Southport/Oak Island – September 12, 2019
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore structure has produced sheepshead as big as 9 lbs. The wall at Lockwood Folly and the Southport waterfront have been good places to look, with fiddler crabs remaining the top choice for bait. Black drum can be found around the same areas.
Flounder are being caught in the backwaters and on the waterfront.
The same has been true for the red drum in the area. Most of the reds have been slot-sized, but quite a few small fish are being caught as well.
In the suds, fishing has been slow, other than some decent black drum. Bluefish are MIA, and only one small croaker has been reported.
The nearshore reefs are still producing flounder and red drum.
Offshore, kings are being caught here and there, with Mac-a-Hoos serving as the go-to bait. Most of the fish are coming from the waters out toward the tower, as there’s nothing very close to shore right now.
In the Gulf Stream, a few respectable sailfish are being landed, along with some scattered dolphin, but nothing has been hot and heavy.
Leesa Snyder with a 32″ red drum that fell for a Carolina-rigged mullet minnow in the Lockwood Folly River.
Tim, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been really good inshore.
Red drum fishing has been productive as well, with plenty of slot-sized fish being caught. No big bulls have been landed yet, but they should be coming soon.
Black drum fishing has stayed consistent, and the trout action has been picking up nicely.
The surf has been producing some citation whiting and pompano.
Off the beach, spanish fishing remains productive, though king fishing has slowed down.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that red drum and flounder have been the main targets over the past few weeks.
The reds are primarily being found on the falling tide, with finger mullet and peanut pogies providing the best action. Almost all of the fish caught have been in the slot, as the water temperature is still a little too high for the citation red drum that some of the other eastern areas have been seeing.
The flounder can be found both inshore or nearshore, with the wind and tide pattern determining where to look.
Spanish are being caught nearshore as well, with finger mullet bringing in the biggest fish and Clarkspoons providing action on the smaller ones.
Kings have been biting in the 20 mile range, and bailer mahi have been mixed in with them. Cigar minnows have been working wonders, but live bait (when available) will probably work even better.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that the inshore flounder and redfish bite continues to be strong, and there’s plenty of bait around. The Lockwood Folly Inlet back to the river has been great on tide changes. The water has been stirred up from the hurricane, but once the water clears, fishing will get better again.
With water temperatures cooling slightly, king mackerel are on the move, and you can look for the kings to show up much closer to shore any day now. Menhaden have been hit or miss with the kings, but cigar minnows behind Pirate Plugs or Big Nics should draw plenty of strikes over live bottom areas from the beach out to 18 miles.
Spanish fishing has slowed, but trolling green and red spoons are the go-to in shallower water. In the 35-55’ range, live mullet on light tackle will produce bites over structure.
Scott Brown, of Southport, with a 33″ redfish that fell for live bait off Oak Island.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that spanish mackerel in various sizes are swimming just off the beach. The smaller fish are tending to hit spoons, and the bigger fish prefer slow-trolled live mullet.
A few big reds have started to show up near the beach.
Kings should be showing up alongside the small spanish and ribbonfish on the nearshore reefs, so look for that bite to pick up very soon. Currently, they can be found to the south near the 90s and offshore in 80’+ of water.
The wahoo are starting to bite better offshore, and there have been quite a few sailfish caught and released inshore of the Gulf Stream.
Steve, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that fishing has been really slow but once the water has cleaned up, spanish, bluefish, trout, flounder, and black drum should start being pulled up more often. Most of the fish that are coming in are biting shrimp early in the morning.
