Ocean Isle September 1, 2011
Aaron Claxton, of Silver Spring, MD, with a 7 lb., 9 oz. flounder that inhaled a 3" Gulp pogy in the ICW near the Sunset Beach Bridge.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the local waters are recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irene, which had little impact on land in the area. The fishing has been improving by the day since the storm, and the ocean water temperatures have fallen around five degrees, a hopeful sign that things will be back to normal and fall fishing may even get an early start this year.
There’s been a good black sea bass bite at offshore structure in the area, with anglers reporting action with keeper bass in as little as 40’ of water. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits or small vertical jigs will tempt the bass to bite.
Spanish mackerel fishing has also been coming around, and boats were able to hook a few (along with some ladyfish) while trolling Clarkspoons off the Brunswick beaches in the past few days.
King mackerel are still spotty, as they were before the storm, but boats found a little action at spots in around 60’ earlier this week. The old Cape Fear River channel area is typically one of the first places to support a decent king bite after a large storm, as the changing tidal currents seem to flush dirty water out of the area sooner than other local spots.
Pogies have been tough to locate since the weather, so trolling dead cigar minnows or any live baits that anglers can get their hands on at spots in the river channel is likely the best strategy for anglers looking to hook a king mackerel in the coming days.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that solid inshore action with puppy drum and flounder remains in the wake of the hurricane.
Bait has been plentiful, as the fresh water runoff from the rains seems to be pushing shrimp and finger mullet out of the local creeks. They’ve been easy to cast-net at lower tides around the creek mouths, and anglers are also finding plenty of mullet cruising the waterway at most tides.
Ben Adams (age 6) with a 22" flounder that fell for a firetail green grub he was casting off a dock on Davis Canal.
Fishing the shrimp and mullet on split-shot rigs, jigheads, and beneath popping corks has been the most effective tactic lately, and the lion’s share of the fish are coming from the tidal creeks.
The large red drum bite was turning on at the Little River jetties last week, and the fish are likely still around. Fishing live or cut menhaden and mullet around the rocks will let anglers know whether the fish are still there.
Melton, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are decking some spot and sea mullet while bottom fishing from the pier. Bloodworms have been the best baits lately for anglers who can find them.
The dirty water leftover from the hurricane slowed the spanish bite early last week. It’s been getting cleaner by the day, though, and the spanish should be feeding near the pier again soon.
