Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – May 2021
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that black drum fishing remains very good when targeting areas with oysters and similar inshore structure.
A few flounder are already showing up inshore and will become a more common bycatch going into May.
Speckled trout are holding along deeper banks for anglers casting Saltwater Assassin jerk baits or live shrimp.
There have been a lot of 17-30” red drum moving around inshore. Both live mud minnows and shrimp have been the most productive baits.
Anglers bottom fishing deeper holes around the inlets are catching good-sized Virginia mullet.
Nearshore trips are producing spanish mackerel while both trolling and casting jigs at surface-feeding schools.
Lydia Capps with an over-slot red drum caught using a live menhaden on a Carolina rig. She was fishing with her husband, Capt. Robert Capps of Reelin Pelican Fishing Charters.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that wahoo are being caught, but as the waters warm up, their numbers will become sporadic.
Blackfin tuna have been abundant, with some yellowfin tuna mixed in. Going into May, the yellowfin bite usually gets better and lasts into early June.
Mahi are starting to push into the area, and the bite will be very good with these first big waves of fish.
Grouper fishing opens in May, and all indications are that the bite will be very good in the 80-150’ depth range.
A mix of vermilion snapper and large black sea bass will be caught alongside the grouper at some of the shallower structure (up to 110’).
King mackerel are slowly working their way inshore and are holding in the 100’ range. The arrival of menhaden along the beaches will see these kings move in closer.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that water temperatures are lower than normal for this time of year and it has kept the speckled trout bite hanging around in good numbers. The best action has been on the higher portions of a rising tide in areas with good current. Rigging live shrimp under corks and drifting along the oyster shell banks has been a great tactic. Anglers looking to use artificial baits are doing well with Z-Man Trout Tricks in the “Opening Night” color pattern.
Redfish are holding very tight to the oysters, as they try to find something to eat with bait being slow to arrive. Cut blue crabs and live shrimp have been doing the trick regardless of tide cycle.
Black drum are being caught with the same bottom-rigged baits intended for the redfish.
Nearshore trips are starting to see better numbers of spanish mackerel arriving in the area.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that inshore anglers are finding the speckled trout bite to be in full swing. The trout have been feeding best on live shrimp during either the falling or rising tide cycles. Target areas around oyster banks and deep oyster bars.
Redfish action has been steady, with most being caught on live or dead shrimp fished around docks and similar structure.
Anglers targeting these areas will be catching black drum alongside the redfish.
Off the beach, king mackerel have started to push their way inshore and are staged up in the 65’ range. Trolling cigar minnows has been the top producing bait.
Offshore, there have still been good numbers of wahoo hanging around areas at the break.
The tuna species have been biting well, and mahi are also now beginning to show up. All of these offshore species are being caught on skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing has been great. Look for mixed bags of grouper, beeliners, pinkies, yellowtail snapper, and triggerfish.
Tyler, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that spanish mackerel finally showed up in the area and they came in thick. Anglers on recent nearshore trips are catching well into double digit numbers.
With water temperatures getting up to 68 degrees, anglers anticipate king mackerel pushing onto the beaches any time now.
Offshore trips are catching scattered wahoo out at the temperature breaks, and blackfin tuna action has been good all spring, with fish being caught at the popular Steeples and 100/400 areas.
Grouper season opens the beginning of May, and anglers look forward to good fishing action while targeting the 100-160’ depth range.
With water temperatures rising come the plentiful schools of mahi come from the south. This bite lasts over the month and into June.
Inshore trips have been doing well targeting black and red drum behind Oak Island. Docks and deeper structures fished on falling tides with fresh shrimp has been the top producing tactic.
Whiting and mixed spot are staged up along inshore ledges around Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island, with the 15-20’depth range being key.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that there are good numbers of upper-slot red drum (26”+) mixed in with black drum around oysters and inshore structure.
Speckled trout are mixed in the counts, but as the water warms, the trout bite begins to tail off.
Whiting and croakers are holding in deeper holes for anglers fishing cut shrimp on smaller bottom rigs.
Nearshore trips are finding schools of spanish mackerel pushed right up to the beach.
King mackerel are still staged up around deeper structure, but they will be moving closer over the next few weeks.
Surf anglers are still focused on the whiting and croaker that are holding in deeper holes between the sandbars.
Talan Brown, of Conway, SC, with a red snapper that was caught (and released) on cut bait while fishing out of Little River.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are having plenty of success with the good numbers of whiting schooled up along the beaches.
Pompano are starting to be mixed in more often in the daily counts. Look for the pompano to be holding in the deeper holes closer to the breakers.
