Southport – August 31, 2017
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing the surf have been mainly focused on spanish. Tossing Stingsilvers and other metal jigs from the beach has produced good numbers of fish.
Inshore fishing has been steady for red drum. Targeting oyster beds and marsh banks has been the best bet for the reds, and live finger mullet and mud minnows have been the top producing baits.
Those targeting speckled trout have had success with live shrimp under float rigs. Most of the specks have been holding near deeper water around shell and marsh banks.
Just off the beach, the spanish fishing remains steady. Targeting bait pods and then casting jigs has worked well. Trolling Clarkspoons has also been a steady producer.
Sindy Patton, of Southport, NC, with a 28” trout that fell for live mullet near the Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Davis, of The Tackle Box, reports that the inshore flounder bite has stayed consistent in the creeks. Live finger mullet on a Carolina rig has been the best way to land keeper fish.
Red drum are still feeding around the area creeks and bays. Targeting marsh points and oyster banks has produced the most fish, and anglers have produced mainly by tossing out live mullet on Carolina rigs, as well as Gulp plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads. A few speckled trout have also been landed while fishing for the reds.
Just off the beach, big spanish have started to show. Anglers trolling live mullet and Clarkspoons have hooked in to fish in the 2-5 lb. range.
Around the nearshore reefs, the flounder bite has picked up. Dropping live finger mullet to the bottom has produced limits of keeper flatfish. In addition, fishing with large live and cut baits near the Hot Hole has produced a couple bull redfish.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has continued to produce quality fish in the Cape Fear River. Many fish in the 5-9 lb. range have been landed while fishing live mullet and pogies on Carolina rigs. Soft plastics like Gulp and Z-Man have also worked well. Those targeting the Southport waterfront, Cape Creek, and Cedar Creek have landed the most numbers of quality fish.
Anglers targeting speckled trout have found lots of fish in the 2-3 lb. range, as well as a few fish that have pushed the 5 lb. mark. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp have all worked well for the trout. Most fish have been landed in the first and last three hours of the day.
Fishing the Elizabeth River has produced good numbers of black drum. Casting fresh shrimp around oyster beds has been the ticket.
Red drum have been holding in a variety of places, from the creeks behind Bald Head Island to the shallow bays. Most fish have been hooked on live finger mullet, cut bait, or soft plastics, but some anglers have also had luck landing them on topwater plugs early in the morning.
Sheepshead fishing near bridge and dock structure has continued to produce good fish. Most have been tempted to bite by dropping live fiddler crabs along the pilings.
Just off the beach, trolling Clarkspoons for spanish has hooked anglers in to plenty of 1-2 lb. fish, and those electing to light-line live baits around nearshore structure have landed spanish in the 4-5 lb. range.
Offshore fishing for kings has been steady around the Horseshoe and Frying Pan Tower areas. Anglers are also finding plenty of grouper, beeliners, and keeper black sea bass when dropping to the bottom.
Zach Queen, of Asheboro, NC, with a 6 lb. flounder caught on live mullet while fishing from the Fort Caswell pier.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that spanish fishing has been hot along the beaches when trolling gold, green, and pink Clarkspoons. Rigging them on #1 and #2 planers has been the key to success. Those looking for big spanish have done well light-lining live mullet around the nearshore wrecks and reefs.
Also on the nearshore reefs, the flounder bite has been consistent. Dropping live finger mullet on a Carolina rig or bucktails tipped with soft plastics has been the best way to draw a strike. A few of the large red drum have shown up at the reefs as well.
Trolling offshore has produced good numbers of kings and barracudas when targeting deeper water. On the bottom, dropping live baits has produced grouper and amberjack, and those dropping cut baits have landed black sea bass, snapper, triggerfish, and grunts.
On the inside, speckled trout and black drum have been feeding around Dutchman’s Creek and the Elizabeth River.
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that anglers targeting the nearshore reefs for flounder have had success landing double digit numbers. Most fish have been keepers and have hit live finger mullet.
Light-lining finger mullet around the reefs has produced quality spanish. Some fish have weighed in the 4-6 lb. range. A few sharks have been in the mix as well.
Trolling Clarkspoons off the beach has landed good numbers of spanish in the 1-3 lb. range.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that the inshore red drum and flounder bite has started to pick up. Those fishing with live finger mullet on Carolina rigs near docks and marsh lines have hooked into plenty of action.
Nearshore, trolling Clarkspoons for spanish has produced fish in the 2-4 lb. range. Those looking for larger fish (in the 5-6 lb. range) have had success light-lining live baits around nearshore structure. Sharks have also been feeding around the nearshore reefs and wrecks, and anglers have landed blacktips, spinners, and blacknose sharks.
In the 20-40 mile range, the kings have been spread out. Anglers are having to cover large amounts of water to narrow in to where the bite is that day. Those offshore and dropping to the bottom have landed good numbers of grouper and snapper.
Susan, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers plugging from the pier early in the morning have landed a few keeper spanish. Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers have been the best lures.
Those fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have landed small croaker and whiting.
