Ocean Isle – September 15, 2016
Brody, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there have been over-slot reds caught in the backwater. The fish are falling for live bait under a popping cork and on Carolina rigs. Target the fish along creeks and in the ICW.
Flounder fishing has slowed in the backwaters, but anglers can head north towards Southport for a stronger bite. Those targeting the flatfish should use live mullet on a Carolina rig. Though the fish are few and far between, the ones that have been caught have been 18-22”.
Right on the beach, signs of fall are coming hand-in-hand with the mullet run. The spanish have started to thicken up, and trolling Clarkspoons or light lining live bait will connect anglers to the fish.
The flounder bite is good on the nearshore reefs, and using both Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with live bait has proven successful, with fish in the 5-6 lb. range landed off the reefs.
A little further out, the king mackerel bite is improving, but it’s not yet on fire. The 20 mile range is where anglers are beginning to connect with the fish, all the way to the 40 miles.
Near the beach, there’s been a few lone cobia reported, and a few were caught in the 20 mile range and close to nearshore reefs.
Offshore in the 40 mile range, bottom fishing has been producing well for anglers, with snapper, grunts, and black sea bass hitting the decks. Anglers have enjoyed a good grouper bite, too. The nicer kings will also be in the 40 mile range.
Sailfish have been all over the map, and anglers have reported them from 50 miles out all the way in to 5 miles from shore.
In the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite is picking up around Blackjack and the Steeples. Fish have been caught trolling ballyhoo on a #5 planer. Darker lures have been more successful, so look to use colors such as purple and black. High speed trolling has hooked a few as well.
This same area is holding blackfun tuna in the 12-15 lb. range, and a few random mahi were reported as well.
Nicholas Cochran, of Raleigh, with a 26 red drum caught in the ICW near Holden Beach. The fish fell for a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig.
Cecil, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers are connecting with quite a few bluefish in the surf. Throwing shrimp, cut bait, and finger mullet are tempting bites from the blues, as well as black drum and larger pompano. Whiting are still being landed, and they’re falling for shrimp.
The bite in the backwater has increased with the mullet migration, and the flounder bite has been hot, with 18-20” fish reported. Speckled trout are biting, with most of the fish measuring in at 14” and up, and the red drum being hooked are smaller rat reds and under-slot. All three species will take mullet and live shrimp.
Tim and Kristen Gallimore, of Shallotte, with a 40 lb. citation cobia caught while flounder fishing on a nearshore reef off Ocean Isle Beach. The fish fell for a mullet-tipped bucktail on a flounder rod.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the bite has started to pick up, and flounder fishing has been fairly consistent both inshore and off the beach (though no big flatfish have yet been reported). With the mullet run being in full swing, it’s the best bait of choice. Anglers should still expect to cull through undersized flatfish as they catch them, but it’s the right time of year for seeing bigger fish.
Red drum are showing up in the usual spots in the creeks. Top of the slot to 30” fish are near the river jetties, which is typical of September. The signs are lining up for a good citation-sized red drum bite in 2-3 weeks. A few of the 40” fish have been reported, but anglers will need to venture to nearshore structure, like reefs and wrecks, for a chance at one of the early reds.
The best speckled trout fishing has been around the jetty, but there haven’t been any big ones reported yet. A few are on the inside as well, if you know the spots. With the mullet around, there are also some good opportunities for a topwater bite.
The spanish are still running up and down the beach, and the best time to target them is during the falling tides, when the mullet are being dumped out of Little River and the other inlets. Fish live baits for a chance to hook up with the large spanish.
Cheyenne Harrelson, of Whiteville, with a 24 speckled trout caught on a live finger mullet at Sunset Beach.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that the mullet run is causing fishing to pick up, and anglers are connecting with large, citation-sized spanish mackerel. Nearshore reefs are the best place to target the big fish, and they will take live mullet.
Anglers fishing around the reefs can also connect with larger flounder, but be prepared to also hook sharks like bonnets and hammerheads.
Jim, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are mostly connecting with bluefish and some small flounder that have to be thrown back. A few whiting have been caught, and a sheepshead was recently reported coming over the rails. Anglers are mostly targeting fish with shrimp on a bottom rig.
The water is 82 degrees.
