Ocean Isle September 27, 2007
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that some king mackerel have begun feeding on the beach (with most 10-20 lbs.). The Yaupon Reef has held particularly large numbers of the nearshore kings recently. Pogies are also beginning to show back up along the beach, especially in the Long Beach area.
More kings are staging in the 55-60’ depths, and they should be pushing inshore as the water cools down a bit.
Spanish mackerel are also making a strong showing along the beach and will pounce on trolled Clarkspoons.
Gag groupers are holding on structure in 70-80’ of water, with most of the reds and scamps out in 100’+. Live baits, such as pogies, are the top choices for the larger grouper.
Beeliners are also stacked up over structure in 100’ of water and deeper, and they will fall for hooks baited with small pieces of squid or cut bait.
Last weekend was the first time boats had been able to make it out to the Gulf Stream recently, and the wahoo bite was on fire. Yellowfin tuna are also feeding out in the Stream. Skirted ballyhoo will fool the wahoo, tuna, and other blue water predators.
Flounder are feeding throughout the inshore and nearshore waters. Anglers are connecting with the flatfish in creeks and around docks, drop-offs, and other structure inshore, and good catches are also coming from the nearshore reefs such as the Jim Caudle. Carolina-rigged finger mullet are the gold standard of flounder baits, and anglers are also hooking up with the flatfish on bucktails tipped with live bait. The flatfish are abundant and running large, with many fish in the 5-9 lb. range weighed in during the past week.
Speckled trout are also on the feed inshore, and anglers are finding them in creeks and around ICW structure. Live shrimp are top trout producers, but they’ll strike a wide variety of artificial baits as well. Anglers also weighed in some big trout last week, including a citation-worthy 6 lb. fish.
Red drum are hunting for meals around docks and other structure in the ICW, where live finger mullet will entice them to bite.
Becky, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that a few spot are beginning to run. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms or shrimp are the best spot producers.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs are hooking up with bluefish.
Flounder are biting live baits fished on the bottom.
The water temperature is 80 degrees.
