Southport July 21, 2011
Travis Walters and Sam Rose with a 34" red drum Walters caught and released after it bit a live menhaden near Southport while they were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the fishing has been a little inconsistent lately, with some excellent days, some slow days, and plenty of days in between.
Spanish mackerel fishing is decent along the beaches and just offshore. Boats are hooking the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs. Some bluefish are mixed in and falling for the same lures.
Sharks are feeding in the same areas as the spaniards, and cut baits will get their attention in a hurry.
Flounder fishing on the nearshore reefs has been solid lately (with some big fish in the mix). Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs will tempt plenty of bites from the flatfish.
Tarpon are feeding within a few miles of the beaches, and anglers are seeing plenty (but not hooking many).
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been tough many days, but some dolphin are in the usual king spots and striking live and dead baits.
Sailfish are in many of the same areas, and boats hooked several last week.
Bottom fishermen are finding a solid grouper bite in 80’ and deeper, with plenty of black sea bass and other bottom dwellers also providing action. Live baits are top choices for the grouper, and squid and cut baits will get attention from the smaller bottomfish.
Amberjacks are schooled up on higher-relief structure in the same depth range. Live baits are tough for them to turn down.
Denise Brennan, of Southport, with a 3.5 lb. speckled trout that bit a live finger mullet in Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Brandon, of The Tackle Box, reports that flounder fishing has been excellent one day, then slow the next in the lower Cape Fear. Docks, rocks, and other inshore structure are producing most of the flounder, and live finger mullet or small menhaden are the best baits.
Tarpon have shown up on the shoals at Bald Head and in the lower Cape Fear. Live baits and large cut baits will give anglers the best shot at hooking one of the “silver kings,” but anglers will have to put up with plenty of shark bites as well.
Spadefish have begun to show up on the nearshore reefs. Anglers can target them by collecting some cannonball jellyfish, dropping them to the structure, and then retrieving them to draw the spades to the boat. Small pieces of the same jellies make the best hook baits.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are catching some gag, scamp, and red grouper along with plenty of other bottom feeders like black sea bass, grunts, and more.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching a few spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the Oak Island piers.
A few speckled trout are falling for live shrimp off of the piers.
Some whiting are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs from the surf and piers.
Inshore, flounder and red drum are feeding in the backwaters, and both will fall for Gulps or live baits.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of flounder from the planks on live mud minnows and shrimp.
Some speckled trout are also falling for live shrimp in the early morning hours.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pilings, and anglers are hooking them on sand fleas and spider crabs.
Plugs casters are connecting with a few spanish mackerel when the clean water is within casting distance.
Steve Yandian, of Oak Island, with a 30" red drum he caught and released in the island's surf on a sand flea while he was fishing for pompano.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout and pompano while baiting up with live shrimp.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pilings, and they will take an interest in sand fleas or barnacles.
A few spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and other lures worked from the pier.
