Ocean Isle May 11, 2006
Brant McMullan, at Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that bottom fishing for sea bass has been good just about anywhere over live bottom or wrecks. It’s the best time of the year to target red snapper in the 100’ areas, while grouper are biting in 100 to 150’ of water.
Good amounts of king mackerel are 25 miles off the beach out to the break. There were good catches reported from the ledges southwest of the Tower.
Gulf stream action has picked up for dolphin. The wahoo are still biting, and the yellowfin tuna are becoming scattered.
Stan Gurganis, at Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports the inshore fishing is picking up, with good numbers of flounder showing up in the creeks. A live pogy on a Carolina rig while drifting is your best bet at catching them.
A few speckled trout in the 5 to 9 lb. class are biting at the Little River jetties on live baits under a cork. The smaller fish are around the creeks in better numbers, and a few reds are mixed in amongst the bluefish at the jetty as well.
The big news is the spanish showing up outside the inlets. Water temperature has reached 68, and the fish were hitting fast-trolled spoons.
Big pogies have arrived right on the beach, so the kings won’t be too far behind.
Will, at Ocean Isle Beach Pier, reports good catches of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs. Pompano are hitting the bottom rigs, and the whiting that are still around are running small.
Cecil, at The Rod and Reel Shop, reports good catches of whiting in the surf and a few flounder showing up in the area. However, most of the flounder are around 13 to 15 inches.
The speckled trout are up in the rivers, while the redfish are in the creeks and waterway along shell banks. Any live bait that has shown up should catch either species.
Boats that have been able to make it to the stream despite the winds are getting good catches of wahoo and dolphin, with most of the action coming from the Steeples area lately.
Pogies are beginning to show along the beach, so the king mackerel should be venturing in for the spring beach bite.
