Added on Thursday, May 7, 2009  Fish Post

Ocean Isle May 7, 2009

Chris, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there was a king mackerel bite on the beach last week, including a 35 lb. fish caught on a pier. Live baits are the most effective way to target the kings. Some small pogies have been moving around nearshore, but live bluefish will work as well.

Inshore, there’s been an excellent red drum bite in the Shallotte River, where anglers are hooking up with the fish on Gulp baits, live shrimp, and peanut pogies. Shrimp can be tough to come by, but there have been a decent number of the little pogies around the area.

Offshore bottom fishermen have found excellent sea bass fishing at bottom structure in around 80′ of water. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will produce action, but some of the larger fish lately have been falling for Shimano Lucanus jigs.

Gulf Steam trollers found a solid bite last week around the 100/400, hooking up with good numbers of gaffer dolphin and stout wahoo on skirted ballyhoo.

Further north, anglers are hooking some wahoo and a lot of blackfin tuna around the Steeples.

 

Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the area flounder bite is getting better by the week. There are still lots of small fish in the mix, but some larger flatties (up to 5 lbs.) are showing up as well. The best action for the flounder has been near the inlets and at spots off the ICW. Live mud minnows and peanut pogies are producing most of the action, and the peanuts haven’t been too hard to come by inshore.

Anglers are still catching quite a few drum at structure off the ICW like docks and bridges, and the shell banks near Little River have been good as well.

Bigger drum and some solid speckled trout (3-5+ lbs.) are feeding around the Little River jetties. Anglers are also hooking and battling some chopper bluefish (8-10+ lbs.) around the jetties.

Live shrimp under float rigs are producing the most action right now, and they’re just starting to show up off the ICW in numbers large enough to chase with a cast net. When anglers can’t find the shrimp, peanut pogies and artificials like D.O.A. shrimp are producing results as well.

Spanish mackerel began their spring invasion over the past week, and they have shown up in force from the inlet mouths to structure 2-3 miles off the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons and other lures will produce action with the spanish, and anglers can also cast metal lures and plugs to fish that are chasing bait on the surface.

 

David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the Gulf Stream bite is turning on, with boats reporting good action with dolphin and blackfin tuna around the 100/400 and the Blackjack Hole. Some wahoo are also still in the mix. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures is the most consistent way to hook up with the blue water predators.

The king mackerel bite is still good around Frying Pan Tower, and the fish have also moved in around the Horseshoe. Trolling cigar minnows or lures like Drone spoons will produce fast action once boats find the hungry schools of mackerel.

The grouper bite has been solid lately, with several local boats finding limits at structure in 90-130′. Live baits, cut baits, and cigar minnows will also produce action with the groupers.

Spanish mackerel have shown up in force along the beaches with plenty of small bluefish mixed in. Both fish have a hard time resisting trolled Clarkspoons or metal casting lures.

Inshore, the flounder bite is picking up, with more keepers mixed in with the sublegal fish. Live mud minnows, peanut pogies, and other baits will produce action with the flatfish.

Speckled trout and red drum are on the feed at the Little River jetties, with live shrimp the best bait. Black drum are feeding around docks, bridges, and other inshore structure, and they have a hard time resisting shrimp fished on a bottom rig.

 

Hannah, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some whiting on cut shrimp.