Ocean Isle September 30, 2010
Gavin and Beau McDowell, from Murrells Inlet, SC, with a 7.5 lb. sheepshead that fell for a live shrimp near the Sunset Beach Bridge.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that there are still plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beaches, and anglers are hooking good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons.
Large sharks are prowling the same area and will take an interest in cut baits.
Anglers landed a few king mackerel while slow-trolling pogies around the Shark Hole last week.
Offshore, there’s been solid bottom fishing in 80-100’ of water, where anglers are hooking up with sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, beeliners, and gag and scamp grouper. Squid and cut baits are fooling the smaller bottomfish, and the grouper are falling for live pogies.
Dolphin (ranging from peanuts to 15 lbs.) are still feeding along weed lines offshore in around 100’, and they will strike a variety of baits. Some wahoo are feeding in the same areas, and there’s been an excellent wahoo bite a bit further out in the Stream recently.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that after being absent for a while, pogies have shown up in good numbers near Lockwood Folly and Shallotte inlets. The bait triggered a decent king mackerel bite around Yaupon Reef last week, but the hot fall beach bite is still to come. One boat did land a 37 lb. king while pulling cigar minnows at the 90/90’s.
Pods of spanish mackerel are feeding in the typical areas along the beachfront, and anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons or casting smaller metal lures to the feeding fish.
Larger spanish are feeding in many of the usual king mackerel areas for this time of year.
Gag grouper are moving in towards the beaches as fall begins, and anglers reported action around bottom structure in 65-80’ of water recently.
Brad, Brian, and Wes McCabe, from Ocean City, MD, with red drum caught on live pogies near Oak Island. They were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Good catches of scamp grouper are coming from bottom spots in 100’ and deeper. Live baits are the best ways to fool the grouper.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream found much improved fishing last week, landing good numbers of wahoo (some to over 50 lbs.), football blackfin tuna, and a few gaffer dolphin. Skirted ballyhoo are the best baits for the Gulf Stream predators.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the area flounder bite is still solid (with fish to 8 lbs. caught last week). Anglers are finding the flatfish around docks and other structure in the ICW, the Shallotte and Lockwood Folly rivers, and Tubbs and Shallotte inlets inshore. The action also remains solid at nearshore wrecks and other structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies are the way to go for the flounder.
Red drum are beginning to congregate in the backs of the local creeks (most 17-20” but a few larger). Live baits are also the best bet for the reds. Some bigger reds are feeding at the Little River jetties (most 8-12 lbs. with some larger fish mixed in), but the bite’s been hit-or-miss.
Speckled trout are beginning to make a better showing in the ICW, and anglers caught several while flounder and drum fishing last week.
