Ocean Isle April 11, 2013
Brian Richard, of Shallotte, NC, with 4.5 and 5 lb. speckled trout he hooked while casting a soft plastic grub in the Shallotte River.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that some decent blue water has finally moved over the break in the area, and the Gulf Stream bite is reflecting the change. The Winyah Scarp produced the best action last week, with good numbers of wahoo bites (with fish averaging 50 lbs.) and blackfin tuna action as well.
The warm water is working toward the Blackjack Hole and spots to the north, so hopefully it will stick around and keep the fish along the break.
As April wears on, anglers will likely see the first dolphin of the year make an appearance in the same areas.
Anglers found big numbers of amberjack and some cobia around bottom structure in 100-120’ of water last week. Vertical jigs are tempting plenty of bites from both.
Closer to the beaches, big numbers of black sea bass are feeding at any bit of bottom structure from 40’ out to the depths where the cobia and jacks are holding. Small vertical jigs or baited bottom rigs will provide virtually nonstop action with the bass, but they’re illegal to keep until their season opens June 1st.
Laine Dickson with a healthy red drum that bit a Gulp bait near Little River while she was fishing with her husband, Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of red and black drum in the local creeks and around docks and other structure in the ICW (with most reds 16-18” and black drum 2-5 lbs.). The warming water has the fish much more active than they were a week ago, and they’re readily taking live mud minnows and cut shrimp on jigheads and split-shot rigs. Lower tides, either rising or falling, are producing the best action.
The red and black drum action should remain consistent for the next few weeks.
Speckled trout are also responding positively to the weather and feeding around oyster bars in the Shallotte River. Like the reds, the bite has been best at the lower tidal stages.
Anglers can expect the specks to move out into the ICW and the bite at the Little River jetties to turn on as the water continues to warm over April.
Stingrays have shown up inshore, which typically means that flounder are starting to move in as well. Over the next few weeks, anglers should begin to hook increasing numbers of the flatfish while working soft plastics or on mud minnows fished on the bottom (most of the early fish will be small but some keepers should be in the mix as well).
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with pufferfish and sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits.
