Southport – April 9, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have been finding some solid black drum fishing around Southport recently (with good numbers of fish and some to 26”). Most are feeding around oyster rocks and docks in the creeks, and shrimp fished on the bottom are fooling them.
Leon Capel with 25 and 26” speckled trout he hooked on plugs near Oak Island.
Sheepshead are making an early appearance in the area, and anglers are finding them along the Southport waterfront and around docks along the ICW and Cape Fear River. Shrimp and other crustacean baits like fiddler crabs will attract attention from the sheeps.
Red drum and speckled trout are also looking for meals in the creeks. Anglers can tempt both to bite live baits or a variety of artificial lures including soft plastics and suspending plugs like MirrOlure MR17’s.
A surprising number of keeper flounder have also been landed already this spring, hopefully a sign of an excellent flatfish season in store. Gulp baits and live mud minnows dragged across the bottom will fool the flatfish.
Sea mullet are still feeding around the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and anglers are putting together some decent catches while soaking shrimp on bottom rigs around the channel edges and the mud flats off Caswell Beach.
Bluefish have made their annual spring appearance around Jaybird Shoals just off the river mouth. Anglers can tempt the blues to bite a wide variety of (trolling or casting) artificals, along with nearly any natural bait. Spanish mackerel are usually 2-3 weeks behind the blues, so anglers shouldn’t have to wait too long to see the first spanish of the year.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been solid around Frying Pan Tower for anglers trolling cigar minnows, strip baits, and spoons.
Bottom fishing around structure in the same areas is producing plenty of action with black sea bass, along with a mixture of other tasty bottom dwellers. Squid and cut baits will fool them all.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that big numbers of red drum have been reported by local anglers, with most of the action in the creeks. The reds will bite a variety of soft and hard artificials, along with live and cut shrimp or fish baits.
Some speckled trout are in the same areas and falling for the same baits as the reds.
Anglers are also seeing some black drum around inshore structure like docks and rocks, and they’re fooling them with cut shrimp fished on the bottom.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are picking up a mix of panfish including sea mullet, croaker, pufferfish, and more. Some small bluefish have been mixed in on many days, and anglers should see more action with the blues over the coming weeks as the water warms.
Offshore, trollers are reporting plenty of king mackerel action around Frying Pan Tower, where they’re hooking the fish on cigar minnows and Drone spoons.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of black sea bass (including some keepers) at structure within a few miles of the beachfront. More and larger bass are feeding at structure further offshore, along with porgies, snappers, and other bottom dwellers. Squid and cut baits pinned to bottom rigs will fool all the fish, but anglers can also drop smaller metal jigs on light spinning gear to hook up for a more sporting fight.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet, bluefish, pufferfish, and an occasional black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits.
