Added on Thursday, April 23, 2009  Fish Post

Southport April 23, 2009

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have already begun to show up off the Southport beaches, with decent catches reported from Yaupon Reef. Trolling Clarkspoons or other flashy lures will attract attention from the spanish.

Atlantic bonito should be somewhere around the nearshore rocks and ledges in the area, but they won’t be here long, so anglers should try to find them while they can.

Offshore bottom fishing is still excellent. Boats just need decent weather to let them get out to the fish. Fishing the drop-offs, rocks, and ledges in 80′ or more is the way to put together a good catch of bottomfish like red, scamp, and gag grouper, black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, grunts, pinkies, and more. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will attract attention from all the bottom feeders.

It’s a good idea to keep a weightless light-line out while bottom fishing, as it will draw the interest of any passing king mackerel, dolphin, or cobia.

Deep jigging is another way to target the offshore bottomfish and pelagics, and anglers have been finding success with everything from grouper and snapper to wahoo and tuna while fishing jigs lately.

The Gulf Stream trolling bite is improving by the day, and anglers are reporting action with dolphin, wahoo, and blackfin tuna when the winds let them get to the blue water. Trolling lures like Braid High Speeds, Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, and cedar plugs will produce results on the dolphin, wahoo, and tuna. Rigged ballyhoo underneath Blue Water Candy lures are hard to beat as well.

 

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the hot king mackerel bite at the Tower has slowed considerably, even for anglers fishing live cigar minnows, often a foolproof method.

The bottom bite at the ledges in the area has been decent, however, with anglers catching some scamp grouper along with the usual assortment of sea bass, pinkies, triggerfish, and other bottom feeders. Vertical jigging has been quite effective on the bottomfish lately, particularly for the scamp grouper.

Inshore, anglers are finding a few small trout and reds in the river and the creeks, and the year’s first flounder are making an appearance as well.

 

John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are landing decent numbers of pompano (with some to 2.5 lbs.) along with plenty of small bluefish.

Shrimp fished on bottom rigs are producing most of the action with the pomps.

Spanish mackerel aren’t far off for pier anglers, as one boater hooked a good number while trolling Clarkspoons just off Yaupon Pier last week.

Anglers are still catching red drum in the backs of the creeks on spinnerbaits, and a few smaller flounder are showing up inshore as well.

 

Keith, of Stand ‘N Down Charters, reports that sea bass fishing has been excellent when anglers make it far enough offshore to get to 60 degree water (10+ miles out last week). There are good number of keepers (most 12-15″) out there, and they’re falling for squid and other baits.

The bottom bite in closer (less than 70’) was slow.

It’s high time for the spanish mackerel and bonito to make an appearance at the nearshore wrecks and ledges, but anglers haven’t caught many yet.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are still catching good numbers of whiting from the pier while bottom fishing with shrimp. Some black drum and flounder are also mixed in, and anglers are landing a surprising number of pompano (up to nearly 3 lbs.) as well.

There have also been plenty of jimmy-sized bluefish around and interested in the bottom rigs. No big blues have shown up yet, and neither have any kings or spanish. The water’s 66 degrees and the bite was on this time last year, so it shouldn’t be long.