Ocean Isle October 23, 2008
Derek McKee and Scott Allen show off a wahoo they caught while fishing with Capt. Brant McMullan aboard the "OIFC World Cat." They were trolling ballyhoo in 180' of water near the Blackjack Hole and caught the wahoo on a blue/white Ilander. The crew also had blackfin tuna and released a sailfish.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that Gulf Stream trollers are finding a scattered wahoo bite in the blue water (with most fish 25-40 lbs.). The 100/400 and Blackjack Hole are good places to begin looking for them. A few dolphin and blackfin tuna are still mixed in with the wahoo, and all will take an interest in ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishermen found excellent fishing for beeliners at structure in 80-100′ last week. Rigs baited with squid will produce fast action with the bees when anglers locate them.
Gag grouper are feeding on structure in 65-90′ of water, and anglers also scored good catches of gags last week. Live baits like pogies, pinfish, and others are the tickets to hookups with the largest grouper.
The king mackerel bite has been steady along the Brunswick County beaches and out to structure like Yaupon Reef, Lighthouse Rocks, and the river channel. Live baits like pogies and bluefish are top choices for the kings. Pogies have been plentiful around the Hot Hole as of late, and anglers are catching plenty of bluefish around the inlets on Gotcha Plugs and Clarkspoons.
Good numbers of big red drum are holding around the same nearshore structure that’s attracting the kings, and anglers are hooking some while king fishing, especially while anchored up and chumming.
Jeff Parker, of Hampstead, NC, with his first king mackerel. He hooked the king near Frying Pan Tower while fishing with Capt. Bill Zeron aboard the "Bottom Line."
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the inshore red drum bite has been excellent lately. Anglers are finding the reds (most 16-25″) around docks, bridges, and other structure in the ICW and in shallow water in the creeks and marshes. Live finger mullet and shrimp are the most productive baits.
Speckled trout fishing has been steady lately, and it will get even better as the water temperatures fall. The fish are moving into the usual fall spots including the inlets and bridges, and live shrimp fished on float rigs are the most effective trout baits.
Flounder fishing was a little tougher last week due to the strong tidal currents created by the full moon, but anglers still caught some flatties at spots sheltered from the current. Now that the flow is a little weaker, the fishing should improve.
Gray trout are schooling on the nearshore wrecks and reefs. Bottom fishing with live finger mullet or working jigs like Stingsilvers over the structure will produce action with the grays.
Capt. Lane and Anna Hurst with a couple of the reds they hooked just off a beach in the Swansboro area. They were using Gulp shrimp.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that the king mackerel bite is still going strong at nearshore spots like the river channel, Yaupon Reef, and Lockwood Folly sea buoy. Live pogies are plentiful in the same areas, and they are the most effective baits for the kings.
The king bite has also been good a bit further out at spots like the Jungle, and there are still a few sailfish around, as a 74″ fish released at the Jungle last week proved.
Spot are beginning to run in the ICW, and anglers who locate the fish will have fast action while bottom fishing with bloodworms.
Corey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that the spot have been running on and off. Bloodworms on bottom rigs are the best spot baits.
Anglers are also catching a few red drum on live finger mullet fished on the bottom.
