Ocean Isle August 19, 2010
Vicki Nicholson, of Winston-Salem, NC, with a sheepshead she hooked on a barnacle from an ICW dock in Shallotte.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there have been solid schools of spanish mackerel feeding in around 30’ of water over the past week. Anglers can hook them by trolling Clarkspoons around diving birds and surface activity.
Larger spanish mackerel (3-6 lbs.) are still feeding at spots in 50-65’ of water. Dead cigar minnows and small live pogies are the best baits for the larger spaniards.
There have been plenty of larger, king mackerel-sized pogies along the Brunswick beaches of late.
There’s been a scattered king mackerel bite with decent numbers of dolphin in the same 50-65’ areas that the spanish are feeding in.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that red drum provided the most consistent action last week. Anglers are finding the fish feeding along docks and other ICW structure at lower tides and looking for food in flooded marsh grass when the tides are higher. Live finger mullet and shrimp will both tempt bites from the reds. Carolina rigs are the way to go in the deeper water, while float rigs are best in the marshes.
Anglers found some decent speckled trout fishing last week as well, with most of the fish feeding around ICW structure. Live shrimp under floats are far-and-away the best trout baits.
Flounder are still feeding in the inlets and inshore in the canals and other deeper areas. Live finger mullet are the weapons of choice for the flatfish.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still decent along the Brunswick Island beaches and just offshore. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the fish.
Large sharks are feeding in the same areas and will take an interest in cut baits.
David Schnieder with a pair of scamp grouper that fell for live pogies at some bottom structure in 95' of water. He was fishing out of Holden Beach with Capt. Patrick Bryant of Twister Charters.
Josh, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some flounder and red drum on small live baits.
Some sharks, skates, and bluefish are biting a variety of baits on the bottom.
Anglers dangling crustacean baits along the pier’s pilings are hooking up with some sheepshead.
