Ocean Isle fly fishing?

[man-overboard]

I'm heading to Ocean Isle next week with the family and trying to figure out if I should pack the fly rod.

Is there any backwater or shore fishing opportunities near by?

Thanks

[NCCY]

Yeah, there are some bays and creeks along the intracoastal there. You will see some of them as you go over the bridge. You'll have to rent a kayak to reach them.

[mrdamminator]

I am headed to Sunset Beach, which is right next to Ocean Isle and was wondering if there is any foot access to fly fishing. Is there anywhere in driving distance to wade into or something that requires no boat or kayak? And second i thought about buying a $40 inflatable kayak from walmart (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3869040) but wasnt sure if it could handle the ocean and creeks and such - any input on that investment as i am already buying a saltwater fly rod since i am new to thh saltwater aspect of the sport? Thanks

[mrdamminator]

I tried to post a response once but i guess it didn't go through..
But anyways im heading to sunset beach in late july which is right next to ocean isle and was wondering if there are any locations you could wade in or fish from shore without a boat or kayak?
Also do you think maybe the $40 walmart coleman kayaks could handle the ICW? Thanks.

[NCCY]

I would not venture out in the walmart kayak, especially at a higher tide. Wade in fly fishing in the three brunswick county beaches is minimal. Use your money to rent a kayak lower in the tide.

[Swalt]

I am probably a little late responding to this post but I will provide what info I can. I have been going to Sunset and Ocean Isle for over 30 years and fishing a lot off the piers and more recently with a boat in the waterways and just offshore. From the piers and surf, with cut bait (shrimp, bloodworms, mullet) you can catch most anything: spots, whiting, pompano, bluefish, founder, speckled trout, redfish and black drum). I like to fish live shrimp from the piers. You will need a cast net to catch them at low tide in the creeks off the waterway. You can use a carolina rig and drag it along side the pier for founder, redfish and trout right in the surf (there are ususally holes along side the pileings that hold fish) or you can use a float rig and fish deeper for trout. You can also use mullet or even small whiting to catch flounder with the carolina rig. Just watch those fishing and do what they do.

The best places to fish not on the piers is at the Sunset Beach bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway or go up at Tubbs Inlet which is the inlet between Sunset and Ocean Isle. Use live bait just like on the pier. Toss out and work slowly back in. Those are probably the 2 best places to fly fish too. Use a clouser or shrimp imitation. Redfish and black drum hang out around the bridge, right next to the pilings but there are a lot of snags. You can walk up to Tubbs from either beach. The best time to go is around low tide and with the incoming tide. Its a bit of a walk from the Sunset side but there are lots of areas to wade, sloughs and deeper holes along the shore. There are flounder and redfish caught there, maybe a trout.