Southport August 26, 2010
Connie Munden, of Fayetteville, NC, with a 4 lb. flounder that fell for a live finger mullet in a creek off the Cape Fear River while she was fishing with Capt. Tommy Rickman of Southport Angler Outfitters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with big numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling just off the beaches, with most of the action coming on #00 Clarkspoons.
Flounder are feeding on the nearshore reefs, where anglers can catch good numbers on Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Bottom fishermen are catching some fat whiting just off the inlet near the western bar channel. Squid and shrimp will get their attention.
Some schools of bluefish are returning to the beaches, and they should bring the kings back towards shore as well.
Offshore, anglers are encountering some dolphin and king mackerel in the 20 mile range, although the bite’s a bit slower than it has been.
Bottom fishing has been producing action with grunts, beeliners, pinkies, sea bass, and more, but the bite’s been a little bit off. Fishing ledges, live bottoms, and wrecks in 100’ or more is the way to hook up with these tasty fish, and squid and cut baits will get their attention. The arrival of September should return the bottom bite to normal.
Grouper fishing remains good in most of the same areas, and live baits will tempt bites from the larger groupers.
Griffin Mongeiello, from Montvale, NJ, with an over-slot red drum caught and released near Bald Head using a live pogie. He was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Oak Island.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore bite in the lower Cape Fear has been on lately.
Anglers are hooking up with excellent numbers of flounder while fishing the marshes and inshore structure with live finger mullet (with fish ranging from undersized to 4+ lbs.).
Red drum are also cruising the marshes looking for meals, and they’re falling for live baits, topwater plugs, and other lures.
Drifting live shrimp beneath float rigs in the marshes, especially around shelly areas with some current, has been producing plenty of action with speckled trout and some healthy black drum.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite remains strong along the area’s beaches, and most anglers are hooking up with the fish while trolling Clarkspoons.
Offshore, there’s been a decent king mackerel and dolphin bite around the Horseshoe lately.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking up with some whiting and pompano on shrimp.
Inshore, the red drum and flounder bite is decent in the backwaters and creeks. Live mud minnows and finger mullet will fool both fish.
Rachel Carter, Matthew Kirschner, and Capt. Carl Snow a catch of flounder (including 3 fish over 5 lbs.) hooked on finger mullet near Carolina Beach. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are still catching decent numbers of speckled trout from the pier on live shrimp.
Flounder are falling for small live baits fished on the bottom.
Anglers baiting up bottom rigs with shrimp are connecting with a mixed bag of whiting, spot, croaker, and some pompano and black drum.
The spanish mackerel bite is still on when there’s a school feeding near the pier, and most of the fish are falling for light-lined live baits instead of lures.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel bite remains solid from the planks. Anglers are catching most of the larger spaniards on small live baits, though some are falling for Gotcha plugs as well.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some black drum, whiting, and pompano (many 1+ lbs.). Shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the action.
Flounder are falling for small live baits fished near the pier’s pilings.
