Ocean Isle October 15, 2009
Holly Wise, of Wilmington, with a gag grouper that fell for a dead mullet in 70' of water 18 miles off Holden Beach while she was fishing with her fiance John.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite is finally coming around. Anglers have been hooking the fish (up to 20-30 lbs.) all over the area, with good reports from the old Cape Fear River channel, Shallotte Inlet, the 90/90, the Shark Hole, the Jungle, and other areas from the beach to well offshore. Live pogies are the baits of choice for the kings, and they’ve been extremely plentiful along the Brunswick County beaches lately.
Some cobia have been mixed in with the kings as well, and plenty of amberjacks are also hanging around the structure further off the beaches.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are running the beaches in search of meals, and anglers should have little trouble hooking up while trolling Clarkspoons or casting Gotcha plugs and other metal lures to breaking schools of fish.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream lately have been reporting a decent wahoo bite with a few blackfin tuna in the mix as well. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures are the tickets to bites from the ‘hoos and blackfins.
Terry Sossamon, of Holden Beach, with a big pair of flounder he hooked in Lockwood Folly Inlet on live finger mullet.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the big drum bite has been on in Little River Inlet recently. Some days are better than others, but multiple shots at 40”+ reds are the norm. Drifting through the inlet with large finger mullet on Carolina rigs has been the most effective strategy for the big reds.
Smaller puppy drum are feeding along the rock jetties at the inlet, and fishing live shrimp under float rigs near the structure is producing plenty of action with the pups. Some specks are also in the mix.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait in Little River Inlet and just outside, and anglers can hook up with both while casting MirrOlure Catch 2000’s and other lures to the feeding schools.
Some gray trout are also moving into the inlet, and they’ll fall for baits on Carolina rigs or jigging lures like Stingsilvers worked along the bottom.
The trout bite’s slowed down a bit inshore, but anglers are still hooking up with some specks in the creeks, around the Little River Crossroads, and near Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp under floats are the most effective baits for the trout as well.
The docks and rocks inshore at Ocean Isle have also been giving up decent numbers of puppy drum and flounder. Casting Carolina-rigged finger mullet around the residential docks and the rock riprap at the ends of the canals has been tempting the flatties and puppies to bite.
Capt. Tres Kirkland, of Carolina Saltwater Charters, with a 30.5 lb. blackfin tuna he hooked off Ocean Isle in 70' of water.
Becky, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with a few spot, but the run isn’t in full swing yet. The bite has been better at night, and most of the fish are falling for bloodworms.
Some whiting are also taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms fished on the bottom.
And anglers baiting up with live finger mullet are catching a few flounder.
