Saltwater Fishing Reports - Brunswick County
Ocean Isle Beach & Holden Beach, NC

The Gill Wetter "Your Local Fishing News"

Barrett McMullan from Ocean Isle Fishing Center reports:
Inshore Report: Cooler air temperatures over the past couple weeks has dropped the inshore water temperatures down into the 60’s in our area. The cooler water has sparked the speckled trout bite as inshore anglers have enjoyed the most success on live shrimp underneath a cork. Hot spots for trout action include the south side Little River jetty, the Ocean Isle Beach Bridge, Sunset Beach Bridge, Saspan Creek, and Shallotte River. In addition to the trout bite, the red drum bite continues fairly strong in the same places. Live mullet minnows on the bottom or live shrimp underneath a cork seem to be the baits of choice. This year’s red drum fishing for this area has been spectacular compared to year’s past. With the hot drum and trout action very little has effort has been put forth on flounder fishing by the majority of inshore anglers though they are still around in decent size and numbers to be caught. The spot run has continued strong over the last couple weeks with anglers and netters filling their coolers in no time. Bloodworms and the artificial Fish Bites and Gulp baits are working best for the spots.

Nearshore: Perfect weather conditions highlighted by cooler water temperatures arriving to the area have kicked the nearshore fishing into yet another gear. Pogies have become nearly impossible to catch along the beaches for bait so anglers are using dead cigar minnows and jigging live cigar minnows in the 60-foot range to use for bait. An abundance of grey trout are covering nearshore artificial reefs and other significant structures. Using live mullet minnows fished on the bottom best targets these trout. The king mackerel fishing has gone super sonic. From 60 to 80 feet of water over any structure you will find an abundance of king mackerel. The king mackerel are holding in areas where there is a prevalence of live cigar minnows, glass minnows, herring or any other baitfishes. Spots that are continually producing limits of king mackerel are the Jungle, the 70-foot hole, and the Atlantic Ledge. Most fish are in the 8-12lb range but there are larger fish mixed in with the spikes. The grouper fishing remains hot as well. Fishing live baits such as cigar minnows, pinfish, or ring tails on the bottom over structure from 60 to 90 feet of water is yielding impressive grouper catches. The Ocean Isle Fishing Center fleet has been limiting out on gag groupers using this technique and has focused on fishing around known spots such as the Atlantic Ledge and the Shark Hole. If you go hunting for these creatures make sure you bring the proper heavy equipment as a 15lb grouper fights like a 300lb anything else.

Offshore: The Gulf Stream fishery remains rather unmolested in this area as fishermen are focused more on the nearshore fishery. A satellite shot of water temperatures indicates a significant water temperature change between the Blackjack hole and the Steeples, which most likely means wahoo central. Cooling water temperatures and the migration of little tunny through the area means the wahoo will be in hot pursuit as the fish will typically school up in large numbers over structures along the break. Multiple fish and multiple hookups are expected on wahoo this time of year with many fish topping the 50lb mark. For those willing to make the long run the fishing should be rewarding.

Side Note: Capt. Amy McMullan fishing with husband Capt. Brant McMullan from the Ocean Isle Fishing Center caught a 41lb 6oz king mackerel Sunday the 6th of November on 8lb test Stren fishing line. This fish is a pending women’s world record for the 8lb line class as it has topped the current record by half a pound. The information is being submitted to the IGFA for review where it may become the new 8lb test women’s king mackerel world record.
Barrett McMullan, Ocean Isle Fishing Center (910) 575-347

Editors Note: You may have noticed that Captain Amy McMullen and her 41lb. 6oz. King Mackerel made this months cover shot of The Gill Wetter.
Great Job Capt. Amy!

Capt. Brant McMullan of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center with a 20+lb gag grouper caught while fishing in 80 feet of water off Ocean Isle. Photo courtesy of Ocean Isle Fishing Center.