Southport August 14, 2008
Eddie Steev with an amberjack he caught on a live pogy while fishing near the Horseshoe with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters out of Southport.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are scattered throughout the area waters right now. Anglers’ best bet for chasing the spanish is to fish a bit further offshore than usual at spots like AR-440. Planers in front of #00 Clarkspoons are the ticket to hooking up with the spaniards.
Kings are scattered throughout the same areas, and anglers should make sure to correctly identify whether a fish is a spanish or a king before throwing it in the cooler, as spanish need to be greater than 12″ and kings must be 24″ to keep. The dorsal fin will give the fish away, as spanish have a two-toned black and blue/white fin, while the kings are dark and opaque.
The nearshore reefs are holding schools of spadefish. Anglers can chum them to the surface with jelly ball jellyfish tied to a rope, and then use small pieces of the jellies to draw them to strike.
Flounder are also holding on the nearshore structure, and anglers can entice them to bite with live, Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Sharks are feeding throughout the nearshore waters, and anglers using fresh live or cut baits should have little trouble finding some sharks to battle.
Offshore bottom fishing is very productive right now, with anglers landing red grouper, beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, and other species at ledges and other structure in 80-100+’. Squid, cut baits, and Gulp baits will get attention from the bottom feeders.
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The Rice family, from Holly Springs, with flounder caught near Southport using live bait. They were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Oak Island.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the flounder bite has been pretty steady all week, with anglers landing fish up to 3 lbs. on live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Speckled trout are still biting near the pier in the mornings, and anglers are catching specks (also up to 3 lbs.) on live shrimp early in the day.
Bottom fishermen are landing a mixed bag of pompano (some up to 2-3 lbs.), whiting, spadefish, and some spot. Shrimp are producing most of the action, with the spot showing a preference for red worms.
Plenty of spanish mackerel (some up to 4+ lbs.) have been decked this week, and the water’s been very clean. Some are falling for Gotcha plugs, but the best action has been for anglers free-lining live finger mullet from the planks.
The water is 85 degrees.
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Caleb Sullivan with a 1 lb. 10 oz. flounder caught while fishing from Ocean Crest Pier.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching spots early in the mornings from the piers.
There have been a lot of black drum feeding around structure in the ICW. Sand fleas have been producing the most action with the drum, and they are also drawing bites from some red drum feeding in the same areas.
Flounder fishing has been pretty good in the Cape Fear River, and live finger mullet and other baits will tempt the flounder to bite. Anglers are also catching some flounder at Yaupon Reef.
Yaupon and other nearshore structure are holding schools of spadefish, and anglers can hook them on pieces of jelly ball.
Croaker and whiting are feeding in the river as well, and anglers are hooking them on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
A few speckled trout are feeding in the ocean, and anglers are hooking them from the piers and surf.
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Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that spadefish are schooled up on Yaupon Reef, and anglers are hooking them on pieces of cut jelly ball.
Spanish mackerel (many 3+ lbs.) are chasing bait at Yaupon and other nearshore structure, and these larger spanish will take an interest in free-lined finger mullet.
Some flounder are coming off the reefs, too, and finger mullet on Carolina rigs will produce action with them.
King mackerel are scattered, feeding just off the beaches on out to offshore structure. Live baits will tempt strikes from the largest kings. Some sailfish are feeding along with the kings towards the offshore end of their range, and one was released at 15 Mile rock a few days ago.
Inshore, there have been some tarpon feeding on the shoals near the river mouth. Large cut and live baits will attract their attention when they’re feeding.
Plenty of sharks are feeding in the same areas as the tarpon, and they should provide battles that help anglers pass the time while waiting for a tarpon strike.
