Added on Thursday, July 16, 2009  Fish Post

Southport July 16, 2009

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the king mackerel and dolphin bite (mostly 10-30 miles offshore) is still going, although the dolphin are beginning to thin out a bit. Both live pogies and frozen cigar minnows are producing action with the kings and dolphin. Prevalent barracudas are often making it difficult to get the fish to the boat in one piece, however.

A few African pompano have already been caught around the Frying Pan Tower, and anglers fishing a live pogy around the structure stand a solid chance of hooking up with one of the powerful and delicious fish.

Grouper fishing remains good, with mostly red grouper east of the Tower and gags and scamps to the west and southwest. Live baits, cut baits, and frozen minnows all work well on the grouper, and the best action’s been in 100’ and deeper lately.

Smaller bottom feeders like grunts, triggerfish, beeliners, and sea bass are holding on most any offshore structure, and they will take an interest in cut baits or cigar minnows.

Plenty of amberjacks are feeding on the high relief offshore wrecks and reefs, and anglers can hook up with them on live pogies to experience a powerful fight.

Closer to shore, spadefish have shown up on the nearshore reefs. Anglers can chum them to the boat with cannonball jellies, and use small pieces for bait to hook up with them.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been up and down lately, but a few days of stable weather should have the fish back to feeding voraciously.

Flounder are also showing up on the nearshore reefs, and anglers dropping Carolina-rigged finger mullet to the structure should be able to hook up with the flatfish.

 

Keith, of Stand’N Down Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite is on around the Horseshoe. The bite’s been best in the morning, and anglers are regularly catching limits of kings before 10:00 am. Green South Chatham Pirate Plugs with dead cigar minnows are producing most of the kings.

Offshore of the ‘Shoe, bottom fishermen are finding action with grouper, triggerfish, American red snapper, and grunts. Squid and cigar minnows will produce action with these fish.

The spanish bite has slowed a bit along the beaches due to the hot water, but anglers are still catching good numbers of fish in 45-50’ with #00 pink flash Clarkspoons behind #2 planers.

 

John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers caught some king mackerel and tarpon off the piers last week on live baits.

Some speckled trout are falling for live shrimp off the planks. Surf and pier bottom fishermen are hooking up with spot, whiting, and black drum.

Spanish and king mackerel are feeding just off the beaches, and boaters are hooking up with both.

The dolphin bite was good around the Horsehoe last week, and anglers fishing the area also caught grouper and other bottomfish.

 

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent around 18 Mile Rock, the Shark Hole, the Horseshoe, and other spots 15-25 miles offshore. Live pogies will draw strikes from the kings, and anglers can also hook up on frozen cigar minnows. Some dolphin are in the same areas, but the bite’s slowing down a bit.

Inshore, anglers float fishing with live shrimp around structure in the lower Cape Fear are finding a good speckled trout and red drum bite along with a few flounder. With the heat, the action seems best before 10:30 in the morning and after 3:30 in the afternoon right now.

 

Deborah, of Oak Island Pier, reports that live baiters landed a number of king mackerel and released a tarpon last week. Some large spanish mackerel have also fallen for the live baits lately.

Anglers are still hooking plenty of speckled trout in the mornings on live shrimp. Some keeper flounder are also falling for the shrimp.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that live baiters hooked several tarpon and plenty of kings last week (the largest king going 28 lbs.).

Live shrimp are still producing good numbers of speckled trout and some fat pompano.

Bottom fishermen are also decking the pomps on cut shrimp, and they’re hooking up with whiting and good numbers of black drum as well. 

The water is 84 degrees.