Southport August 1, 2013
Tim Clay, of Coeburn, VA, with a 24″ flounder that he hooked on a live mullet near Southport while vacationing at Oak Island.
Gavin, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are still seeing good numbers of speckled trout in the area. They’re feeding in the creeks, around structure in the Cape Fear River and ICW, and in the marshes around oyster rocks. A rock with some mullet activity near it in the marsh is an excellent speck spot right now. The fish have been biting topwater plugs well in the early morning hours, and soft plastics and live shrimp and mud minnows later in the day.
Red drum are feeding in the area as well, with anglers spotting some tailing fish on the low and higher tidal stages. Stealth is of the essence when chasing the skinny-water reds, and anglers can hook them on soft plastic baits or live shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows.
The flounder bite is still going strong along the Southport waterfront, and anglers are connecting with most of the fish around dock pilings on live finger mullet, menhaden, and Gulp baits.
More flounder are feeding around Yaupon and McGlamery Reefs, along with other nearshore structure. They’ll bite live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs.
The spanish mackerel bite has also turned on again nearshore, and anglers are hooking solid numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures within a few miles of the beachfront.
Further offshore, there was an excellent king mackerel bite around 15 and 18 mile rocks, with boats reporting fast limit catches. Live baits like menhaden and dead cigar minnows are the way to go for the kings.
Jeri Everhart with a dolphin that bit a live menhaden at the Horseshoe while she was fishing with David Everhart on the “Heat Seeker.”
Boats are finding more kings further offshore, and there have been some African pompano and dolphin at spots in the 100’ depths as well. Live baits are also tough for the pompano and mahi to turn down.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with good catches of black sea bass and some grouper at spots in the 80-120’ depths. Squid and cut baits are fooling the bass, while live baits are the best bets for the grouper.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still connecting with good numbers of speckled trout in the creeks and off the ocean piers. Live shrimp are fooling the majority of the specks.
Surf and pier anglers also landed good numbers of pompano last week.
Offshore, the spanish mackerel bite is turning back on for boats trolling Clarkspoons within a few miles of the beaches.
Some king mackerel are feeding just off the beachfront and out to offshore structure. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings.
Good numbers of red drum are feeding in the backwaters around Bald Head Island, where they’ll bite a variety of live and artificial baits.
Anglers are also catching decent numbers of flounder around the Southport waterfront, with Gulp baits and live finger mullet producing most of the action.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have had some exciting live bait action offshore over the past week. The king mackerel bite has been solid around the Shark Hole, with live menhaden fooling the majority of the kings.
Terri Johnson, of Southport, with a healthy red drum that bit a live bait near Southport while she was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
At Frying Pan Tower and structure nearby, anglers are hooking amberjacks and African pompano on live menhaden as well.
Spanish mackerel are feeding closer to the beaches along Frying Pan Shoals. Anglers are hooking plenty of the smaller mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Inshore, there’s still a solid red drum and flounder bite in the creeks and other backwaters near Bald Head Island. Live finger mullet are fooling both of the inshore predators.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and other casting lures.
Small live baits fished next to the pier are tempting bites from speckled trout and flounder.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet on shrimp.
The water is in the low-80’s.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are seeing solid numbers of speckled trout right now on live shrimp.
Bottom fishermen are hooking sea mullet, spot, and some pompano on shrimp pinned to double-drop rigs.
Some flounder are biting small live baits on the bottom.
