Southport April 9, 2009
J.T. Martin with a red drum caught and released just before sunset on a Rapala Skitterwalk topwater. He was fishing with Capt. Tommy Rickman of Southport Angler Outfitters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that inshore water temperatures are on the rise, and, consequently, the fishing’s getting better by the day. Anglers inshore are reporting catches of black drum, red drum, speckled trout, and some flounder. Live mud minnows and shrimp and Gulp baits seem to be producing the most action.
Nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef is holding good numbers of bluefish, gray trout, speckled trout, sea bass, whiting, and sharks. Bottom rigs baited with cut baits, shrimp, or squid are producing the most action.
Spanish mackerel and Atlantic bonito should be showing up soon, and anglers can troll small Clarkspoons to attract their attention.
Offshore, the bottomfish bite has been excellent on the rocks and ledges in deeper water. Anglers are hooking up with sea bass, beeliners, grunts, groupers, and a variety of other bottom dwellers on squid, cut baits, and jigging spoons.
The king mackerel bite at the Tower was phenomenal last week, but it has slowed a bit. There are still plenty of fish to be caught, however, and a few blackfin tuna have surprised anglers fishing for kings in the area. Trolling #3.5 Drone spoons or frozen cigar minnows on live bait rigs or jigs will attract attention from the kings.
Out in the Gulf Stream, the wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin tuna bite has been decent lately.
A yellowfin was reported from the Steeples last week, so maybe more will be close behind it. Small and medium ballyhoo trolled under blue/white or pink/white skirts have been the most productive lures for the bluewater predators.
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Keith Yokley, Marvin Johnson, and his son Marvin, from Lexington, NC, with the results from fishing near Frying Pan Tower--king mackerel and a variety of tasty bottomfish. They were fishing with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters out of Oak Island.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the king mackerel bite was excellent at the Frying Pan Tower last week, with boats landing big catches while trolling Drone spoons and frozen cigar minnows.
Inshore, the water temperature is into the low-60’s, so red drum and trout should be feeding in the river and around Southport and Bald Head. Gulp baits and Mirrolures will attract attention from the reds and specks.
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Jackson David and his father Phillip with one of three sailfish they caught and released near the Same Ol' on pink/white Ilanders aboard the "Hoo's Ya Daddy."
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some big bull whiting in the surf and from the pier. Shrimp and sand fleas will attract attention from the whiting.
Anglers are landing some red drum around Bald Head Island on Gulps and spinnerbaits.
Last week saw a decent speckled trout bite in Wildlife Creek, and Gulps and spinnerbaits were producing action with the specks, too.
Offshore, the sea bass and king mackerel bite near Frying Pan Tower has been excellent.
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Joseph and Rison Hines with Joseph's first big fish, an amberjack he caught while jigging at Frying Pan Tower.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that the wild king mackerel bite last week has tapered off, but boats are still bringing back good catches of kings from the vicinity of the Tower. Drone spoons and cigar minnows are producing most of the action.
Divers checking out some ledges near the Tower speared some hogfish last week.
However, bottom fishermen are primarily bringing home beeliners and sea bass instead of larger catches like grouper and hogs.
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Keith, of Stand N’ Down Charters, reports that there’s been a good bluewater bite out near the Blackjack Hole. Trolling with skirted ballyhoo last week resulted in catches of wahoo (up to 50+ lbs.), blackfin tuna, dolphin, king mackerel, and amberjack.
Inshore of the Stream, the king mackerel fishing around Frying Pan Tower has been solid over the past few weeks. Boats are hooking up with the kings while trolling spoons and dead cigar minnows, but jigging up live bait like cigar minnows from the structure near the Tower produces even better results.
Bottom fishing the ledges and live bottoms southwest of the Tower has resulted in excellent catches of jumbo sea bass lately, along with beeliners, porgies, grunts, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers. Bottom rigs baited with squid will produce bites from all the bottom feeders, and Shimano’s new Lucanus jig seems to be especially effective on the larger sea bass.
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Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up good numbers of whiting (0.75-1.5 lbs.) on cut shrimp. The bite has been so good at times that the whiting are coming over the rails two at a time like spots.
Along with the whiting, bluefish (most around 1.5 lbs.), gray trout, and some small flounder are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
The water is 61 degrees, and the spring fishing should really take off once it hits 64-65 degrees.
