Southport August 28, 2008
Scott Cates with a 9 lb. 10 oz. sheepshead caught near Southport.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that few anglers were able to make it offshore last week because of the winds, so there isn’t much to report.
However, when the seas calm, anglers will find grouper and other bottomfish around structure in 80′ and deeper, with the downcurrent side of the structure producing the most action.
Kings were feeding around Frying Pan Tower before the blow, and they should still be schooling in the vicinity.
Inshore, when the water clears, the spanish mackerel bite should pick back up, and anglers can hook the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons behind trolling weights and planers, bird rigs, and mackerel trees.
Al Sulek and Mike Schmitt, from Mooresville, NC, with a stringer of specks caught near Southport using live bait. They were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Oak Island.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are catching good number of spanish mackerel when the tide cycles allow a falling tide in the late afternoon. Gotcha plugs and free-lined finger mullet are getting attention from the spanish.
The water’s been full of mullet, menhaden, and king mackerel lately, but the kings have been finicky about what they’ll eat, likely due to all the bait in the water.
The flounder bite is picking up (with anglers landing flatfish up to 5+ lbs. over the week). Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the flounder.
Bottom fishermen are scoring with a mixed bag of whiting, spot, pompano (some up to 2 lbs.), and black drum on shrimp baits.
Spadefish and sheepshead are feeding alongside the pilings. Anglers are hooking them on cut shrimp dangled a few feet beneath the surface.
The water is 85 degrees.
The King Fisher Open king mackerel tournament has been postponed in lieu of the pier’s new Queens of the Kings ladies king mackerel tournament, to be held September 13-14.
Steve 'Coz' Cosentino and Scott Maisto, both from Wilmington, with a 38" Hammerhead Coz caught while fishing just off of Bald Head Island on Maisto's 21' Sea Fox. The shark fell for a Carolina-rigged finger mullet and was released after the photo.
Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bit very well along the beaches last week. Trolled Clarkspoons are producing plenty of action with the spanish.
The king mackerel bite has been pretty good offshore of the Horseshoe recently, and dead cigar minnows are drawing the king bites (most fish are 8-12 lbs.). Some wahoo and sailfish are also in the area, and they’re falling for cigar minnows as well.
Bottom fishing has been producing black sea bass, beeliners, and triggerfish. Dead cigar minnows are producing action on the bottom.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of red drum in the creeks and marshes near Southport. Live shrimp and finger mullet fished on float and Carolina rigs have been producing most of the action, and the shrimp have also been attracting attention from some black drum prowling the oyster rocks in the same areas.
Anglers are also finding some flounder around the Southport waterfront.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some flounder on live finger mullet throughout the area backwaters. The Eilizabeth River has been particularly productive lately.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that bottom fishermen are catching big numbers of beeliners, with the best catches coming from out in about 40 fathoms of water. Some triggerfish are feeding in the same areas.
The red grouper bite has been good as well, but most of the boats are fishing the reds northeast of Southport.
Offshore wrecks are holding big number of amberjacks, and boats were catching some African pompano in the same areas until the east wind got bad last week. Some cobia are also coming from the offshore structure.
Nearshore, spadefish are schooled up on the wrecks, where anglers can hook them on pieces of jelly balls fished on small hooks.
