Southport September 13, 2007
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel have finally shown up in full force along the beaches. There are plenty of glass minnows and silversides around to hold the spanish in the area, and anglers are landing some big fish mixed in with the usual 12-16” summer schoolies.
Boats can target the spanish by trolling #00 Clarkspoons behind trolling weights and planers. Anglers who want to cast to the fish can rig up light rods with Yo-Zuri minnows or small casting spoons. Small white terns working bait will lead boats to the schools of spanish.
Along with the spanish mackerel, anglers are landing plenty of sharks right on the beach, with many weighing 100+ lbs.
Gray trout have begun to school up on nearshore structure, along with some big red drum. Jigging a Stingsilver, other spoon, or curly tail grub will draw bites from both species, but sometimes the grays respond better to squid strips fished on bottom rigs.
King mackerel fishing has slowed down, but there are still a decent number of fish around. Some kings are feeding in the Cape Fear Shipping Channel, where live pogies are the top baits.
Further offshore, look for the kings around the Lighthouse Rocks, Shark Hole, 15 Mile Rock, and 18 Mile Rock. Out at the deeper spots, anglers can get some strikes while trolling frozen cigar minnows, but live baits are still the top choice.
Bottom fishing has been good when the seas lay down enough for boats to make it offshore. Grouper and other bottom fish are falling for live or frozen cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing whiting, fat spot (3/4 lb.), and some big pompano (up to 3 lbs.). Shrimp are drawing bites from all three species, but bloodworms are the top baits for spot.
The flounder bite has been excellent recently, and anglers have decked several flatfish over 4 lbs. Live finger mullet are the top flounder baits.
Speckled trout are also taking an interest in the finger mullet, and most are solid fish (3-4+ lbs.).
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel in the afternoons (with most 2-3.5 lbs.). Good numbers of spanish are also falling for live finger mullet free-lined from the planks.
Live baiters caught a 26 lb. king mackerel last week, and they are seeing a lot of tarpon just off the pier.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that trout fishing is still strong in area waters, especially throughout the bays of the Cape Fear and the Elizabeth River. The trout are falling for topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic baits fished on jigheads.
Sheepshead are feeding close to the pilings of the Pfizer Dock, and they’ll take sand flea or fiddler crab baits dangled close to the structure.
Large black drum have taken up residence at the Pfizer/ADM Dock, too. Sand fleas, whole or half blue crabs, and cut mullet will tempt bites from the drum. Anglers have weighed in a number of drum in the 50-70 lb. range recently.
Flounder are on the feed throughout the area, both inshore and in the ocean. Inshore, the action has been hot around the Southport waterfront, Oak Island Bridge, and in Wildlife Creek.
Anglers are also catching some flounder from the surf, and good catches are coming from the Yaupon and McGlammery Reefs.
Inshore or offshore, the flounder will find a Carolina-rigged mud minnow, finger mullet, or peanut pogy hard to resist. Anglers who want to cast artificials can tempt the flatties to bite by bouncing a 5/8 oz. bucktail tipped with a soft plastic bait on the bottom.
In addition to the flounder, surf anglers are landing 2-3 lb. pompano and black drum (up to 6 lbs.). Shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs will attract attention from the drum and pompano.
Gray trout have moved onto the nearshore structure, like the Yaupon and McGlammery. Anglers are hooking up with the trout by jigging Stingsilvers and Fish Jigs over the structure. Some huge red drum (30-50 lbs.) are also hanging around the structure and will fall for the jigging technique as well.
Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily near the beach. Boats are landing a few spanish while trolling Clarkspoons, but light-lining a finger mullet will produce the best catches.
Tarpon are feeding on the shoals and in the river mouth. These giant gamefish will take an interest in live pogies or spot.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that the high winds kept most boats at the dock all week. Before the rough weather, bottom fishermen were having good luck around the tower with grouper, triggerfish, and beeliners, along with some hogfish. When the ocean calms back down, bottom fishing should remain good.
Inshore, the flounder fishing in the Cape Fear River has picked up quite a bit.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that pier and surf anglers are catching whiting and a few spot on bloodworms and shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait near the beaches. They’ll fall for trolled Clarkspoons or finger mullet fished on a light-line.
In the backwaters, anglers are landing some nice flounder (5-7 lbs.) on live finger mullet. The area under the Oak Island Bridge has been a good place to find the flatfish over the past week.
Red drum are feeding in Davis Creek, and live finger mullet should tempt bites from them as well.
