Fishing Report 07/19/2011

Inshore: Spanish fishing has started off great this week! Yesterday they were thick in the inlet. Also, there were schools everywhere just outside the inlet. The boats that were trolling are using Clarkspoons, Mackerel Trees, Squid Rigs and a “NEW” lure that we are carrying the Diamond Jig Mackerel Tree that works real well. As for casting the Jig Fish, Crippled Herrings, Kastmaster, Hopkins, P-Line Laser, Speck-Rigs and the “NEW” Diamond Jig Mackerel Tree. The key to all the casting lures is you have to have it “SMALL” to get the Spanish to bite. You will find Bluefish mixed in with the Spanish as you are fishing for them. 

Flounder fishing has been good over the last week. We have been doing citations; it seems like every other day on Flounder. The Bridges, Port Area and the Docks have been producing the bigger flounder. The drift fisherman has been picking up good numbers in the ICW Channel. AR315 has been producing good numbers of Flounder in the last few days also. For the inshore flounder fishing most have been using Live Mud Minnows, Berkley Gulp Baits and some guys have been having good luck on using “Frozen Finger Mullet”. As for the ocean fishing the Live Mud Minnows and the Spro Bucktails tipped with 4” Berkley Gulp has been working well. 

The sheepshead bite is still strong around the Port Area, Bridges and Pilings up and down the waterway. Live Fiddler Crabs and Live Sea Urchins have been the best bait of choice for them. 

As for the bottom fishing in the inlet and turning basin area still the same. Sea Mullets, Spots, Croakers, Bluefish, Sharks, Skates, Hog Fish and Gray Trout are still being caught. Most are using Speck-Rigs tipped with shrimp and bottom rigs tipped with Fish Bites or Fresh Shrimp. 

Piers/Surf: Spanish and Bluefish have been biting well early in the mornings and late in the day. Gotcha-Plugs and Pole-Kat Lures have been working well off the piers. There have been some Spanish and Blues caught at the Fort Macon Rock Jetty the last few days casting Kastmaster and Jig Fish Lures. 

Flounder fishing has been good off the Oceanna Pier with some keeper fish coming off Live Mud Minnows fished on Carolina Rigs. Reports have been that a few are being caught up and down the surf zone and at the Fort Macon Rocks. 

There has been some nice sized sheepshead hanging around the pier pilings but they are hard to catch. The ones that have been caught the guys have been using Live Fiddler Crabs. Hogfish, Spots, Sea Mullets, Sharks, Skates and Croakers all are mixed in up and down the beach to be caught on bottom rigs with fresh shrimp, squid, bloodworms, mullets and sand fleas.   

 Offshore: There has been a few King Mackerel caught out at AR 315, 320, 330, Shipping Channel and Dead Tree Hole all have been holding kings. They are on the small side but there have been some smokers caught. Most are using Dead Cigar Minnows on Dead Bait Rigs by Blue Water Candy, Calcutta and Hank Brown’s Hook Up Lures.

The bottom fishing still remains strong out in the 30 to 40-mile range on the ledges, Grouper, B-Liners, Trigger Fish, Black Sea Bass and Amber Jacks. Most are fishing with Cigar Minnows, Mackerel, Sardines and Squid. Some anglers are having great luck with the Decoy Jigs and Roscoe Jigs fishing in the same areas. The Dolphin bite has picked up with some good catches reported this past weekend at the Barta Tournament along with good numbers of sailfish.  The 14 Buoy, 90’ Drop, North West Places, Big Ten / Little Ten and the Sea Buoy reporting fish being caught. Most have been using Bionic Small and Medium Ballyhoo fished on Sea Witches Rigs.     

Inshore anglers will dig these new Gulp Baits! Goodies from Berkley.

Fans of the 3-inch Gulp Shrimp will be happy to see the new Firetail edition