Ocean Isle October 24, 2013
Capts. Barrett and Brant McMullan, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, with a citation red drum that bit a live menhaden a few miles off Shallotte Inlet.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of king mackerel at local spots in the 60-70’ depth range. Most are falling for live menhaden, but dead cigar minnows will often fool the kings as well.
Menhaden pods are plentiful on the beach for anglers looking for live baits. Large red drum (30-50”) are shadowing the menhaden schools, and anglers are hooking big numbers while casting live baits back at the schools.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still going strong, but wind and solid nearshore action have kept many anglers from making the run to the break lately. Trolling ballyhoo beneath skirted lures is the way to connect with the ‘hoos around local Gulf Stream spots like the Steeples, Blackjack Hole, and 100/400.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s still some excellent action with citation-class red drum around the Little River jetties and within a few miles of the local beachfront. Live and cut menhaden fished on the bottom have been producing most of the action with the reds.
Smaller puppy drum (16-25”) are feeding inshore and beginning to school up in the shallow creeks. Most are falling for live shrimp on jigheads or cut mullet fished on Carolina rigs.
Anglers are also finding some speckled trout action in the creeks, around ICW structure like bridges and docks, and at the Little River jetties, but many of the specks have been on the smaller side recently. Live shrimp and a variety of soft plastic baits are attracting attention from the trout.
Flounder fishing remains solid both at nearshore structure in the ocean and at familiar inshore spots like Tubbs Inlet (with several 5-8 lb. fish caught in Tubbs recently). Live finger mullet are prevalent inshore and have been producing the majority of the flatfish.
Maddie Laurents, of Charlotte, with a 43″ red drum she caught and released near Little River Inlet after it inhaled a live menhaden. She was fishing with Capt. Kyle Hughes of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters.
With cooler weather ahead, the big drum bite will likely slow down, but anglers should see even better inshore action with puppy drum and specks. Flounder should also be on the feed for a few more weeks at least (until the temperatures drop dramatically).
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers have found some exciting fishing lately for large red drum around menhaden schools in the ocean. Most of the action has been taking place within a few miles of the beaches, and anglers are some days releasing double-digit numbers of the citation class fish (20-40+ lbs.). Live menhaden fished on Carolina rigs under and around the bait are tempting the big reds to bite.
Inshore, anglers are hooking plenty of smaller reds around oyster beds and deeper spots in the shallow creeks. The few hours surrounding low tide have been producing the best action, and live shrimp and finger mullet are tempting bites from the drum.
Speckled trout are beginning to show up in fall numbers inshore around ICW structure, in the creeks, and around the inlets. Live shrimp are the best bets for anglers looking to hook up with the specks, but a variety of soft plastic lures will tempt bites as well.
Anglers are catching solid numbers of flounder inshore, with Tubbs Inlet and the Shallotte River producing some of the best action recently. Live finger mullet are fooling the flatfish.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking pompano, sea mullet, and a few spot while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers soaking live baits are hooking some flounder.
