Southport August 12, 2010
Andy Wampler, from Greensboro, NC, with a 28.5" citation flounder caught near Southport using a live pogie. He was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Oak Island.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the nearshore spanish fishing has been excellent one day and slow the next. Trolling Clarkspoons and other lures from the beaches out to 3-4 miles is the way to hook up with the spaniards.
Flounder are feeding on the nearshore reefs and will take an interest in small live baits fished on the bottom.
Spadefish are holding on much of the same structure and can be lured to the surface by chumming with cannonball jellyfish, and then hooked on small piece of the jellies.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with plenty of groupers and other bottom dwellers at offshore structure in 80’ of water and deeper. Live baits will fool the grouper, and anglers can hook the smaller bottomfish on squid and cut baits.
Amberjacks and barracuda are holding on higher-relief offshore structure. Live baits will fool both, and anglers can also hook up with the AJ’s on vertical jigs.
Some dolphin and king mackerel are rounding out the offshore catch, and anglers are hooking both while trolling dead cigar minnows.
Justin Moore, Mike Moore, Tyler Moore, and Bill Wilharm with an amberjack, a dolphin, a cobia, and scamp and gag groupers they hooked while fishing near Frying Pan Tower with Capt. Tommy Rickman of Southport Angler Outfitters.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been up-and-down lately, with some solid fishing followed by a near-nonexistent bite. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal lures at breaking fish is the way to hook up with the spaniards when they’re feeding.
Large sharks are looking for meals nearshore, and anglers can hook them while drifting with cut baits.
Some over-slot red drum have moved onto the area’s nearshore reefs, and they will take an interest in cut and live baits along with a variety of lures.
Inshore, red drum and speckled trout are feeding around marsh grass, oyster rocks, and other structure in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear, and live shrimp fished beneath floats are fooling both.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking up with some spanish mackerel while casting metal lures from the piers and trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront.
Some king mackerel are feeding within a mile of shore, and boats are catching a few more at structure on out to the 20-30 mile range. Live pogies are the top baits.
Bottom fishermen have had good catches of beeliners and grouper at offshore structure this past week.
Inshore, flounder and red drum are feeding in the creeks and falling for live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Keith Blackmon with a 30 lb. red grouper he hooked while fishing some structure in 100' of water off Carolina Beach aboard the "Cheerio Lady" with Capt. Caleb Batson.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that the speckled trout bite is still good for anglers fishing with live shrimp.
Spot, some fat black drum (some to 10 lbs.), and whiting are falling for shrimp on the bottom.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pier’s pilings and will take an interest in fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other baits.
Small live baits are fooling some flounder (to 3 lbs.).
Plug casters are catching a few spanish mackerel when the water’s clean.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are catching decent numbers of flounder on small live baits fished near the pier’s pilings.
Whiting and some pompano and spadefish are taking an interest in shrimp pinned to bottom rigs.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and small live baits.
