Ocean Isle May 10, 2012
Darryl Moore, of Bent Mountain, VA, with a 70 lb. wahoo that he hooked on a dead cigar minnow at the Houston wreck while trolling out of Oak Island with Bill Hogan on the "Hillbilly."
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of dolphin when they make the run to the Gulf Stream. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna are in the blue water mix as well. Weedlines and floating debris are dolphin magnets, and anglers should pay attention while trolling and make a pass by anything they see on top. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will fool all three, but at times smaller baits like cedar plugs and feathers will produce more action with the blackfin.
King mackerel have been feeding from nearshore structure on out to Frying Pan Tower, with the best action lately further offshore. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will both fool the kings.
Grouper season has opened up, and dropping live baits to bottom structure in around 100’ produced several fat scamps last week.
Cobia are popping up around the wrecks and other structure from the sea buoys on out. Live baits are top choices for the cobes, but they’ll also take an interest in bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastic baits or whole squid.
Spanish mackerel are feeding as close to shore as anglers can find clean water, and they will attack trolled Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Brandon Vaughan, of Wilmington, with a 26.8 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish off the end of Oak Island Pier.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the flounder bite is still solid in Tubbs Inlet and other spots in the area. Rising tides have been pushing in cleaner water and producing the best flatfish action lately, and anglers are fooling them on Gulp baits, live mud minnows, and small menhaden (when they can find them). Using jigheads heavy enough to maintain contact with the bottom (generally 1/4-3/4 oz.) is the way to go.
Red drum are feeding under docks and around other structure in the ICW nearby, and chunks of crab or live finger mullet on jigheads will attract plenty of attention from them.
The Little River jetties have been producing some solid variety fishing, with anglers landing red and black drum, sheepshead, and speckled trout while drifting live shrimp just off the rocks.
Again, incoming tides have been the best.
Annette Esposito, from Shalotte, NC, with a red drum she landed in the surf at Holden Beach after it struck a shrimp.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that dirty water slowed the action from the pier a bit last week, but it’s starting to come back around.
Bottom fishermen have been catching some sea mullet on two-hook rigs baited with shrimp.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits under the pier.
When the water cleans back up, anglers should be able to connect with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
