Ocean Isle November 17, 2011
Sophie Hughes, of Calabash, NC, with a speckled trout that bit a live shrimp under a float in a local creek while she was fishing on the "Lil' Bro Bro."
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are finally seeing some decent king mackerel fishing, but the fish are feeding in 100’ and deeper, with some mixing in with wahoo out on the break. Live baits and dead cigar minnows are attracting attention from the mackerel.
The wahoo bite has been decent at local spots like the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole, and both rigged ballyhoo and high-speed trolling lures will produce bites from the ‘hoos. Good numbers of blackfin tuna and plenty of false albacore are in the blue water mix as well.
Mark of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the speckled trout bite has been incredible lately. A lot of the fish are on the small side, but some days anglers are seeing the larger fish (2-4 lbs.) bite just as quickly as the spikes. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but anglers have been hooking plenty on D.O.A. and Billy Bay shrimp and Gulp baits as well. Drifting the offerings under float rigs is the best strategy, but anglers trolling MirrOlures have been getting into the action as well.
The fish have been feeding along the ICW, in the creeks, and around the Little River jetties (which have been producing consistently larger fish for anglers with live shrimp).
Some smaller “rat” red drum (16-20”) are feeding in local creeks and out at the jetties, and live shrimp, Gulps, and other soft plastics on jigheads will get their attention.
Some flounder are still in the area, and anglers caught several while trout fishing last week. Targeting them by fishing on the bottom instead of with a float rig will up anglers’ odds of taking home some flatfish.
Zach Faulkner with a 20 lb. mutton snapper that bit a live cigar minnow 80' deep on the downrigger while he was trolling off Ocean Isle with Capt. Brant McMullan on the "Team OIFC" out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Jacob, of J&J Inshore Charters, reports that anglers are finding steady action with speckled trout and red drum in the backwaters near Ocean Isle. The trout bite has at times been red hot, and both soft plastics and live baits have been fooling the fish lately.
The reds aren’t quite feeding with the reckless abandon of the specks, but anglers are hooking several on most days.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with cut shrimp have been catching some healthy sea mullet lately.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and taking an interest in live shrimp and mud minnows.
