Southport September 25, 2008
Jeff King, from Southport, with an 8 lb. 11 oz. (29.5" long) flounder. Weighed at Ocean Crest Pier.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel are on the move. This time of year anglers can have a great day one day with the spaniards and struggle to get a bite the next day. Trolled Clarkspoons should produce action with the smaller mackerel when boats can find them.
It’s the time for the king mackerel bite to come alive on the beachfront. There’s plenty of bait (mullet and pogies) around, and anglers can expect the kings to not be far behind, as the cooling waters and bait should draw them close to shore at spots like the Yaupon Reef. The fronts that are so common this time of year can take a toll on the kings’ consistency as well, with anglers’ finding wide open fishing one day, and a slow to nonexistent bite the next day.
Offshore bottom fishing remains hot off Southport year-round, and when the winds allow boats to get out to 80+’ of water, anglers should be able to find grouper and other bottomfish feeding on the downcurrent sides of ledges and other structure. Squid, cigar minnows, cut baits, and Gulps will attract attention from the bottom feeders.
When the seas calm down, boats making the run to the Gulf Stream can expect to find action with some wahoo and perhaps blackfin tuna. A few dolphin were still feeding in the 30 mile range last week as well, so there’s still time to catch a few before they clear out with the cooler weather. Fall typically brings a few yellowfin tuna to the area as well, and it remains to be seen whether this fall will be any better than the dismal yellowfin season last spring.
Ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures are top choices for the wahoo, dolphin, and any tuna that boats encounter in the blue water.Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the pier saw one of the best king mackerel runs of the year last week, landing 20 fish over a period of six days, with 13 last Wednesday. The kings ranged from 7-30 lbs., and they were falling for a variety of live baits, mostly bluefish, mullet, and pogies.
Anglers also landed some of the largest spanish mackerel of the year last week (with several approaching 5 lbs.). Early and late afternoon high tides are producing the best spanish action, and both Gotcha plugs and live baits were fooling the spanish.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom landed good numbers of flounder from the planks last week (with most in the 2-3 lb. class).
Bottom fishermen also enjoyed a solid week, hooking up with good numbers of black and red drum on shrimp and cut baits.
Anglers fishing morning tides for spot scored last week, too, landing double digit numbers of fish on bloodworms, red worms, and shrimp.
The water is 83 degrees.
Jeff Monsein, of Durham, with a 9 lb. sheepshead he caught off of some pilings near Southport on a live fiddler crab.
Richard, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still solid on the beach, with boats landing good numbers of fish on trolled Clarkspoons.
Some king mackerel are feeding close to shore as well, and boats can add a larger Drone spoon to the spread to increase the chances of hooking a king while spanish trolling.
Anglers can also target the kings while trolling with live and dead baits.
Frank Arey, of Charlotte, with a 4 lb. speckled trout caught near Bald Head Island on a live peanut pogy. He was fishing with his son, Frank Arey, Jr.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to put together some decent catches of spot in the surf, with most falling for bloodworms.
There are still a few spanish mackerel around, and anglers are catching them from the piers and boats when it’s calm enough to get out.
In the backwaters, anglers are catching some flounder and speckled trout on live finger mullet and other baits.
Black drum are falling for shrimp and live finger mullet in the backwaters, too.
