Ocean Isle June 14, 2012
Tracy Weston, of Holden Beach, NC, with a 26", 7.5 lb. red drum that bit a cut bait at the east end of Holden Beach.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that king mackerel have finally begun biting again (and some 30+ pounders have been caught over the past week). The fish are offshore, though, with the best action at spots in around 80’ of water. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows have both been producing their share of the kings.
There are still good numbers of cobia swimming around structure in 60-90’. Anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, dead cigar minnows, or pitch large bucktails with soft plastic trailers to fish they spot near the boat.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream continue to find good dolphin fishing around weedlines and temperature breaks, with the best catches coming from around 120’ last week. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are tough for the dolphin to turn down.
Bottom fishermen have found some solid grouper action around structure in 100-110’ of water, mostly with scamps. Live menhaden or pinfish are the way to go for the largest grouper.
Closer to shore, the spanish mackerel bite has turned back on along the beachfront and on out a few miles. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in, and both are readily biting trolled Clarkspoons.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that there’s been a solid red drum bite at ICW structure in the area (with some stout 24-30” fish). Live shrimp on Carolina rigs and jigheads are producing most of the fish.
Black drum are mixed in with the reds and also taking a hearty interest in the shrimp.
The Tubbs Inlet flounder bite remains consistent as long as the water is clear, with mud minnows, tiger-side minnows, and Gulp baits all accounting for some good fish.
Jerry LeBlanc, of Raleigh, with a 27" red drum he caught and released in the ICW near Oak Island while casting a live shrimp.
Speckled trout (many 2-4 lbs.) are feeding at the Little River jetties, with the falling tide producing the best action. Drifting live shrimp under floats along the rocks is the way to connect with the specks.
There’s also been solid action with smaller specks in the local creeks. Higher stages of tide (either rising or falling but not slack) are producing the best fishing, and live or Gulp shrimp beneath popping corks are tempting the fish to bite.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of flounder on live mud minnows fished underneath the pier.
Speckled trout are also feeding just off the planks and taking an interest in live mud minnows.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and spadefish on cut shrimp.
