Added on Thursday, September 24, 2015  Fish Post

Southport – September 24, 2015

Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking plenty of flounder throughout the Southport area at present, and the action should only improve as fall progresses. The flatfish are falling for live baits, bucktail jigs, Gulps, Shrimpostors, and other lures.

Speckled trout are also on the feed, with excellent action in the Elizabeth River, Cape Creek, Walden Creek, and other backwaters throughout the area. Some larger trout are biting topwater plugs early and late in the day, with soft plastics and MirrOlure MR17’s producing better results when the sun’s high.

Red drum are feeding in many of the same places and biting the same baits as the flounder and trout inshore, and anglers are also finding some large drum (to 40”+) at nearshore structure in the ocean like Yaupon and McGlamery reefs. The big reds are biting live and cut mullet and menhaden.

Black drum are looking for meals around oyster rocks and other structure in the Elizabeth River and elsewhere around Southport. Cut shrimp are fooling the black drum.

Anglers are seeing more black drum and sheepshead around the ADM dock and heavy structure in the ICW and Cape Fear River. Fiddler crabs and sand fleas are fooling the sheeps.

Spot have shown up in good numbers in the lower Cape Fear River, and anglers should see more as the water continues to cool. Bloodworms (both real and artificial) and cut shrimp are attracting attention from the spot.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still looking for meals around the area’s inlets and at nearshore structure off the beaches. Both will pounce on trolled Clarkspoons and other flashy lures rigged behind planers and torpedo weights.

King mackerel are showing up in the same areas, and anglers can expect to see more and more kings along the beachfront as they show up to feed on the abundant bait along the shoreline. Live menhaden and bluefish are tough to beat for the larger kings.

Bottom fishermen targeting structure in 100’ of water and deeper are reporting big catches of grouper, black sea bass, vermillion snapper, and more. Live, dead, and cut baits are all attracting attention from the bottom feeders.

Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been hooking king and spanish mackerel from Oak Island’s piers in recent days.

Spot are beginning to show up at the piers as well.

Anglers soaking live baits on the bottom in the surf and under the piers are connecting with some flounder.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are on the feed near inlets and along the beachfront. Anglers are hooking both on metal casting lures from the beach and while trolling Clarkspoons from boats.

Surf casters are also hooking sea mullet, croaker, and a few spot on shrimp.

Inshore, red drum and speckled trout are feeding in the backwaters and creeks. They’ll both bite live baits or a variety of artificial lures.

Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some large red drum just off the area’s beaches. Most are falling for live mullet and cut menhaden on Carolina rigs.

Large spanish mackerel are feeding around the nearshore reefs in the ocean. Anglers are hooking the big spaniards on small live baits pinned to downsized king mackerel rigs.

King mackerel are showing up between the beachfront and spots in the 10 mile range, and live menhaden and bluefish have been attracting attention from the kings.

Offshore, bottom fishing at spots in 100’ of water and deeper is producing plenty of action with gag and scamp grouper, beeliners, triggerfish, and more. Live and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.

 

Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and straw rigs from the pier.

Some flounder are falling for live baits fished underneath the pier.

Bottom fishermen are decking croaker and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp.