Southport – April 23, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the fishing around Southport just keeps getting better. Anglers are catching more flounder by the week, and they’re finding them around ICW and Cape Fear River docks, in the creeks, and in the marshes. Both live baits and artificials like Gulps, bucktail jigs, or curlytail grubs will attract attention from the flounder.
James Wood, of Greensboro, with a fat black sea bass he hooked while bottom fishing in 90′ of water off Holden Beach with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas as the flatfish and also in the shallow bays off the Cape Fear and Elizabeth River. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite a wide variety of baits including live mud minnows and shrimp or chunks of crab and mullet. Artifical lures like topwater plugs, spoons, and Gulp baits can be highly effective as well.
Black drum are feeding in the local creeks, and the crustacean-lovers are taking an interest in shrimp and crab baits.
Speckled trout are looking for meals in the creeks and around structure like docks and oyster rocks. Live baits are the best bet for anglers looking to connect with the trout on bait, but artificials like topwater plugs, MirrOlures, and a wide variety of soft plastics will also produce results with the specks.
Anglers are also seeing some of the first sheepshead of the year along the docks and rocky structure near the Southport waterfront. The sheeps will bite shrimp or fiddler crabs dangled tight to the structure where they live.
Bluefish have shown up around Jaybird Shoals just off the mouth of the Cape Fear River and anglers have also hooked some of the first spanish mackerel of the year from the Oak Island piers. The blues and spanish will strike trolled plugs and spoons or metal casting lures like Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
King mackerel and cobia should be making their way towards the beachfront to feed on the blues and spanish in the next few weeks as well. Live menhaden or bluefish are the top baits for both when they show up along the beachfront.
Anglers are also catching big numbers of king mackerel along with an occasional wahoo while trolling cigar minnows and strip baits near Frying Pan Tower.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and small flounder while bottom fishing off the beach and from the Oak Island piers. Shrimp are fooling both.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs from the piers are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore, there’s been some decent speckled trout action in Dutchman Creek and other local creeks. The specks will bite a variety of artificial lures along with live baits suspended under floats.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are finding plenty of life around Frying Pan Tower, where they’re hauling up black sea bass, beeliners, and much more. Squid and cut baits are fooling the bottomfish.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some wahoo action when they can make it out to the Gulf Stream. Some blackfin tuna and dolphin are looking for meals in the same areas, and all three will bite ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures.
King mackerel are feeding around Frying Pan Tower but will soon be making their way closer to the beachfront to attack bluefish and spanish mackerel. Cigar minnows will fool them offshore, but live baits are a better choice when they make it inshore.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with plenty of black sea bass at structure from the 10 mile range on out. They’ll bite baited bottom rigs or vertical jigs fished on lighter gear.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have shown up along the beachfront and are biting trolled Clarkspoons.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet, spot, croaker, and pufferfish while baiting up with shrimp and squid.
Some flounder (most small but some keepers) are falling for small live baits fished on the bottom.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and small spanish mackerel when the water is clean, primarily on Gotchas.
Anglers are also hooking some undersized speckled trout in the early morning hours.
