Added on Thursday, July 17, 2008  Gary Hurley

Southport July 17, 2008

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the rough weather made it tough for boats to get out this week, but some excellent fishing awaits anglers when the seas calm. Offshore bottom fishing is generally hot regardless of the weather, as long as the current is light enough to allow anglers to get baits to the bottom. Boats should target ledges and rock piles with squid, cigar minnows, cut baits, Gulps and even jigs to hook up with red, gag, and scamp groupers. Anglers can also find a variety of other bottomfish including grunts, triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, sea bass, and more.

The king mackerel bite has been steady at most of the local hot spots, and live baits like cigar minnows and pogies are producing better results than dead baits recently.

The dolphin bite has slowed some, but anglers should still be prepared for dolphin encounters when king mackerel and bottom fishing. Tossing a piece of squid or cut or whole cigar minnow to the fish when they show up should draw strikes.

Sailfish have begun to make an appearance, and anglers are seeing them at many of the king mackerel spots. Live baits or rigged ballyhoo will prove appealing to the sails.

There have been good numbers of pogies along the beach, and anglers should be able to find the schools by watching for pelicans torpedo-diving into the water.

Near the beach, the spanish mackerel bite is improving as the water clears after the recent wind and storms. Trolling #00 Clarkspoons behind trolling weights and planers will attract attention from the spaniards.

 

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the flounder have been feeding heavily just off the beach at Yaupon Reef. Carolina-rigged finger mullet or other live baits will draw strikes from the flatfish.

Some flounder are also feeding inshore, and anglers have caught some nice fish (in the 6-8 lb. range) recently. The Southport waterfront is a good place to begin looking for the flatfish.

There are some 18-20″ red drum and speckled trout feeding inshore in the river, too. The same live baits anglers are fishing for flounder will appeal to both.

July is typically when the tarpon show up on the shoals, and anglers are already seeing some to the north. Anglers who want to battle one of these giants should fish live baits on the surface and midwater and dead baits on the bottom. When anglers see the fish rolling or feeding, they will generally get bites.

 

Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that king mackerel fishing has been excellent this week around the inshore Tower reef. Trolling dead cigar minnows has been productive on the kings (some to 20 lbs.) and on some dolphin as well (a few gaffers up to 20 lbs. mixed in with smaller fish).

Bottom fishermen have had to deal with some strong current lately, but the fishing has been good. Anglers are loading coolers up with grunts, beeliners, grouper, and other tasty bottomfish while baiting up with squid and cigar minnows.

 

Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are hooking up with pompano, whiting, and some other bottomfish.

Some trout are also coming off the piers, and anglers are catching a few inshore as well.

Flounder are feeding behind Caswell Beach.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that live baiters landed several king mackerel over the week (with the largest a stout 28 lbs.).

Plug casters are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish.

The speckled trout bite is still good, and anglers fishing live shrimp and other baits took in trout weighing up to 3 lbs. last week.

Small live baits are also fooling good numbers of flounder.

Bottom fishermen are landing pompano and decent numbers of whiting and spot.

The water is 80 degrees.