Southport May 30, 2013
Xan Evans (age 11), of Southport, with a 23.5 lb. cobia that bit a live menhaden while he was fishing with his father, Capt. Mark Register, near Yaupon Reef. Weighed in at Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that the flounder bite has improved inshore around Southport. Anglers are finding most of the fish in the local inlets and creeks, with a few starting to show up on the Southport waterfront (and more likely to be there soon). Live mud minnows and menhaden are producing most of the flatfish, but anglers can also hook up on bucktails and Gulp baits.
The red drum bite in the local bays has been solid as well, with good numbers of fish taking topwater plugs over the past week. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite soft plastics, other lures, and live baits when they don’t want to eat on top.
Speckled trout are still on the feed in many of the same areas as the reds. They’re also in the creeks and around structure in more open water. Topwaters and soft plastic baits have been fooling the specks lately as well.
In the ocean, the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent lately, with anglers catching solid numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures within a few miles of the beachfront. Plenty of bluefish are in the same areas and striking the same lures.
Some large (30-40”) red drum are feeding at Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure off Southport, and they’ll take live and cut baits or bucktail jigs.
Cobia are following bait balls and cruising between the beach and nearshore structure. Anglers are hooking them while slow-trolling for king mackerel and sight casting bucktails or live baits to fish they see on the surface.
The kings have shown up in the 15-20 mile range around spots like the Shark Hole, where boaters are tempting them to bite live baits and dead cigar minnows.
Bottom fishermen report continued good grouper action around structure from 90-150’ of water, where they’re finding gags, reds, and scamps. Live baits are producing the largest fish.
Gulf Stream trollers are still connecting with big numbers of dolphin at the Steeples and other local blue water hotspots. A few wahoo are mixed in, and both are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo.
John, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the piers and trolling Clarkspoons from boats.
Good numbers of flounder are coming from the piers and the backwaters inshore (but many are still undersized). Live baits and soft plastics like Gulps are fooling the flatfish.
Gene Lancaster, of Southport, with a well over-slot red drum that fell for a custom Tackle Box rattle bucktail at Yaupon Reef.
Red drum are feeding in the backwaters and taking an interest in live baits and Gulps as well.
The speckled trout bite has been good inshore and from the piers. Most are falling for small live shrimp that anglers are catching, but a few are taking an interest in artificial lures as well.
King mackerel have shown up around nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef, and anglers are hooking more from there on out to the Gulf Stream. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish or dead cigar minnows will attract attention from the kings.
Gulf Stream trollers are connecting with good numbers of dolphin and wahoo while dragging ballyhoo around the local hotspots.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that there have been big numbers of dolphin on the feed from 100-180’ of water at blue water spots like the 100/400 and Steeples. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches are fooling most of the ‘phins.
Bottom fishing is producing some excellent grouper action, with the best bite around bottom structure in the 100’ range recently. Live baits like menhaden are the best bets for the largest grouper.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and a few spot while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some speckled trout are taking an interest in live shrimp and lures in the early morning hours.
Flounder are falling for live mullet and mud minnows beneath the pier.
And plug casters working Gotchas are hooking solid numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Steve, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that live-baiters have landed several king mackerel and cobia from the end of the pier over the past week.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some speckled trout are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
More of the trout are biting small live baits, along with a few flounder.
