Southport June 16, 2011
Benjamin Madren, from Leland, NC, with a 2.05 lb. citation pompano he hooked on a sand flea in the Oak Island surf.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that spanish mackerel trolling has been good lately. Anglers are catching most of the spaniards along with some bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers.
Flounder fishing on the nearshore AR’s off Southport is producing plenty of keeper fish. Live menhaden and finger mullet are the way to go for the flatfish.
Spadefish are also feeding around nearshore structure. Anglers can hook these tasty and unusual fish by chumming them to the surface with cannonball jellyfish, then using small pieces of the jellies for hook baits.
King mackerel fishing has been good a bit further offshore at spots like Lighthouse Rocks, the Shark Hole, 15 and 18 mile Rocks, and the Horseshoe. Live menhaden or dead cigar minnows pulled behind South Chatham Tackle Pirate Plugs are hard to beat for the kings, and decent numbers of dolphin that have been feeding in the same areas.
Offshore bottomfishing has been excellent at structure in 80’ of water and deeper lately. Gag, red, and scamp grouper along with other tasty bottom dwellers like grunts, pinkies, sea bass, triggerfish, and more are all feeding in these areas. Live baits are the top choices for the grouper, and anglers can connect with the other fish on squid and cut baits. Areas with a decent amount of current usually produce the best fishing.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that grouper fishing has been decent off Southport recently, with boats fishing in 90-100’ and deeper coming up with good catches of red and scamp groupers. The grouper will bite a variety of baits, but live baits like cigar minnows and tomtates are the best bet for the bigger fish.
King mackerel and dolphin are feeding at structure in the 15 mile range and further out. Both will pounce on live baits like menhaden, but anglers may be able to get them to bite dead cigar minnows, too.
Inshore, the red drum bite is solid in the shallows, especially at higher tides when the fish are feeding in flooded marsh grass. Live baits, topwater plugs, soft plastics, and flies will all tempt bites from the reds.
A few speckled trout are around for the opening of the season on June 16 (with fish to 5+ lbs. caught and released last week). Live shrimp on float rigs are tough to beat for the trout.
Flounder fishing is solid on both sides of the lower Cape Fear River. Fishing live menhaden or other baits near ledges, docks, rocks, and shorelines is producing plenty of action with the flatfish.
Ted Kopec, from Eastover, NC, with a large flounder he hooked on a live menhaden near Bald Head Island while fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite remains consistent around Southport. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live baits and Gulps in the creeks, around inshore structure, and from the ocean piers.
The red drum bite is on in the creeks as well, and they’ll take an interest in the same baits as the flounder (along with topwater plugs).
Some speckled trout have been reported in the past week, and it’s likely that reports will get better and more numerous as anglers start to target them after the season opens June 16.
Trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront is producing plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Further out, there’s been decent action with king mackerel and dolphin 15 miles and further offshore. Live baits are top choices for both.
Sweetpea, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some spot, croaker, and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
Some larger spanish (to nearly 5 lbs.) are taking an interest in live baits pinned to king rigs off the end of the pier.
Bubba, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of flounder over the past week (some to nearly 5 lbs.). Live finger mullet and mud minnows are fooling them.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with some croaker and spot on shrimp.
Bluefish and some spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
