Added on Thursday, May 8, 2008  Gary Hurley

Southport May 8, 2008

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have shown up along the beach and at nearshore structure such as Yaupon Reef. Anglers can either troll Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers to find the fish or cast small lures like Gotcha plugs and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers to breaking schools of fish.

There are plenty of bluefish around and feeding, and anglers searching for the spanish shouldn’t have much trouble hooking up with some of the blues. Small white terns diving to the water’s surface are a good indication that blues and spanish are below pushing bait to the surface.

Some kings have also already been caught from the piers, so there should be a few of the larger mackerel feeding in the nearshore waters as well. Live baits, such as menhaden or bluefish, are top choices for the nearshore kings.

There have been plenty of kings still feeding around Frying Pan Tower, and the offshore kings will have no qualms about striking trolled cigar minnows and Drone Spoons. Some very large bluefish have been feeding around the Tower as well, but they tend to move on quickly this time of year.

Bottom fishermen are landing nice catches while fishing around rocks, ledges, wrecks, and any other structure that provides a break in the current. Gag, red, and scamp grouper, along with a variety of other tasty bottom fish, should reward anglers who send down cigar minnows, squid, cut baits, or Gulp shrimp and squid.

Live baits fished near high relief structure should attract the attention of hard fighting amberjacks.

Boats making the trip to the Gulf Stream are hooking up with wahoo and dolphin along with a few blackfin tuna, but no yellowfins. Ballyhoo beneath blue/white Blue Water Candy lures should produce good results in the blue water.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that king mackerel have shown up, and the pier has already landed over a dozen this year. Chopper bluefish have been feeding near the pier as well, and king fishermen are getting some action from the big blues.

A cobia chased a Gotcha plug to the pier last week. The water temperature is right, so it shouldn’t be long before one is hooked.

Plug casters are starting to catch a few spanish mackerel on Gotchas, particularly on rising tides in the early evening hours. Plenty of smaller bluefish are falling for the Gotchas as well.

The whiting bite has been decent for anglers fishing cut shrimp on bottom rigs. Some pompano (up to 1.5 lbs) have also been falling for the shrimp, along with a few black drum.

Anglers fishing live shrimp on float rigs close to the pier have also caught some speckled trout recently.

Some smaller flounder are falling for live baits.

The water is 70 degrees.

 

Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that the Gulf Stream bite has been good lately when boats can make it to the deep water. Dolphin are beginning to make up the majority of the catch, and most are gaffers (some up to 20-40 lbs.). A few blackfin tuna and wahoo are mixed with the dolphin, but the wahoo bite has been better to the north recently. Ballyhoo trolled under Sea Witch skirts should attract the attention of anything feeding out in the blue water.

Inshore of the Stream, the kings are schooled up tightly around the Horseshoe. Cigar minnows or Drone Spoons will entice them to strike.

Bottom fishermen are catching good numbers of big sea bass around the ledges and structure near Frying Pan Tower. Beeliners are feeding at deeper structure in the 120-140′ range.

 

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore water temperature is up to 67 degrees, and the flounder and red drum fishing in the river has improved markedly. Live, Carolina-rigged mud minnows and Gulp baits will both attract attention from the reds and flounder.

Spanish mackerel are feeding at Yaupon Reef, and boats are hooking up while trolling small spoons and plugs or casting metal lures to the schools.

Anglers have already landed a few king mackerel from the piers, and it shouldn’t be long before the Oak Island beach bite turns on. Mother’s Day weekend usually sees the full fledged king feeding begin.

 

Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that bottom fishermen are still catching big numbers of beeliners, but the grouper bite has been somewhat slow. This is likely due to the fact that the gags and reds are still in spawning patterns, as the few groupers that have been coming in are very fat in the bellies.

Divers have been spearing a few grouper and a decent number of hogfish.

It’s time for the bull dolphin to be feeding in the Gulf Stream, and some boats swordfishing have been putting some big dolphin in the boxes while fishing well offshore.