OIFC Weekly News and Fishing Report
What a great week we've been having at the OIFC. The weather has been good, the fish have started biting and many families have chosen to visit Ocean Isle Beach for their Spring Break vacation. The excitement and energy has successfully snapped the OIFC staff out of the Winter doldrums; it's time to get to work! There are lots of "happenings" going on. Read below for details.

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the GPS Store Far Out Shoot Out - May 13-21
Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo Rodeo- May 13-21. The annual Far Out Shoot Out is coming in only a few weeks. Entries are being accepted now via mail, by visiting the OIFC or on-line. To recieve tournament details and print an entry form, CLICK HERE
The Far Out Shoot Out is a Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo tournament whose winner is determined by amassing the most pounds from weighing one Tuna, one Wahoo and one Dolphin. This combined weight must be achieved in one day of fishing; your declared tournament fishing day. The Far Out Shoot Out extends from May 13-21, which offers eight possible fishing days. As such, participants can choose to compete on the day that best fits their schedule and has the most favorable weather. Participants can wait as late as 8am of the same day they are competing to declare their fishing day: This is done by calling a designated hotline. The entry fee is low, the fishing is great and there are multiple ways to win cash prizes.
The event's title sponsor is the GPS Store, one of the countries largest GPS dealers, located right here in Ocean Isle Beach. It is extremely nice to be able to walk into their store and get consultation on whatever electronics you are considering; knowing their prices are nationally competitive. You can visit their on-line store at www.thegpsstore.com . Also thanks to Sea Tow, the NEW Ocean Isle Marina and Marine Service Center: Little River for their support.
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Shallotte Inlet Update
Last Saturday we had terrible wind ahead of the very strong front that brought all the severe weather to the southeast. It blew an easy 30 knots with gusts over 50 knots. As a result, all of the ocean side buoys in Shallotte inlet were washed away. On Monday morning I emailed Gordon Myers, head of NC Wildlife to notify him of the situation. I requested his immediate attention to the inlet as the Easter Weekend was coming up, and no doubt, many boaters would be trying to use the inlet. I recieved a reply email Tuesday morning that his crews were scrambling all over the state repairing storm damage, but he'd try to help. Tuesday evening a guy walks into the OIFC shop and introduces himself as NC Wildlife staff; he is here to replace the buoys in the inlet. I was shocked. All day Wednesday a crew worked out of the OIB boat ramp and successfully remarked the inlet, better than ever. I have personally thanked Gordon Myers and his crew at NC Wildlife, and I hope you will do the same. Let's go fishing!
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House Bill 421 - LOWER YOUR BOAT GAS COST
Fishing friends/boaters. We need your help.We have been working with Representative Frank Iler from Brunswick County regarding a bill that would allow marinas to pass on to customers, at the point of sale, the gas tax refund due boaters for off road usage[which is not taxable]. The effect of this would be that marinas could reduce your gas cost by approximately 15-30cents/gallon[based upon recreation use or commercial use]. True, at the end of the year you can apply to the State of NC for the refund, but if you could receive the refund when you purchase the fuel by virtue of the marina discounting the price to you and the marina then receives the refund, the impact to you would be to immediately save you some money. Obviously with the increasing cost of fuel, this bill is intended to help lower your cost of fuel, and maybe encourage you to get on the water. House Bill 421[HB421] has been introduced by Representative Iler and he needs your support. The bill has been assigned to the Consumer and Job Development Committee, and if the committee members don't hear from us fishermen/boaters as to the benefit of this bill, then it will likely die in committee. SO.....we need everyone who thinks this is a good bill to contact the Reps who are on this committee, as well as you own local Rep.
The Reps on the Consumer and Job Development Committee are:

Danny.McComas@ncleg.net
Bill.Brawley@ncleg.net
Craig.Horn@ncleg.net
Carolyn.Justice@ncleg.net
Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net
Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net
Fred.Steen@ncleg.net
Michael.Stone@ncleg.net
Also let Rep Iler[Frank.Iler@ncleg.net] know his willingness to introduce this bill is appreciated by fishermen/boaters.
Thanks for your help -- Rube McMullan, Ocean Isle Fishing Center[www.OIFC.com]
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OIFC Summer Kickoff- Saturday, May 14, 2011
The OIFC is expanding its "Kickoff" series to include an all new, Summer Kickoff. The event will be hosted from the OIFC on Saturday, May 14th, and much like the Spring Kickoff held in March, the event will offer free seminars, a forum for fishermen to sell their used tackle, line spooling promotions and discounts on tackle and clothing from the OIFC. The event is completely FREE to attend. Seminar schedule as follows:
10am: Grouper Fishing- Capt. Barrett McMullan
11am: Beginner King Mackerel fishing- Capt. Chris Dew
12pm: Flounder Fishing- Capts. Jeff Williamson and Jacob Frick
1pm: Dolphin Fishing- Capt. Steele Parks
2pm: Cobia Fishing- Capt. Brant McMullan
3pm: Cast net throwing lessons- 10'-12' nets
Mark your calendar for May 14th. More details to follow.


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Fish Report
Inshore: The Redfish are still biting. They are all through the marshes and creeks, moving into the grass on the rising, high tides and then pushing out along the edges of the grass during the low, falling tide. Some guys are starting to get aggressive and move into the grass flats at high tide to catch the Reds. Preferred baits have been Berkley Gulp Shrimp, Berkley Gulp Crabs or live mud minnows. The Flounder are just now beginning to show up. Tubbs inlet is starting to hold a few fish, but its still a couple of weeks before that fishery really kicks off.
Nearshore: We caught the first Spanish Mackerel of the year yesterday. The OIFC charter boats have been trolling along the beach front and around Shallotte inlet, catching lots of Bluefish over the past week. As the beach water temperatures have now risen into the mid to upper 60's, the Spanish are beginning to show. There have been scattered reports of Atlantic Bonito being caught, mostly down towards the General Sherman wreck off Little River. Best of all, a couple of early season King Mackerel have been caught near the 390/390's and General Sherman wreck. The weather is forecast warm all week, and the Mackerel fishing will greatly improve over the coming week.
Offshore: The Gulf Stream has really gotten going. A variety of Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo and Mahi are providing good action for trolling and jigging boats. Yesterday Capt. Chris Dew and Steele Parks guided the Kinner party from Charlotte on a Stream trip. They started out West of the Steeples where they found little action. As they neared the Steeples, they found a good temperature edge and rip where the Blackfin Tuna were schooled up; happily taking rigged Ballyhoo and tuna feathers. Capt. Steele predicted a late bite due to the full moon, and at 1pm the fish promptly went to chewing. The crew stayed overbusy doing battle with Blackfin, Wahoo and Mahi. At day end, they had landed two Carolina slams consisting of four NC Citation size fish; 38 pound Blackfin (2 pounds off state record), 30 pound Blackfin, 56 pound Wahoo, 54 pound Wahoo -- along with quite a few other smaller Blackfin and a couple 10 pound Mahi.
Although previous day's Stream trips were not quite this successful, all trips have yielded Blackfin, Wahoo and Mahi. In addition, vertical jigging has been a great way to break up the day; yielding plenty of Amberjack but also giving up the occasional monster Grouper that makes the effort worth while (Grouper season is closed until May 1).
Overall, the fishing is really starting to pop. Spring fishing will soon turn to Summer, so don't waste time in getting on the water to take advantage of this small window.








Ocean Isle Fishing Center
65 Causeway Drive-Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
(910) 575-FISH - www.oifc.com