Ocean Isle June 24, 2010
Matt Smith, of Oak Island, with a 15 lb., 13 oz. king mackerel he hooked on a live bait while fishing from the end of Ocean Crest Pier.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel and shark fishing along the beaches has been excellent lately. Anglers are hooking up with the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront and just offshore.
Fishing large cut baits in the same areas has been producing action with blacktip and hammerhead sharks.
Some king mackerel are feeding along the beaches as well, and slow-trolling with live pogies is the way to tempt them to bite.
More kings and some dolphin are feeding at spots like the Horseshoe and further offshore. Dead cigar minnows or live baits will tempt them to bite.
A few cobia are mixed in with the kings and dolphin, and they should have trouble turning down a live bait as well.
Bottom fishing in around 110’ lately has been producing excellent catches of triggerfish, beeliners, and scamp and gag grouper. Squid and cut baits will attract plenty of attention from the bees, triggers, and other smaller bottom feeders. Live pogies, cigar minnows, or other baits are the way to go for the grouper.
David and Pete Wright with a 49" cobia that fell for a naked ballyhoo 18 miles off Little River Inlet in 38' of water.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the king mackerel bite was on last week from the sea buoy out to structure in around 100’ of water. Anglers caught most of their fish while slow-trolling live pogies, though the pogies haven’t been as plentiful as in recent weeks and many boats had to go the Cape Fear River to get them.
The dolphin bite has improved greatly towards the offshore end of that range, and anglers were picking up good numbers of dolphin (mostly smaller) while king fishing last week.
Decent numbers of cobia are mixed in as well and will take a hearty interest in live baits.
Along the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite remains solid, and anglers are hooking the fish while trolling Clarkspoons.
Alana Powell with her first red drum, a 28" fish that she caught and released on a live pogy in Shallotte Inlet while she was fishing with her father and gradfather, Curt and Curtis Powell.
Kyle, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that despite the very hot water, the inshore bite’s been solid lately, with most trips producing flounder, red drum, and speckled trout.
The flounder action is still good in Tubbs Inlet, the Ocean Isle canals, and the Lockwood Folly and Shallotte rivers and inlets. Live baits are top choices for the flatties. Finger mullet are beginning to appear in usable sizes in the area, and the flounder seem to be keying in on them lately.
The red drum bite has been best in the area creeks lately (with most fish 16-20” but some 30” and larger brusiers around as well). The reds have been a bit picky lately, but they should have a tough time turning down a live finger mullet, pogy, or shrimp.
The speckled trout bite has turned on a bit at the Little River jetties, although pinfish and other undesirables are making it difficult to keep a live shrimp in the zone long enough for the specks to find it. Small pogies should fare a bit better and still attract some attention from the trout.
Mary, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that anglers are catching some bluefish, whiting, and flounder while bottom fishing with shrimp and small live baits.
