Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – June 2024
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that red drum are in a summertime pattern where they are scattered throughout the area. Anglers have done best by casting their Carolina-rigged live baits around areas of structure, such as docks along the ICW.
A bunch of large flounder have moved inside. Anglers targeting red drum with live bait are almost guaranteed to have to work through some flatfish along the way.
Black drum are around, mostly in deep holes with nearby oyster beds. A bottom-rigged shrimp is still best, but with the arrival of the trash fish species, it can require checking baits more often.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that blue water trolling efforts should still yield decent catches of mahi, but don’t be afraid to start shallow (100-120’). Pay attention to where that blue water starts and look for weed lines in the area. That being said, also keep the option open to run out past 600’ as big weed lines can form out there in the summer and will hold a lot of mahi.
The 100-150’ bottom areas are producing gag grouper, as well as triggerfish and vermilion snapper.
King mackerel are scattered from the beachfronts out to 100’. To narrow it down, a larger concentration of kings usually holds in the 60-80’ range.
Schools of menhaden will be moving along the beachfronts and attracting king mackerel and bluefish.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that red drum are all over the area, though scattered. Live bait has been producing best, especially with menhaden now being more plentiful. Live shrimp also works great, but shrimp have been a bit hard to come by.
Speckled trout are mixed in but are slowing down a little. The better action has been while fishing cleaner water during an incoming tide and targeting deep holes around the inlet. Live shrimp or larger MirrOlures have been the baits of choice.
Black drum are being caught with shrimp fished around hard structures such as docks.
A ton of bluefish are both inshore and off the beach, and a bunch of smaller spanish mackerel have moved in along the beachfronts.
The schoolie king mackerel (to 15 lbs.) are showing up in the 8-10 mile range. Both live pogies or dead cigar minnows will produce strikes as these fish work their way in closer.
Cobia (to 55”) are starting to show up along the beaches.
Dayton Dodson, of Wingate, NC, found this king mackerel offshore of Oak Island using a deep diving crank bait. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Bell on the Rusty Hook.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout fishing has remained steady, with most fish coming off live shrimp floated under a cork. Look for areas around oyster rocks that have good current flow.
Bait shrimp is starting to show up in the creeks. Though small, they are still catching fish.
The red drum are mostly scattered along the waterway and staged up around docks and on the shallow flats. Most of these reds are hitting cut menhaden or mullet on a Carolina rig.
The black drum bite has started to slow, with the ones being caught falling for the same tactics (floating shrimp) and areas (oysters) for targeting speckled trout.
Offshore, the grouper bite has been good in the 100-200’ range, and both live and dead baits are having success.
Trolling action in the Gulf Stream has been picking up, with good-sized mahi, wahoo, and tuna all being caught on naked ballyhoo. Look for the temperature breaks and flying fish when deciding where to fish.
The 60-90’ area has been best for pulling live menhaden or dead cigar minnows for king mackerel.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that sheepshead continue to load up around the hard structures, with catches more common now that fiddler crabs have become readily available.
Red drum and trout are both hitting topwater plugs early, with action sliding deeper and requiring natural baits once the sun is up.
Offshore has seen the biggest changes with the mahi, as they are now showing up in pretty good numbers and sizes.
Some wahoo and the occasional blackfin tuna are mixed in the trolling bite.
The offshore bottom fishing (in 100’+) remains really good with keeper grouper, and the deeper structures are seeing triggerfish, grunts, and vermilion snapper.
Nearshore anglers are catching plenty of spanish mackerel out along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 planers remains the top tactic.
Luke Barbee, Travis, and Jaxon Barbee, from Oakboro, NC, with a bunch of kings caught slow trolling live pogies in 50′ of water. They were fishing with Capt. Hunter Williams of Dockside Fishing Charters.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that mahi fishing has been good, with the best action out in the 300-1000’ range. Anglers are doing best when they can find a weed line or some floating debris that will hold fish.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in with this Gulf Stream trolling action.
Grouper fishing has been red hot, with the 130-240’ area being most productive for both scamps and gags.
This similar range is also seeing a bunch of large triggerfish (180’ area) and vermilion snapper (100’+).
Keep an eye out when bottom fishing, as some cobia are around the nearshore wrecks.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers are having success catching slot-sized red drum all along the ICW.
A lot of flounder are inside (most in similar areas as redfish) and are hitting live bait offerings.
Surf anglers have been catching a mixed bag of pompano, whiting, and lots of bluefish.
Out along the beaches, trolling Clarkspoons has been producing good numbers of spanish mackerel.
The nearshore structures are holding black sea bass. Those getting out deeper are also seeing triggerfish and some nice-sized grouper mixed in.
The king mackerel bite is picking up. Anglers running off the beach to target them should be focused on temperature breaks.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers have landed black drum (5-7 lb. range). Some quality whiting are also being caught in the bottom fishing efforts.
In clear water conditions, anglers are having success with casting plugs for spanish mackerel and bluefish.
