Southport April 12, 2012
Andrew Hebard, of Pfafftown, NC, with a healthy speckled trout he hooked while fishing near Southport with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the red drum bite around Varnamtown was solid last week, with even more fish reported around Southport. Soft plastic paddletails and Gulp baits on jigheads and live baits under floats (or on Carolina rigs) will tempt bites from the reds.
Bluefish are already feeding in the inlets and around nearshore structure, and a few spanish mackerel are in the mix as well. The spanish should get more prevalent as the water warms, and trolling Clarkspoons behind planers just off the beaches in 16-20’ of water is the way to target the spaniards.
King mackerel are feeding in around 100’ out towards Frying Pan Tower, and some wahoo have also been feeding alongside the kings lately. Dead cigar minnows, Drone spoons, and sea witch/strip bait combos will tempt bites from both.
The wahoo bite is also still going out in the Gulf Stream, and anglers are also giving good numbers of blackfin tuna a ride home in the fish box. Trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures will tempt bites from the tuna and ‘hoos.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are catching plenty of speckled trout in the area (most on the small side, but some to 5+ lbs. weighed in lately). Live shrimp are easily the top trout producers and are now steadily available, but anglers are also hooking up on MR17 MirrOlures, the new Yo-Zuri 3D Shrimp and Minnows, and Gulps and other soft plastics.
Jere Freeman with a 7.74 lb. black drum that's leading the Tackle Box monthly tournament.
Flounder are beginning to show up in better numbers, and anglers are starting to see increasing numbers of keeper fish. Live baits and Gulps on jigheads or bucktails will both get attention from the flatfish.
Spanish mackerel have started to bite a bit from the piers and just off the beaches, and they’ll become more numerous as the water warms. Small Drone spoons trolled behind planers will get attention from the spanish and plenty of bluefish that are also in the area.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been good on both sides of Frying Pan Tower in around 100’ of water, and some wahoo (including a 70 pounder) have also been mixed in. Trolled Drone spoons and cigar minnows will attract attention from both these speedy predators.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, and a few bluefish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
More blues are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the piers, and anglers also landed a few spanish mackerel while plugging last week.
Flounder are also feeding along the beachfront and falling for small live baits.
Some speckled trout and red drum have been caught on the east side of the river recently, and they should be feeding closer to Southport, too. Live shrimp and a variety of soft plastic baits will tempt bites from both the reds and specks.
John Fries, of Charlotte, with a 24" speckled trout that bit a live mud minnow near Oak Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking strong numbers of sea mullet and some pufferfish while baiting up with shrimp.
Plug casters are catching good numbers of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
