Southport – May 12, 2016
Annette, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that black and red drum are both being caught back in local creeks using cut shrimp, with the reds also taking an interest in artificial baits.
Trout are still biting back in the local creeks, with Rapala X-Raps and Z-Man Trout Tricks a couple of the top producers.
Spanish mackerel are being caught close to the beaches and off local piers. Pier anglers are also connecting with flounder, as well as some of the first king mackerel of the season.
Dylan Lissor (age 13) with a 16” flounder that struck a live finger mullet in the Lockwood Folly River.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the spring run of king mackerel has been on fire. Boats fishing close to the beaches have been catching the kings slow trolling peanut pogies and cigar minnows.
Plenty of spanish mackerel have been landed in the same areas trolling Clarkspoons.
Flounder are being caught back in the creeks, along the Southport waterfront, around the Oak Island Bridge, and in areas along the Lockwood Folly River. Live mud minnows, bucktails, and Gulp baits have been the best methods for connecting with the flatfish.
Trout are being caught around local creek mouths and oyster rocks using MirrOlure MR17’s and topwater plugs.
Red drum are being caught around Dutchman’s Creek, with the Cajun Sleigh still being the bait of choice.
Black drum are in the Elizabeth River, and anglers are having the most success on cut shrimp.
Sheepshead can be found around Pfizer Pier and the Oak Island Bridge using fiddler crabs and sand fleas.
Abbey Long with an 18” and a 19” flounder she caught on Gulp shrimp while fishing in Lockwood Folly River.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been solid along the area beaches, with the larger fish hanging around the nearshore reefs. Using #1 planers with Clarkspoons has been effective, and chartreuse and pink colors have been helpful in dirtier water. Plenty of bait has shown up along the beach, and working these pods is also a good place to target the spanish.
Cobia have been spotted feeding along the bait schools, and the bait schools are producing some nice sized king mackerel. Live bait single or double rigs will work for both fish.
Kyle Whitfield, of Oak Island, with a 22 lb., 8 oz. blackfin tuna that bit a ballyhoo while he was trolling between the Navy Wreck and 100/400 on the “Outta Line.”
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that Gulf Stream fishing has been mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna.
Close to the beach, spanish mackerel fishing has started to pick up, and the king mackerel have started to show up as well.
Alexander Gilland with his first spanish mackerel. The fish was fooled by a Clarkspoon while he was trolling off Bald Head Island.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with flounder, spanish mackerel, whiting, bluefish, and king mackerel.
Steve, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with whiting and croakers, as well as flounder that are falling for live mud minnows.
The water temperature is currently 70 degrees.
