Southport April 26, 2007
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that there was hot fishing inshore and offshore before the cold front shut things down.
Inshore, anglers were scoring with black and red drum, speckled trout, whiting, and a few flounder. As the water warms back up, expect continued action with these species.
Nearshore, bluefish are thick at Jaybird Shoals. Trolling Clark Spoons around diving birds will draw strikes from the blues, and anglers can also cast metal lures, such as Hopkins and diamond jigs, with success.
At structure like the General Sherman, AR440, AR420, and the 390/390, bonito and gray trout have been providing action. Trolling small Clark Spoons in sizes #00-#2 will get attention from the bonito, and jigs or squid dropped to the bottom should produce gray trout.
Slightly further offshore, from the Lockwood Folly Rocks out to the 18 Mile Rocks, black sea bass are schooled up. Dropping bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits is the ticket to filling a cooler.
King mackerel have arrived in the vicinity of Frying Pan Tower, and they are feeding with abandon. Frozen cigar minnows and spanish sardines trolled on Blue Water Candy King Rigs prove irresistible to the kings.
On bottom structure in 80-100 feet of water, the grouper, snapper, and sea bass fishing has been excellent. Try jigging cigar minnows and sardines up from the structure with sabiki rigs to fish with the best bait available.
Plenty of wahoo are providing thrills for boats making the journey to the Gulf Stream. Blackfin tuna and increasing numbers of yellowfin tuna are mixed in with the wahoo.
Dolphin are beginning to show up as well, and billfish should appear any time. Ballyhoo under skirted lures in blue/white, red/black, purple/black, and pink/white will get the most hits in the blue water. Cedar plugs, Marauders, and Yo-Zuris are other effective lures to throw in the spread.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that flounder fishing has picked up. There aren’t many minnows on the beach yet, but the flounder don’t seem to mind and have been hitting cut shrimp well. The flatfish are averaging around 2 lbs., and one over 3 lbs. was weighed last week.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp have also been scoring with whiting (up to 1.5 lbs.) and sand perch.
Bluefish have arrived in force, and plug casters are catching plenty in the 1-2 lb. range. The chopper blues are moving in as well, and it won’t be long until some are caught off the pier.
Anglers and observers are sighting good numbers of sea turtles and cow nose rays, so cobia should be showing up soon.
The water temperature is 65 degrees.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports solid speckled trout fishing continues in Davis Canal, the Elizabeth and Wildlife Rivers, Dutchman’s Creek, St. James Marina, and around the Oak Island Bridge.
Some 3-5 lb. puppy drum are mixed in with the trout. The most productive artificial lures are curly tail grubs, Trout Killers, and MirrOlures. A live shrimp or mud minnow under a float will get plenty of attention from trout and drum as well.
Some nice black drum are feeding around the Oak Island Bridge with the reds and trout.
Flounder fishing has begun and already 5 and 7 lb. flounder have been caught in Lockwood Folly Inlet. The fish are averaging around 1-2 lbs., with plenty of throwbacks still mixed in.
Anglers are catching fat sea mullet (up to 1.5 lbs.) from piers and in the Cape Fear River mouth.
Small blues are schooled up at Jaybird Shoals, along with some 5-8 lb. fish. The blues will fall victim to trolled spoons.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that pier and surf fishermen are catching bluefish, whiting, and flounder.
Some drum and trout are coming from the backwaters and Davis Creek, although they are not around in the usual numbers.
