The water is nearly 70 degrees along the beachfront, so spanish mackerel should also soon be joining the action along the beachfront. When they show, trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and casting metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface is the way to hook up.
Some flounder are feeding at nearshore structure, and anglers are catching a few while jigging bucktails when they can get their baits past the ravenous and numerous black sea bass.
Mark, of Ocean Isle Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s red drum are still biting in the local creeks. Anglers are connecting with the reds while casting live mud minnows and Gulp shrimp on light jigheads.
Ned Garber and Bob Newell with a pair of 30 lb. class wahoo they hooked on skirted ballyhoo offshore of the MacMarlen Hole while they were trolling on the "Black Dog."
Flounder are making their spring showing in Tubbs Inlet (mostly smaller, but with some keepers in the mix). Anglers are hooking up with the flatfish while casting, drifting, and trolling. Mud minnows on Carolina rigs are producing the most action.
Some speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and around structure in the ICW. They’ll bite soft plastic shrimp imitations when anglers can find them.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that some fat whiting are coming over the rails. A few puffers are in the mix, and both are biting fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
The water’s been dirty near the pier lately, but when it clears up, anglers will likely see some bluefish showing up as well.
