Ocean Isle September 13, 2007
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that concentrations of king mackerel are holding around bait and structure in the 80’ depth range. The lack of rain has all the pogies way back in the rivers, so most anglers are hooking up with the kings by trolling dead cigar minnows. Most of the kings are school sized, with a few up to the mid-20 lb. range mixed in.
Bottom fishing has been excellent, particularly for beeliners (vermillion snapper) in the 90-100’ depths. Target the beeliners with multiple hook rigs baited with small pieces of squid or other baits.
Grouper are holding on ledges and other structure in the same depths, and live baits will draw strikes from the biggest grouper.
Bottom fishing boats are hooking up with scattered kings and dolphin by fishing a weightless “light line” on the surface.
The big popeye mullet are on the move in the area, and the yellow butterflies are starting to fly. Traditionally, this means that king mackerel will be moving inshore to feed for the fall very soon. The recent tropical system should further help to push the kings into the beach.
Stan, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are finding a solid flounder bite in the deeper holes of the area’s tidal creeks. The fish are running from sub-legal up to 3+ lbs., and live mud minnows and white Gulp baits are tempting them to bite. For some reason, the flatties have shown little interest in finger mullet baits recently, and flounder fishing has been best during the first half of the falling tide.
A few speckled trout are still on the feed around the Little River jetties, and they’ll get more numerous and larger as summer turns into fall. Most of the trout around now are 1-2 lbs., and successful anglers are hooking them on white D.O.A. shrimp.
The red drum bite has been nearly nonexistent due to the predominantly east winds. When the wind shifts, there should be some large red drum looking for meals around the jetties.
Paul, of Ocean Isle Pier, reports that pier anglers are landing good numbers of speckled trout on live mud minnows.
Flounder are falling for the minnows as well.
Spanish mackerel and an occasional bluefish are on the feed around the pier, and anglers are hooking up with both on free-lined live finger mullet and Gotcha plugs.
