Ocean Isle May 31, 2007
Brant, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the dolphin fishing has been on fire. The fish are still out in the Gulf Stream. They are spread out in the stream, with no single location consistently any better than another.
After slowing down a bit, wahoo are biting fairly well again, and most are between 15 and 30 lbs. Boats are still seeing some yellowfins, and the tuna that are around are big ones (up to 80 lbs.).
Along with the meat fish, billfish have begun to make a much anticipated showing in the blue water. Local boats have released several blue marlin and sailfish over the last week. Skirted ballyhoo are the trolling baits of choice in the Gulf Stream.
Gulf Stream fishing has been so good recently that few boats are bottom or king fishing.
Spanish mackerel are feeding on the beach, and they have a hard time resisting trolled Clark spoons.
Kyle, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that flounder have become the dominant inshore species in the area. Plenty of fish are coming from Tubbs Inlet and Cherry Grove, and anglers are finding some big flatties in the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly Rivers. Mud minnows and peanut pogies on Carolina rigs have been accounting for most of the flatfish, with the bigger flounder mostly hitting pogies.
Trout fishing is slowing down for the summer, and most of the fish still around are the small males.
Red drum are holding in the rocks of the Little River Jetties, and they should stay there through summer. Fish a live peanut pogie on a Carolina rig or three way swivel rig to score with the drum.
Spanish mackerel are running the beaches, and they are particularly abundant near local inlets. Trolling Clark spoons just off Little River, Tubbs, or Shallotte Inlet will provoke spanish strikes. Anglers looking for larger fish should try free-lining a small live bait.
No cobia have been reported on the beach yet, but they’ll be showing up very soon.
Trey, of the Ocean Isle Pier, reports that before the NE winds stirred up the water, the whiting bite was good. Calm weather for a few days should have them on the feed again. Fish shrimp on bottom rigs for whiting action.
A few speckled trout and flounder are hitting shrimp on the bottom as well.
Plug casters are scoring with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
