Ocean Isle – September 25, 2014
Maryann Redington with a wahoo that struck a purple/red sea witch near the Blackjack Hole while she was trolling on the “ANNALI.”
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent spanish mackerel action along the local beachfront. Most of the fish are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights.
King mackerel are on the feed at local spots in the 65-80’ depths. Anglers can hook up with the kings while slow-trolling live baits around hard and live bottoms in that range. When live baits like menhaden are tough to find, dead cigar minnows will often also tempt bites from the kings. Any spot where anglers spy bait on the surface or depth sounder is worth paying particular attention to.
Gag grouper have made their fall move inshore and are feeding around rocks, wrecks, and other structure in the 65-80’ depths. Live baits like menhaden and pinfish are also top choices for the grouper, but they’ll bite a wide variety of cut and dead baits as well.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are still reporting some solid wahoo action at local spots from the Steeples to the Winyah Scarp. Both conventional trolling spreads of skirted ballyhoo and baitless high-speed lures pulled at 12-20 knots will fool the ‘hoos.
Kyle, of Speckulator Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing improved action across the area as the water temperatures begin to fall.
The red drum bite has gotten better both inshore and in the inlets. Inshore, anglers are finding schools of reds feeding around oyster beds in the creeks and docks and other structure along the ICW. Finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs or jigheads have been tough for the reds to turn down recently.
David Derrick, of Oak Island, NC, with a 12 lb. flounder he hooked while fishing near Oak Island. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Larger drum are looking for meals at Little River Inlet (most 38-44”), where anglers can hook up while drifting along the channel with live mullet and menhaden.
Flounder are feeding in Tubbs Inlet, along the ICW, and at nearshore AR’s and other structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are producing the majority of the flounder action.
Speckled trout action is slowly picking up as well, with most of the fish coming from flooded grass and shell banks between Sunset Beach and Little River. High tides have been producing the best action, and anglers are hooking the fish on topwater plugs and soft plastic swimbaits and grubs as live shrimp have been scarce recently.
Some large spanish mackerel have been feeding on finger mullet outside Little River and other area inlets, and they’re producing some exciting action, particularly during the falling tides. Free-lining finger mullet or working topwater and swimming plugs around the surface activity is the way to connect with the spaniards.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some large red drum (with fish to 40”+) just off the beachfront at Holden Beach and around nearshore structure from Cape Fear to Little River. Live and cut menhaden and mullet are fooling the big reds.
Some large spanish mackerel have been feeding around nearshore structure as well, where anglers can fool them with live finger mullet pinned to small treble hooks on light wire leaders.
King mackerel are making a nearshore appearance as well, and anglers are seeing kings jumping from the water just off the beachfront and around the same structure as the spanish and drum.
Rob, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been connecting with black and red drum, gray trout, flounder, and some spot from the pier recently.
The drum and trout are falling for shrimp and cut baits.
Small live baits fished near the pilings are fooling most of the flounder.
And the pier saw a decent spot run over the past weekend, with shrimp and bloodworms producing most of the action.
