Southport July 21, 2005
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports big spanish mackerel in the 3 to 5.5 lb. range being caught on free-lined live mullets. Speckled trout are still biting early in the mornings on live shrimp. Flounder are a little more consistent now, with more bait around to use.
Tarpon have been seen rolling and free jumping, but none caught yet. A few lingering cobia have also been spotted, but anglers are waiting for the conditions to get right for these fish to move within range of their baits.
Small kings are being caught, with some close to the 24-inch limit. Pogies are all along the beach, so the big kings shouldn’t be far behind. Dave reminds anglers to bring their kids out to fish from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on July 30 for the Kids Fishing Derby being put on by the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department.
Bobby, at Long Beach Pier, reports flounder fishing picking up, with some bigger flatties over 3 lbs. being caught. Some nice black drum in the 6 to 8 lb. class have been landed, and speckled trout fishing early in the morning is still good if you have live shrimp. Other catches have included some pompano and croakers, but it has been a slow week for mackerel.
Jimmy Price, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that lots of flounder continue to be caught on both the inside and outside. Yaupon Reef has been as good as anywhere for catching flounder. Drifting in the inlet has been producing flounder both under and above keeper size. Stick near the channel markers during the low tide, and then move to the shoreline during the higher tides.
Speckled trout also continue to do well. They remain in the usual areas: Battery Island, Striker’s Island, etc. Topwater baits seemed to have done better this week, but soft plastics or live shrimp will also produce.
Sheepshead and black drum catches are coming from the Phizer dock. Red drum have done well under the old Oak Island Bridge near the rock pile. And you can pick up some flounder at the Quarantine Station (if you can stand to lose some tackle).
