Ocean Isle September 17, 2009
Jenn Parker, of Ocean Isle Beach, with a 9 lb. 10 oz. flounder caught on a live mud minnow. She was fishing on the “Island Girl.” Weighed at Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite has finally turned on after a long dry spell. Anglers are reporting some big kings (up to 30+ lbs.) from Yaupon Reef and other spots nearshore around the river channel. Tremendous numbers of pogies, bluefish, spanish mackerel, and mullet are drawing the big kings to the beach.
There’s been a faster bite (but with smaller fish to 15-20 lbs.) taking place at the Jungle and other areas in 60-70’ of water. Live pogies are fooling the kings.
Good numbers of sailfish have been reported around the Jungle and similar spots as well, and the live baits that anglers are trolling for king mackerel are fooling the sails, too.
Bottom fishermen are also enjoying improved fishing. Anglers are finding action with gag grouper at bottom structure in 70-90’, scamps in 100-110’, and reds on the east side of the Frying Pan Shoals. Live baits, cut baits, dead cigar minnows, and a variety of other baits will produce action with the groupers.
Martin and Mark Shaw, from Greenville, NC, with a pair of amberjacks tthey hooked on live pogies near the Navy Wreck.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are finding a few flounder scattered throughout the area, but the bite’s been a little hit-or-miss, with one solid day followed by a slower one.
The flatfish are feeding on the nearshore wrecks, live bottoms, and reefs in the ocean.
Inshore, anglers are hooking them around the inlets, in the backwaters, around ICW structure, and in the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly Rivers. Wherever anglers find the flounder, live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are tough to beat.
The red drum bite’s been solid around the Little River Inlet lately. Anglers are hooking up with good numbers of the reds (most 28-32”) near the jetties, and it’s almost time for some of the larger, citation-class fish to make a showing.
Inshore, anglers are finding the reds feeding around docks and in the creeks. Live finger mullet are also producing most of the action with the reds inshore as well.
Some speckled trout (including some quality fish in the 4 lb. range) are also in the area, and anglers are hooking a few on finger mullet, as live shrimp have been hard to come by lately.
David, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding some action with bluefish and spanish mackerel around Yaupon Reef and at other nearshore spots. Clarkspoons will fool the spanish and blues.
A few king mackerel are in the area as well. Live baits like pogies are top choices for the kings.
Caleb, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching some flounder on small live baits.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits is producing action with some whiting and bluefish.
