Ocean Isle November 11, 2010
Larry Rhodes with a 6.4 lb. flounder he hooked on a live bait from Ocean Isle Pier.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there was some solid king fishing over the past weeks at Lighthouse Rocks and around the Shallotte Inlet sea buoy. The fish are following a typical fall progression, feeding around Shallotte a few days after the bite at Lighthouse died. They have likely pushed offshore after last weekend’s cold snap, and may be feeding at the 90/90’s, the Shark Hole, the Jungle, the 70’ Hole, or on out to the Atlantic Ledge.
Starting around the 90’s and working offshore until anglers find the fish is the way to locate them. Once anglers find them, the kings are generally easy to catch this time of year as they feed up before winter. Finding live bait is usually not an issue as well, as the kings will often bite dead cigar minnows as well as live baits.
Further to the east, the Horseshoe is a good spot for anglers to begin their king mackerel hunt.
The gag grouper bite has been decent lately at bottom structure in the 65-80’ depth range. Many of the fish were on the small side last week, but the cooler weather should push some of the larger gags inshore. Live baits like pinfish and pogies are the way to go for the gags.
Not many boats have made the trip to the Gulf Stream lately, but the wahoo bite should still be decent and get even better as fall wears on. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures or high-speed baitless lures will tempt bites from the ‘hoos.
Robert Hughes, of Sunset Beach, with a hogfish that fell for a live cigar minnow in 165' of water while fishing off Ocean Isle with Capt. Todd Helf.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the area’s speckled trout bite is heating up, and anglers are hooking up with the fish along the grass banks, around Sunset Beach Bridge, ICW docks, the Ocean Isle canals, and out at the Little River jetties. Most of the fish inshore have been on the smaller side, with slightly larger specks at the jetties, but they’ve been making up for their size with big numbers.
Live shrimp under float rigs are far and away the best baits for the trout, but anglers will need to trawl for the shrimp or buy them, as the cool temperatures have chased them deep and out of the creeks.
Red drum are also on the feed inshore and at the jetties (again with slightly larger fish at the jetties). Live shrimp are also taking a toll on the reds. Float-rigging them has been the most effective at the jetties (for mostly 25-27” fish). Inshore, anglers have been finding the reds in the creeks, where pinning the shrimp to light jigheads has been the most effective strategy.
Plenty of flounder are still feeding alongside the reds in the creeks, and anglers are picking up decent numbers of keepers while redfishing many days.
Dustin, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the spot bite has been best on rising tides in the middle of the days lately. Live bloodworms have been outproducing artificial worms and shrimp.
Anglers fishing smaller live baits on the bottom are hooking up with decent numbers of flounder.
