Ocean Isle October 27, 2011
Wayne Hill, of North Myrtle Beach, with a massive 6 lb., 4 oz. pompano that he hooked while surf fishing just north of Cherry Gove Pier and weighed in at the pierhouse.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite was decent last week at spots in 100’ of water off the Brunswick beaches. There have also been some smaller fish in around 60’, and they’ll fall for live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Grouper are spread out along bottom structure in the same depth range, with gags feeding closer to shore and scamps and gags mixed in the deeper water. Live pinfish have had no trouble tempting the grouper to bite recently.
Bluefish are still feeding along the beachfront and pouncing on trolled Clarkspoons, but spanish mackerel are becoming few and far between as the water cools.
Inshore, flounder and red drum are still on the feed in theLockwoodFollyRiverand Inlet, and the speckled trout bite is turning on. The falling water temperatures should continue to improve the trout bite in the coming weeks.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there are still some king mackerel feeding along the beachfront, but they’re scattered so it may take some looking to find them in a feeding mood.
The king mackerel action has been more consistent at spots out in 100’ lately. Slow-trolling live baits will produce action with the kings, but dead cigar minnows pulled a little faster will often outproduce live baits at the deeper spots. A few cobia have been mixed in with the kings recently.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with gag grouper at spots in 70-90’ of water right now. Live baits like menhaden or pinfish are the way to go for the gags.
Blue water trollers are still finding a solid wahoo bite at local Gulf Stream hotspots, and the action should continue as the weather cools. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will put the wahoo in the boat.
Todd Ferber, of Shallotte, NC, with a 10 lb., 3 oz. flounder that bit a live finger mullet in the Shallotte River.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on in the area, and anglers are hooking good numbers at structure off the ICW. Live shrimp are the way to go for the specks, and there are still a few around to be cast-netted.
A few striped bass have been mixed in with the trout close to Little River.
Some trout are also feeding alongside red drum in the local creeks, and a live shrimp under a float is difficult for either fish to resist.
The drum are also moving up the creeks toward the potholes and flats where they’ll spend the winter schooled up and feeding. Anglers with shallow draft skiffs and flats boats can likely already find some feeding in the skinny water and tempt them to bite soft plastics or natural baits.
Flounder are still feeding in the creeks and inlets, and live shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows, or scented soft plastics like Gulp baits, will get their attention.
Robin, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching some sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms. The pier saw several spot runs last week, and there will likely be a few more before the season is over.
A few flounder are biting small live baits under the pier.
