Ocean Isle May 12, 2011
Mike Biggs, from WV, with a fat scamp grouper he caught on the opening day of grouper season while fishing some offshore structure with Capt. Keith Logan of Feedin' Frenzy Charters out of Holden Beach.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream bite has been hot around the Blackjack Hole over the past week. Boats are hooking up with excellent numbers of dolphin (many gaffers), wahoo (most 20-30 lbs. but some larger), and a few straggler blackfin tuna. Several white marlin releases were tallied last week as well. Rigged ballyhoo and trolling lures are appealing to all the Gulf Stream predators.
Jigging at structure on the edge of the break has been producing some healthy groupers, and anglers can take them home now that the season is open.
Closer to the beaches, the king mackerel have shown up at local nearshore spots like the 90/90’s, Yaupon Reef, and off Ocean Crest Pier. Live baiting is the best way to hook the kings.
Some cobia have been seen around the sea buoys and the spots where boats are king fishing over the past few weeks as well.
Jacob, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is on fire along the Brunswick beaches, and trolling Clarkspoons in around 30’ of water produced fast limits of fish last week.Â
Inshore, the flounder fishing in Tubbs Inlet is still excellent (with increasing numbers of keepers and some fish to 5+ lbs.). Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs are producing the majority of the action with the flatfish.
Red drum have moved in to their summer haunts along ICW docks, and anglers should have little trouble hooking them once they figure out which docks are holding fish. Carolina-rigged mud minnows have proven deadly on the reds lately as well. Smaller spot and pinfish are also drawing bites.
Andrew Sanderson and Matt Moore, from Harrells, NC, with a wahoo they hooked while high-speed trolling near the Steeples in 220' of water. The 'hoo fell for a black/purple lure while they were fishing with Bob Newell aboard the "Black Dog."
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the area’s flounder bite keeps getting better, with more keepers in the mix by the week. The action remains hot in Tubbs Inlet, but anglers are finding good numbers of flatfish all over the inshore waters. Live mud minnows are attracting attention from the flatfish.
Red drum are spreading out through the area. The flooded grass flat bite has slowed down, but anglers are finding plenty of action with the reds around creek drains, docks, and other structure throughout the ICW. Cut mullet, crab chunks, and live mud minnows will get attention from the reds.
A few trout are falling for imitation shrimp under popping corks around ICW structure.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers had excellent results while working Gotcha plugs for spanish mackerel and bluefish last week.
Bottom fishermen have been catching a few flounder on live mud minnows.
