Southport – May 26, 2016
Davis, of The Tackle Box, reports that the spring fishing has been solid.
Along the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite continues to be strong. King mackerel, along with some cobia, are being caught in the same nearshore areas. Trolling dead cigar minnows or live pogies when they can be found is the best bet for hooking up with the kings.
The flounder bite continues to improve, with fish being caught back in the area creeks. Live mud minnows as well as Gulp and Vudu shrimp have been good ways to hook up with the flatfish.
The Gulf Stream bite once again is solid, with good catches of mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna. The mahi continue to move closer in as the water temperatures increase.
Bryson Mayo (age 9) with a red drum he caught on live bait near Bald Head Island.
Annete, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that there has been some great early morning action with speckled trout off the piers and in the surf. Many anglers have limited out using Vudu shrimp, Savage shrimp, and live shrimp (when live can be found).
Surf anglers are still catching some whiting and croakers.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel bite continues to be good.
Flounder have been caught back in the creeks, and some over-slot red drum have been found  in some of the backwaters off the ICW.
Sterlin Smith with a 16” speckled trout that bit a shrimp in the backwaters around Southport.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the spring fishing continues to be good.
Along the beaches plenty of king mackerel (up to 35 lbs.), are being caught along with good numbers of cobia (up to 56 lbs.). Live pogies have been the bait of choice for both fish.
Spanish mackerel have been feeding heavily in the same areas. Trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs have been the best ways to catch the spanish.
Around the nearshore reefs, some over-slot red drum are being caught.
Plenty of flounder, many in the 2-3 lb. range, have been caught along the waterfront and back up in the creeks. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits have been the way to go.
Trout are being caught back up in the creeks and around the Oak Island Bridge.
Red drum are being hooked under the bridges and around Dutchman’s Creek.
Sheepshead and black drum are biting around local docks, bridges, and rock piles.
Andrew Yarbrough and Peter Balderas with two king mackerel they caught off Ocean Crest Pier on live bait. Yarbrough took home first place in the Rebel Tournament with his 39.4 lb. king.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been on fire along the beaches. Planers and Clarkspoons have proven to be effective, but the larger fish are keying in on the topwater offerings. Find bait pods in 20’of water and you will find the fish.
King mackerel have been feeding around the nearshore reefs, and smaller fish can be found in good numbers on structure out to the 20 mile range. There are still some large kings cruising the beach, but as the water temperature continues to warm they will move further offshore.
There is a ton of bait along the beach right now, but you have to work through it to find the larger baits.
Matthew Barnes, of Lumberton, with a 26” red drum he caught on shrimp in a creek behind Bald Head Island.
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that bottom fishing for grouper around 140’ of water has been very good. The mahi bite in areas around the same depths has been strong as well.
Monroe Brady, of Southport, with two sheepshead he caught on live crabs at the Oak Island Pier.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that the flounder action is picking up inshore and nearshore.
The spanish mackerel bite is solid near the beach, and trolling Clarkspoons has been very effective. Large king mackerel and cobia are taking an interest in live baits in the same areas.
Offshore bottom fishing has been good with anglers connecting with large black sea bass, snapper, triggerfish, and grouper.
Smaller king mackerel are mixed in with some mahi in the 15-25 mile range, and in the Gulf Stream the mahi are still biting well, along with wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that spanish mackerel, flounder, whiting, bluefish, and king mackerel are being caught. The water temperature is 70 degrees.
Steve, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that there has been solid action with trout, bluefish, and spanish mackerel early in the mornings. A king mackerel was landed this week, and a cobia was hooked into as well.
