Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – May 2024
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the Atlantic bonito season was great this year for anglers that took advantage of that fishery off the beach. As these water temperatures creep up, it should be pushing the last of these fish onto their migration north.
Some spanish mackerel are starting to fill in out there, giving anglers a great reason to still head out when finding a lighter wind forecast.
Inshore trips are catching a ton of smaller red drum (to 19”), with the occasional upper-slot mixed in as these fish spread out from their cold-water schools. Carolina-rigged mud minnows have worked great. When water temperatures consistently reach that 69-71 degree mark, this usually pulls the bigger red drum back inside from out in the surf.
Black drum fishing has been okay but seems to be slowing a little with temperatures warming up.
A couple flounder are in the mix for those anglers fishing Carolina-rigged live baits.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that Gulf Stream action has kicked off, and from late April into May, anglers will be seeing catches of wahoo, mahi, tuna, and billfish.
Grouper season opens May 1, and the grouper have been actively feeding on bottom structure.
Closer to the beach, the Atlantic bonito action has been excellent. As the bonito begin to move out, they are being replaced by large numbers of spanish mackerel, and soon the king mackerel will start moving in towards the beaches as well.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that a lot of black drum are in the area creeks and hanging on the shallower side of drop-offs.
Speckled trout are staged up on these same ledges in the creeks, but these fish are mostly on the deeper side. The trout are cooperating, though the bite has been a little more scattered as fish start to spread out from their colder water groupings. Drifting live shrimp remains the top producing setup, enticing strikes from trout mostly in the 16-19” range, with the 25”+ fish mixed in.
Anglers fishing red drum are starting to see some upper-slot and over-slot fish around. With the dirty water, bottom fishing with dead shrimp has been doing the best. As water conditions get better, anglers will start having more success with artificials. Look for the reds during falling tides and around docks or oysters.
Nearshore anglers are finding some Atlantic bonito as these fish move through on their migration.
Kevin Maynor, of Sunset Beach, found this 23″, 5.98 lb. black drum in the surf on Ocean Isle using live shrimp.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout action has been picking up. Anglers have been finding fish staged up around shell banks out along the ICW, and the rising tides have seen the best action.
Some black drum are being caught with cut shrimp set on the bottom around docks and other hard structures.
Out on the jetties, anglers have been able to catch some scattered red drum in the 25-30” range. Cut baits andr larger live shrimp have motivated these larger reds to feed.
Nearshore anglers have seen a great Atlantic bonito bite, especially anywhere over wrecks in the 3-6 mile range.
Spanish mackerel are here, and anglers are seeing some great action trolling spoons and plugs in these same structured areas off the beach.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that as inshore water temperatures warm, the sheepshead fishing only gets better. Anglers will have a lot of success dropping fiddler crabs around the older dock pilings and bridges in the area.
Specked trout are feeding in the early mornings. They’re striking at Heddon Super Spook Jrs. and MirrOlure topwater plugs. As the sun get higher, a live shrimp rigged under a slip cork can help anglers stay on the bite.
Nearshore anglers are seeing spanish mackerel moving in closer to the beach. Clarkspoons behind a #1 planer is a simple, go-to tactic that always produces.
May 1 is the start of grouper season, with anglers looking to find action over structure in the 90-180’ range. A bunch of other good-eating fish will be in these same areas, including vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and grunts.
Offshore, blackfin tuna and a few wahoo are being caught with tuna feathers or ballyhoo with Blue Water Candy Jags in blue/white and pink/white.
Credle Harris and Ethan Caudle found these 26″ and 24″ speckled trout while floating live shrimp along the Little River jetties. They were fishing with Capt. Tripp Hooks of Capt’n Hook Outdoors.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that the offshore action includes blackfin tuna, wahoo, and (possibly) yellowfin tuna.
By the middle of May, it is likely we are seeing that first push of mahi moving in. These first schools typically hold a bigger class of fish than most any other time of the year.
Fishing the deeper structure out towards the break will produce some scamps and gag grouper.
Shallower structure (in 85-100’) has been and will keep producing steady catches of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Spanish mackerel and bonito are over structures just off the beach.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that anglers are starting to find a bunch of spanish mackerel off the beach, and Atlantic bonito have been mixed in with the spanish. Both sight casting and trolling techniques are having success for both species.
Offshore anglers continue to put wahoo in the box.
Anglers around the Tower found some bluefish (8-10+ lbs.).
Inshore anglers are starting to see catches that include black drum, red drum, and the occasional speckled trout.
Surf anglers are landing whiting, croakers, bluefish, and a few pompano.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are enjoying casting action on bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Some big whiting are being caught by bottom fishing.
A few pompano also showed up.
