Ocean Isle – October 9, 2014
Frank Harrelson, Jr., of Charlotte, NC, with a citation red drum that struck cut menhaden just off Holden Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some of the best king mackerel action in local waters that they have in years, especially good news after a slow summer bite. The fish are feeding all along Brunswick County’s shoreline from the beachfront to spots in the 70’ range in solid numbers and sizes (with 30 lb. fish at most familiar king spots recently). Live menhaden are the best bets for anglers looking to hook up with a king, and they’ve been on the beachfront in big numbers, so securing a day’s worth of live baits shouldn’t be a challenge. Dead baits like cigar minnows can also be effective mackerel foolers, particularly at spots further from the beachfront.
Spanish mackerel are also around in big numbers and on the feed, and anglers trolling Clarkspoons around the inlets and along the beachfront are producing fast action with the tasty, smaller mackerel.
Wahoo are feeding well in the Gulf Stream, and anglers making the run to local blue water hotspots are putting together some solid catches. Conventional skirted ballyhoo spreads are fooling most of the ‘hoos, but anglers can also cover more water to find active fish while trolling high-speed lures if the bite seems a bit off.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing a variety of solid fishing options in the area right now, both inshore and along the beachfront.
Nick and Chad McDonald, of Fayetteville, NC, with their first keeper flounder. Both bit live finger mullet in Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Red drum are feeding in Little River Inlet (many 10-12 lbs., but some 30-40), where anglers are hooking them while fishing live and cut menhaden and mullet on the bottom. Some days drifting through the inlet has been the most productive method, with anchoring up a better option on others.
More big reds are shadowing schools of menhaden along the beachfront from Southport to Little River, and anglers who find the bait schools can often experience some epic fishing for the giant reds.
Spanish mackerel are also feeding along the beaches and outside the inlets, and anglers have had good luck hooking them on topwater plugs recently (with some big fish in the mix). Metal casting jigs will fool the spaniards when they don’t want to bite the plugs. Some false albacore are also feeding along the beachfront and will bite the same casting jigs.
Gray trout and flounder are feeding at nearshore wrecks and reefs just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking both on Carolina-rigged finger mullet. Some cobia have been feeding in the same areas and surprising anglers who are fishing for the flatfish.
The flounder bite has been good inshore as well, with solid numbers of fish in Tubbs Inlet, ICW docks, and other familiar spots. Live mullet will fool the flatfish inshore as well.
Noah Robinson (age 16), from Georgia, with a 24″ flounder that struck a live menhaden near Bald Head Island.
The speckled trout bite isn’t on fire yet, but anglers are hooking a few along flooded grass banks from Calabash to Little River. Live shrimp are the best bets for the specks, but they can be tough to find. A variety of soft plastics and other artificials will fool the trout when anglers can’t find shrimp.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that there’s been a solid king mackerel bite from the Brunswick County beachfront to spots in the 20 mile range recently. Most of the fish are falling for menhaden and other live baits. Some large red drum are feeding along the beachfront and at nearshore structure in the ocean, and anglers are also tempting them to bite menhaden, although cut baits will sometimes outfish live ones with the drum.
Bob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some sea mullet, black drum, and spot have been biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Live baits fished under the pier are fooling some flounder.
