Southport April 15, 2010
Buddy Smith, of Myrtle Beach, with an 81 lb. wahoo that fell for a skirted ballyhoo in 400' of water south of the Same Ol' Hole while he was fishing with his father. The fish was part of a triple header bite including 25 and 40 lb. 'hoos as well.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that hot spring fishing has been a little slower than usual to arrive this year due to the cold winter, but it won’t be long now as the nearshore waters have finally broken the 60 degree mark.
Atlantic bonito will be some of the first fish to show around the pods of bait that are already swimming near the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or casting Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows or small metal lures on light tackle to breaking schools of the bonito is the way to hook up with the fish. Keeping the boat out of the main school will help anglers avoid driving the fish deep and spooking them.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel will be right on the heels of the bonito and respond to the same baits and lures.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking up with whiting and some flounder. The whiting will take an interest in fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
Live baits, dead baits, and artificials will all fool the flounder.
A few large king mackerel will be moving to the beaches around the end of the month and first of May. While there usually aren’t big numbers, these are often some of the largest fish of the year. They’ll take an interest in live baits slow-trolled or drifted near the beaches.
Brad Ricker, of Bolivia, NC, with a fat black sea bass he hooked southwest of Frying Pan Tower on a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a cut bait. He was fishing out of Southport on the "Bottom Line" with Bill Zeron.
The main body of kings is still well offshore in 65+ degree water southwest of Frying Pan Tower. The fish are moving around and following the warmer water constantly, so anglers may have to put in some effort in order to find them. Plenty of false albacore are mixed in with the kings, and anglers can hook both on frozen cigar minnows or #3.5 Drone spoons behind planers.
Bottom fishing has been good lately at structure in 90’ of water and deeper. Anglers dropping bottom rigs baited with squid, cut baits, cigar minnows, and more are finding action with big black sea bass, snapper, grunts, porgies, grouper, and other bottom feeders (although the grouper can’t be kept until May 1).
Deep jigging near the break has been producing some impressive catches for local anglers, with plenty of amberjacks and other species like African pompano and cobia mixed in. Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs are producing most of the action.
The Gulf Stream bite should be getting hotter by the day. Anglers are already finding action with wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling the blue water, and dolphin and hopefully some yellowfin tuna will soon be mixed in. Ballyhoo behind skirted trolling lures are top producers in the ‘Stream, but when they aren’t producing, anglers shouldn’t be afraid to put out a spread of cedar plugs or other lures and troll a little faster to excite some bites.
Tom Williams, of St. James, NC, with a flounder he hooked 15 miles SW of Frying Pan Tower while bottom fishing with squid. He was fishing with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters out of Southport.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore fishing in the area is finally heating up. Red drum are feeding in the creeks, bays, and marshes off the lower Cape Fear. Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, and a variety of other artificials will attract bites from the reds, and some anglers have been getting in on the action with fly rods lately, too.
Trout are beginning to feed in the creeks and other springtime spots, and anglers landed decent numbers over the past weeks. Shrimp-imitating lures are top choices for the specks when anglers can’t round up any live shrimp—the ultimate trout bait.
Anglers are also starting to catch some flounder inshore, and live mud minnows or Gulp baits should get their attention.
Offshore, bottom fishermen have found excellent black sea bass and beeliner action at structure in the vicinity of Frying Pan Tower. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits will draw plenty of bites from the bass, bees, and any other bottomfish in the area.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are catching solid numbers of whiting and some larger black drum on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Plug casters are beginning to hook up with some bluefish large enough to use as king mackerel baits.
