Ocean Isle October 11, 2012
Grant Davidson, of Asheboro, NC, with a wahoo that bit a ballyhoo behind a blue/white Islander near the 100/400 while he was fishing out of Holden Beach with Capt. Ken Richardson of Glory Daze Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that spanish mackerel are feeding heavily just off the Long Bay beaches right now. The best bite’s been in 15-40’ of water lately, and most anglers are hooking up while trolling Clarkspoons, although the fish are schooled up tightly enough to cast small metal jigs on lighter tackle around surface activity and working birds.
King mackerel have moved to the beaches, and anglers are hooking big numbers in the Cape Fear shipping channel (with plenty of 20-30 lb. class fish). More fish are feeding at structure from the beaches to 80’ and deeper like the Jungle, Shark Hole, 390’s, and other areas. Live baits are the best bets for the largest kings, and there have been plenty of menhaden along the beachfront for anglers searching for baits. Bluefish and other solid baits are also in good supply, so it’s no wonder the kings have their fall appetites cranked up.
Some cobia (many 50-70+ lb. bruisers) and sailfish are feeding alongside the kings at the spots in 80-100’ of water.
Gulf Stream trollers are hooking good numbers of wahoo, but not as many as they were last week during the full moon. Blackfin tuna are schooling up around the Steeples and other hard breaks in the Gulf Stream, and anglers are hooking them while trolling and dropping vertical jigs. Sailfish are also in the blue water mix, and most boats making the long run are seeing at least one a trip take an interest in their spreads.
Alex Stone (age 10), of Ocean Isle Beach, with a pair of flounder he hooked on live finger mullet near the Ocean Isle bridge.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that king mackerel are biting along the beaches from Southport to Little River. Live baits like menhaden are tough for the kings to turn down, and they’ve been in excellent supply as well.
Spanish mackerel are seemingly everywhere in the same range. Anglers are putting together big catches while trolling Clarkspoons, but they can also downsize their gear and cast lures like Gotcha plugs and Deadly Dicks to schools of fish chasing bait on the surface. Casting might be slightly less productive, but fighting the fish on light tackle is a fun departure from cranking them in on trolling rods.
Big numbers of flounder (but many undersized) are feeding in the creeks and taking an interest in finger mullet fished on split-shot rigs. Plenty of small “rat” red drum (15-17”) and a few mid-slot fish are in the same areas and also taking an interest in the mullet.
The speckled trout bite is turning on in the ICW, and anglers are catching good numbers on Gulp and Billy Bay Halo shrimp imitations while casting to the banks and oyster bars.
Capt. Cane and Bella (age 3) Faircloth with a king mackerel Bella caught after it bit a live menhaden at Yaupon Reef.
Plenty of live shrimp are still around for anglers looking for them, but the trout have been receptive enough to the artificials that it’s unnecessary most days.
Large red drum have shown up in Little River Inlet, and drifting between the jetties with live finger mullet and menhaden on Carolina rigs is the way to hook up with them.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished on the bottom.
Plug casters are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas from the pier.
