Added on Thursday, May 22, 2008  Gary Hurley

Ocean Isle May 22, 2008

Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Gulf Stream is giving up good numbers of gaffer dolphin right now. Some good weed patches were around the area last week, and conditions should be favorable for solid weedlines to form up over the next week.

Trolling rigged ballyhoo around the weeds is the best way to locate the fish, and anglers can often hook multiple fish from one school once they’re found.

There are also still decent numbers of wahoo feeding in the Stream, but the average size has fallen a bit to 20-30 lbs.

King mackerel are feeding from the inlet sea buoys all the way out to the blue water. Some are cruising the beaches eating bluefish, but the greatest concentration of kings is around structure in 50-65′ of water right now. Cigar minnows or other dead baits should fool them, and anglers can also jig up live baits from the bottom where they’re fishing.

Bottom fishing has been producing some large sea bass, beeliners, and other fish. Gag grouper are holding around structure in 80′ and deeper.

Big numbers of cobia have been hanging around the areas where boats are bottom and king fishing. They seem to be unusually finicky this year, turning down live baits, but a small bucktail tipped with a squid will likely tempt them to bite.

 

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder fishing continues to improve throughout the area waters. There are still a lot of sublegal fish mixed in, but anglers are catching more keepers as the water continues to warm. Live baits, such as mud minnows and finger mullet, fished on Carolina rigs should tempt bites from the flatfish. The past few weeks, the action has been good around the Sunset Beach Bridge, Tubbs Inlet, and in the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Rivers.

The Sunset Beach Bridge and local docks are holding good numbers of red drum as well, along with a few speckled trout. They’ll eat the same things as the flounder, along with a variety of artificial lures.

Trout should also be feeding at the Little River jetties when the winds are calm enough to fish them comfortably.

Spanish mackerel are schooling in the inlets and just offshore. Boats can hook up with the spaniards by trolling Clarkspoons, and anglers can catch them on lighter tackle by casting X-Raps and other artificials to breaking schools.

 

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the dolphin bite was excellent last week around the Winyah Scarp. Most of the fish are gaffers, and some are in the mid-20 lb. range and larger.

Wahoo continue to feed in the Gulf Stream as well, and good catches came from the Blackjack Hole recently. Balllyhoo trolled under Sea Witches will fool both the dolphin and wahoo, and anglers can also troll a swimming plug or two to entice the wahoo further.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent right along the beaches. Boats should concentrate on trolling near the inlets with #1 Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights. Gold spoons have been outproducing the silver ones recently.

Speckled trout and red drum are feeding around the Little River jetties and local bridges and docks. Live shrimp will fool both fish.

The flounder bite is improving, with anglers landing more and bigger flounder every week. Live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs will attract attention from the flounder.

 

Caleb, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are landing scattered spot, a few trout, and some flounder on two-hook rigs baited with cut shrimp. There are plenty of small sharks around as well.