Ocean Isle – October 22, 2015
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing a slower king mackerel bite along the beachfront right now, but there has been scattered action with the kings at spots in 50-65’ of water a few miles offshore. Live menhaden are the best bets for hooking up with the kings. The menhaden have been a bit scattered along the beachfront, but anglers who put their time in are finding schools on most days.
Zachary Helms (age 9) with a citation 5 lb., 10 oz. flounder and a 24″ red drum he hooked in the ICW near Holden Beach while fishing with his grandfather.
Some red drum are still feeding along the local beachfront, but they’re moving on quickly. Anglers are still catching a few of the big reds around the Little River jetties while soaking live and cut menhaden and mullet on the bottom.
Bottom fishing has been producing some solid action with gag and scamp grouper at spots in 80-100’ of water. Live baits are excellent choice for the grouper but anglers can also hook up on dead and cut baits.
Anglers making the run to the break are still finding plenty of wahoo at local spots like the 100/400 and Winyah Scarp. Most of the ‘hoos are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.
Capt. Kevin Sneed and Dakota Winebarger, from Charlotte, with Dakota’s first king mackerel, hooked on a menhaden under a kite just off the beach at Oak Island.
Kyle, of Specklulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers saw some phenomenal action with citation-class red drum last week, but the action has slowed and will likely be over for the year after another cold front or two. Live and cut menhaden and mullet are the ways to hook the reds if anglers do find them.
The speckled trout bite has been consistent and improving lately, and with November typically one of the top trout months of the year, local anglers have much to look forward to.
The fish have been a bit scattered still, but anglers are picking up a few at just about all the normal trout spots in the area (with mixed sizes from 10” to 6 lbs.), and bouncing from spot to spot when the bite slows is producing some solid catches. Live shrimp are producing most of the action, but anglers can also hook up on a variety of shrimp-imitating artificials. Some gray trout, black and red drum, flounder, and more are also biting the shrimp while anglers are trout fishing.
Puppy drum (to 20”) are beginning to aggregate in the creeks where they’ll spend the winter, and anglers with shallow draft boats can find some good fishing in the skinny water with the smaller reds.
Capt. Wayne Newkirk, of Wilmington, with a citation red drum that bit a large finger mullet just off the beach at Oak Island.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent nearshore action just off the beach at Holden and Oak Island. Large red drum, king mackerel, and blacktip sharks are feeding on schools of menhaden just off the shoreline and anglers are capitalizing on the action.
Finding the menhaden schools has been tough on some days and it seems the fish have been showing more on top later in the morning as the sun gets up. After catching some menhaden with a cast net, anglers are anchoring up in the general vicinity of the schools or around nearshore structure and chumming to attract fish to the boat.
Keeping a few baits on the bottom for the drum and fishing several from a kite for the sharks and kings has been very productive lately (with big numbers of bull drum and sharks along with some 30+ lb. king mackerel).
Chuck Lewis, of Lincolntown, NC, with a 26.5″ red drum that bit a gold spinnerbait while he was kayak fishing the Lockwood Folly River near Varnamtown.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. A few black drum are also falling for the bottom rigs.
Some healthy flounder are biting live baits fished under the pier.
Corey payne and Bryan Freeman with a snowy grouper that attacked a piece of squid while they were deep-dropping in 800′ of water off Ocean Isle Beach on the “Reel McCoy.”
