When Spanish mackerel are off Ocean Isle Beach
Spanish mackerel fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach runs from late spring through fall. Schools work the beachfront in summer and again in October.
For a visiting boater, the beachfront schools are the shortest run. Jolly Mon Reef, just outside Shallotte Inlet, is the other short option. Both are best fished by trolling spoons, covered below. For how the run moves along the coast (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide), the regional guide has the wider picture.
Where boats run and the structure that holds fish
The inlet you pick sets the length of the run. Every reef below carries an AR or PA number. Search for those numbers in a map app or chartplotter; chart layers are not for navigation.
| Reef | Number | Depth | Distance | Inlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly Mon Reef (Fisherman’s Reef) | AR-460 | 38 ft | Just outside | Shallotte |
| Dale Ward Reef | AR-455 | 46 ft | About 7 nm | Shallotte |
| Dale McDowell Reef | AR-445 | 53 ft | About 9.3 nm | Lockwood Folly |
| Jim Caudle Reef | PA-01 | 30 ft | Just outside | Little River |
| Jim Knight Reef | AR-430 | 35 ft | ||
| Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef | AR-440 | |||
| Shallotte Inlet ledges | 100 ft | Shallotte | ||
| Lockwood Folly Inlet ledges | 100 ft | Lockwood Folly |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Shallotte Inlet: Jolly Mon, Dale Ward and the ledges
Shallotte is the shortest run to structure from Ocean Isle Beach.
- Jolly Mon Reef (AR-460): 38 ft, just outside Shallotte Inlet. One vendor list calls it Fisherman’s Reef. It is the short run for a visiting trailer-boater.
- Dale Ward Reef (AR-455): 46 ft, about 7 nm from Shallotte Inlet.
- Shallotte Inlet ledges: 100 ft, the deepest water off this inlet and the longest run of the three.
Lockwood Folly Inlet: Dale McDowell and the ledges
Lockwood Folly has the longest reef run listed.
- Dale McDowell Reef (AR-445): 53 ft, about 9.3 nm from Lockwood Folly Inlet.
- Lockwood Folly Inlet ledges: 100 ft.
Little River Inlet: Jim Caudle
- Jim Caudle Reef (PA-01): 30 ft, just outside Little River Inlet. It is the shallowest reef listed.
Its PA number falls outside the AR series. The Regulations section below explains why that matters for this port.
Other named reefs: Jim Knight and Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef
- Jim Knight Reef (AR-430): 35 ft.
- Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef (AR-440).
Reading conditions before the run
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals, at 33.44 N, 77.76 W. It sits far offshore, so its readings may not match beachfront or inlet water.
Before you run, check the National Weather Service marine forecast from the Wilmington office. Decide from its numbers for wind, wave height and period.
How Spanish mackerel are fished here
Local boats troll spoons and troll live bait such as live mullet. Salty Dawg also casts to schools that show on the surface.
Trolling spoons
This is the simplest method for a visitor. Rigging, spoon sizes and speeds are in the trolling spoons section of the species guide.
Trolling live mullet
Trolling live bait such as live mullet is a local method, run over the same beachfront water and reef structure as spoons.
Casting to surface schools
When fish show on the surface, Salty Dawg comes off the troll and the rods change.
Who fishes for Spanish mackerel out of Ocean Isle Beach
Four local charters list Spanish mackerel:
- Salty Dawg Fishing Charters, Captain Harvey Wall.
- Capt. Austin’s Fishing Adventures, running a 33 World Cat, a 33 Carolina Cat and a 27 Contender.
- Ocean Isle Fishing Center charters, Capt. Brant’s Fishing Adventures, Inc., with a 33-ft World Cat / Carolina Cat, a 22-ft Get Busy and a 22-ft Tiberias.
- Follow Me Charters offshore trips, Follow Me Two, a 42-ft Prowler, with Capt. Fred and Capt. Forest.
FAQ: Spanish mackerel out of Ocean Isle Beach
When are Spanish mackerel off Ocean Isle Beach?
Spanish mackerel fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach runs from late spring through fall. Beachfront schools show in summer and again in October.
How far do boats run for Spanish mackerel from Ocean Isle?
The shortest options are the beachfront schools and Jolly Mon Reef (AR-460), just outside Shallotte Inlet. Longer runs are Dale Ward Reef, about 7 nm from Shallotte Inlet, and Dale McDowell Reef, about 9.3 nm from Lockwood Folly Inlet.
What do local boats use for Spanish mackerel?
Boats here troll spoons and troll live bait such as live mullet. Salty Dawg also casts to schools that show on the surface.
Does the Frying Pan Shoals buoy show beach conditions?
Not necessarily. NDBC 41013 sits far offshore, at 33.44 N, 77.76 W. Use the NWS marine forecast numbers for wind, wave height and period instead.
What else do the same reefs hold?
The reefs and ledges in this guide hold more than one target. The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover what else is worth fishing for out of this port.
Who runs Spanish mackerel charters here?
Four local charters list Spanish mackerel: Salty Dawg Fishing Charters, Capt. Austin’s Fishing Adventures, Ocean Isle Fishing Center (Capt. Brant’s Fishing Adventures, Inc.) and Follow Me Charters (Follow Me Two).
