Ocean Isle September 15, 2011
Susan Shelley, from Whiteville, NC, with a 6 lb. 9 oz. flounder caught on the outgoing tide in the Shallotte River on a mullet minnow.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers have found a consistent wahoo bite in the blue water off Brunswick County over the past week (with most fish 30-50 lbs.). The fish have been feeding from spots in around 130’ on out to 300’ or so. Ballyhoo under dark-colored skirted lures, high-speed plugs, and live baits will all draw bites from the ‘hoos. Dolphin are feeding around floating debris in the same area and will bite ballyhoo and a variety of other baits.
Bottom fishing in 100-130’ has been producing big catches of beeliners. Squid and cut baits will get their attention. Scamp grouper are feeding in many of the same areas, and live cigar minnows are tempting them to bite.
The king mackerel bite is still slow.
Closer to the beaches, large schools of spanish mackerel were feeding under working birds in 30-40’ of water last week. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers will put the spanish in the boat.
Plenty of menhaden schools have been working along the beaches, so anglers looking for live baits shouldn’t have much trouble finding them.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there’s been some solid bottom fishing in around 100’ of water southwest of Frying Pan Tower recently. Bottom rigs baited with cut baits are attracting attention from big numbers of black sea bass, beeliners, grunts, and other bottom feeders. Scamp and gag grouper are feeding in the same areas and attacking live baits.
Some king mackerel and wahoo have been falling for light-lined baits while anglers are bottom fishing.
Scattered king mackerel have also been feeding at spots in the 50-60’ range like Lighthouse Rocks, and live menhaden are tempting them to bite.
Flounder are feeding in the rivers and inlets inshore and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will both attract attention from the flatties.
Carlie (age 8) and Nick Deason, of Monroe, NC, with a well over-slot red drum that bit a live menhaden on light tackle at Yaupon Reef.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that there’s been a good red drum bite in the creeks and at ICW structure like docks and bridges lately (with most fish 18-23”). Live shrimp and finger mullet are tempting bites from the reds.
Black drum are feeding alongside the reds at the docks and bridges, where live shrimp are difficult for them to resist.
Anglers are also finding some exciting sight-fishing opportunities for the reds when higher tides flood marsh grass.
Some larger drum (8-12 lbs.) are feeding around the Little River jetties, where live and cut menhaden, finger mullet, and crab baits will tempt them to bite.
Flounder have been feeding on mud flats and in creeks on the low and rising tides. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp will all attract attention from the flatfish.
Jennifer, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and spot on shrimp and blood worms.
