Southport – May 28, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have seen a bit of a slowdown in the local fishing, likely due to persistent east winds over the weekend and early week, but the action should be back on track as soon as the wind shifts to the west and south for a few days.
Some cobia and king mackerel are still looking for meals along the beachfront, where anglers can find them around nearshore structure and pods of menhaden. Live menhaden or bluefish will get attention from both fish.
Rusty Wilson, of Asheboro, NC, with a 24.5 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish off Oak Island Pier.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are reporting some excellent grouper action while dropping baits to structure in 100’ and deeper.
Inshore, there have been some big speckled trout hooked recently. The specks will bite live baits or a variety of artificials including soft plastics, topwater plugs, and suspending baits like MirrOlures.
Red drum are still looking for meals in the marshes and creeks, where they’ll take an interest in the same offerings as the specks.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around rocky areas and pilings near Southport. Anglers can fish sand fleas or fiddler crabs close to the structure to hook both.
Flounder fishing remains solid inshore, with the fish feeding in the same areas as the sheepshead and drum. Live baits, soft plastics, and bucktail jigs will all get attention from the flatfish.
Tony Cherry, of Belmont, NC, with a 3.5 lb., 17″ pompano that struck a grub/cut bait combo in the Oak Island surf. The fish was measured and submitted for an NC Citation at Oak Island Pier.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have landed several king mackerel off the Oak Island piers recently while fishing live baits on pin-rigs.
Some flounder are falling for live baits around the pier pilings and for surf casters.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the beachfront at Oak Island. Pier anglers are hooking both on Gotcha plugs, and boaters are trolling Clarkspoons to get in on the action.
Offshore, anglers are finding king mackerel and dolphin while trolling live baits and dead cigar minnows.
More dolphin and some wahoo are biting skirted ballyhoo at local Gulf Stream spots.
Bottom fishermen continue to hook some good catches of black sea bass and more on squid and small cut baits.
T.C. Smith with a 19.5″ flounder that struck a live mud minnow in Bald Head Creek while he was fishing with Jordan Frye.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are feeding just off the inlets and Brunswick County beachfront, and the bite continues to get better. Most of the spaniards are falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Cobia and king mackerel are also looking for meals just off the beaches, where anglers are tempting them to bite live baits like menhaden and bluefish.
Offshore, dolphin continue to bite at local Gulf Stream hotspots, and anglers have also been encountering a few in the 15 mile range. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling most of the fish offshore, but the close ones are also falling for live baits and cigar minnows for anglers targeting king mackerel.
Bottom fishing has been excellent around offshore structure in the 100’ range and deeper. Gag and scamp grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, and grunts are all feeding around the reefs and wrecks in that vicinity. Anglers can tempt them all to bite squid and cut baits on bottom rigs.
Jeffery and Kristen, of WV, with flounder they hooked on live baits near Bald Head Island while fishing with Capt. Mark Register of Playin’ Hooky Charters.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the excellent dolphin fishing continues for boats making the run to the Gulf Stream. Most of the ‘phins are taking an interest in ballyhoo trolled in combination with sea witches and other skirted lures.
King mackerel are spread from the beachfront to the 20+ mile range. Anglers can tempt the kings to bite spoons and dead baits like cigar minnows, but live baits generally produce the largest fish.
Bottom fishermen are finding plenty of grouper action while dropping baits to structure in 100-200’ of water. Like the kings, the largest groupers often fall for live baits.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with excellent numbers of speckled trout in the early morning hours (some limit catches and fish to 4-5 lbs.). Most are falling for artificial lures and live mud minnows.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting mud minnows as well (but many are on the small side).
Live baiters have landed a number of king mackerel while fishing baits from the end of the pier over the past week.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and other casting lures are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and squid is producing sea mullet, croaker, and pufferfish.
The water is in the mid-70’s.
