Ocean Isle September 27, 2012
Jack Hamric (age 8) of Ocean Isle Beach, with a 27" red drum he hooked on a live finger mullet in the ICW while fishing with his father on the "Sails Call."
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that fall is here and so is fall fishing. The wahoo bite has been excellent along the break lately, with anglers hooking big numbers of the striped speedsters at local hotspots like the Steeples, Blackjack Hole, 100/400, and Winyah Scarp. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures are tempting most of the bites from the ‘hoos.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing action with grouper at structure in 100-120’. Live baits are the best bets for the biggest grouper. Plenty of smaller bottom dwellers like porgies, grunts, triggerfish, and more are looking for meals at the same structure and will pounce on cut squid or fish.
The king mackerel bite has been solid recently at spots in 50-65’ of water like the Shark Hole. Live baits are the best bets for the larger kings, but anglers can also find plenty of action while pulling dead cigar minnows.
The waters just off the Brunswick County beaches are loaded with bait, so it shouldn’t be long before the kingfish make a move towards the shoreline.
The smaller spanish mackerel are already going strong along the beachfront, and anglers can hook big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons just offshore around working birds, surface activity, and schools of menhaden and mullet.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of smaller red drum feeding in the creeks. Most of the action is around oyster bars and other shoreline irregularities. Gulp baits and small, live finger mullet on jigheads or beneath popping corks are fooling the reds.
Matthew Dwight (age 8), of Charlotte, NC, with his first red drum, a 26" fish that fell for a live shrimp near the old Sunset Beach bridge while he was fishing with his father Bryan.
Solid numbers of flounder are mixed in with the drum and falling for the same baits (most smaller but decent numbers of keepers as well).
A few large (30+ lbs.) red drum are feeding around Little River Inlet, and anglers caught several last week while drift-fishing the inlet on the rising tides. Live menhaden have been tempting most of the bites from the reds.
Gray trout are schooling up at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef and local wrecks. Live shrimp are tough for the grays to turn down.
Anglers are also still catching some fat flatfish at the ocean structure, but the bite isn’t as hot as it was a few weeks ago. Live finger mullet are the way to go for the flounder.
Trey, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder while soaking small live baits under the pier.
Black drum are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs.
Some red drum are also feeding in the vicinity and will bite live baits or shrimp.
Plug casters are connecting with a few bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
