Ocean Isle May 13, 2010
Todd Helf, of Sunset Beach, with a 30 lb. gag grouper he hooked on an OTI jig at some structure in 165' of water 60 miles off Little River.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream is still a bit slow for May. Dolphin have begun to show up at the local spots, but most are still peanuts (a few gaffers to 20 lbs. are in the mix). The wahoo bite has slowed a bit, but a few are still around. Skirted ballyhoo are the baits to troll for the dolphin and ‘hoos.
The blackfin tuna bite is still solid at the Steeples (with most fish 15-25 lbs.). The blackfin will fall for ballyhoo, too, but when anglers can mark them on the sounder, dropping vertical jigs will often produce even more bites.
The king mackerel bite turned on along the beaches last week, likely due to a bit of warmer water trapped against the coast. The action was solid at Yaupon Reef, the 90/90’s, and along the beaches at Oak Island and Cherry Grove. Pogies are all over the beaches, so live-baiters shouldn’t have trouble loading up. The fish are also falling for frozen cigar minnows on dead bait rigs as well. The last few days of cooler weather slowed the bite a bit, but warmer days will turn the fish back on.
Some cobia are mixed in with the king mackerel.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches in the same areas, and anglers should have little trouble hooking up with them while trolling Clarkspoons or other lures.
The grouper bite has been solid since the season opened at the beginning of the month (and several 30-40 lb. class gags were weighed in last week). Vertical jigs produced most of the larger fish.
Tommy Wynne, of Raleigh, with a 19" spanish mackerel he hooked on a Gotcha plug from Oak Island Pier.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the flounder bite has finally gotten good in Tubbs Inlet. Much better numbers of the fish are keepers than a few weeks back, and live pogies on Carolina rigs are the top baits for the larger fish. Mud minnows seem to attract more attention from the throwbacks.
The pogies have been plentiful inshore throughout the area recently.
The bite’s also heating up at the Little River jetties, where anglers are finding action with speckled trout, red drum, and a few sheepshead. Float-rigged live shrimp are the go-to baits around the jetties.
The trout bite’s also been decent around ICW structure like Sunset Beach Bridge.
Some smaller reds are feeding in the area’s creeks and backwaters.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the speckled trout and puppy drum bite has been excellent in the Lockwood Folly River recently. Live finger mullet (there have been good numbers in the area) and grubs are both fooling the fish.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront, and anglers caught good numbers last week on Clarkspoons while trolling near Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Scotty Pate, of Eagle Springs, NC, with a 35 lb. blackfin tuna he hooked near the Steeples on a blue/white skirted ballyhoo. He was fishing out of Southport with Doug McKenzie and Michael Baddour on the "Wavepounder."
The king mackerel bite has turned on along the beaches, and anglers are catching them on live pogies at Yaupon Reef and other nearby spots.
Bottom fishing has been producing good catches of gag and scamp grouper in 100’+. Live baits are fooling the larger groupers.
Wahoo and blackfin tunas are still providing the lion’s share of the action in the Gulf Stream.
Dustin, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are picking some whiting and bluefish.
