Southport – August 27, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildife Bait and Tackle, reports that the fishing has picked up in the past week around Southport, and fall is on the way so it will be getting event better shortly.
Flounder (some citation fish) are feeding around the Southport waterfront, in the Cape Fear River, and in the creeks. Anglers are fooling the flatfish with live baits like finger mullet along with Gulps and other soft artificials.
Red drum are in many of the same areas and prowling the shallows of local marshes and creeks. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite live baits or soft plastics, topwater plugs, and a variety of other lures.
Speckled trout are looking for meals in the creeks and around inshore structure like the Oak Island Bridge. Live shrimp are tough for the trout to turn down, but anglers can also fool them with topwater plugs, MirrOlures, soft plastics, and more.
Out in the ocean, large spanish mackerel have shown up off Oak Island and around structure like Yaupon Reef. Anglers can catch plenty of the spaniards while trolling their typical Clarkspoon spreads, but small live baits on light wire leaders are better bets for the larger fish.
A few king mackerel (20-25 lbs.) are showing up along the beachfront, and anglers can expect a large body of fish to move into the beaches as summer fades into fall. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are anglers’ best bets for the kings.
Lewis Player, of Fayetteville, NC, with an over-slot red drum that struck a live bait near Oak Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Teresa, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some solid spanish mackerel fishing off Oak Island right now. Some have been caught from the beach near the inlets, and pier anglers and nearshore boaters are connecting with big numbers. Casting lures like Gotcha plugs are fooling the fish from the beach and planks, and boaters are tempting them to bite Clarkspoons and other flashy lures trolled behind planers and torpedo sinkers.
Further offshore, there have been some good king mackerel and dolphin reports from boats trolling around Frying Pan Tower and out to the Gulf Stream. Both fish will bite cigar minnows or ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing offshore has been producing plenty of action with black sea bass and other tasty species. Squid, cut baits, and cigar minnows are the way to go for the bottom feeders.
Inshore, there’s been a solid flounder bite over the last week. Live baits are effective on the flatfish, but anglers have had even more luck recently while casting white Gulp baits on jigheads.
Some red and black drum are feeding in the creeks. Both will bite fresh shrimp, and anglers can also fool the reds on live baits and a variety of artificial lures.
Jason Long, of Wilmington, NC, with a 27″ red drum he landed on a Carolina-rigged mullet while fishing near Bald Head Island.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some solid action on offshore bottom fishing trips, connecting with beeliners, grunts, porgies, sea bass, grouper, African pompano, and more. The best action has been in around 100’ of water, and squid, cigar minnows, cut baits, and more are fooling the bottom feeders.
Closer to shore, there’s been some solid king mackerel action in the 20 mile range, and the fish will likely be moving toward the beachfront as fall approaches. Dead cigar minnows are attracting plenty of attention from the kings.
Some large spanish mackerel have been feeding at structure from the beach to the 10 mile range and biting cigar minnows and smaller live baits.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling off the island. Most are falling for Clarkspoons.
Big sharks are in the same areas as the mackerel and will happily bite large cut and dead baits.
Bottom fishing around nearshore structure in the ocean is producing some solid flounder action. Most of the flatfish are falling for live finger mullet.
Anglers are also hooking flounder inshore on mullet, along with some red drum. Most of the action has been in the marshes and around structure like docks.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and straw rigs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with black drum, spadefish, pompano, sea mullet, and more. Squid and shrimp are producing most of the action.
One tarpon was released (est. 100 lbs.) by an angler live-baiting from the end of the pier last week.
