Southport August 16, 2012
Ed Mosketti with a 29" red drum he caught and released at AR-420 after it struck a piece of squid.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are still seeing some excellent catches of flounder in and around Southport. The fish are feeding in the creeks, around the docks on the Southport waterfront, and at the nearshore AR’s and other structure out in the ocean. Most of the flatfish are falling for live finger mullet, mud minnows, and menhaden on Carolina rigs, but anglers are also fooling them with Gulp baits and other artificials.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas as the flounder, and also in the marshy bays and creeks and in flooded grass at higher tides. Live baits will fool the reds as well, but anglers who want to toss artificials can work topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, a variety of soft plastics, and even flies to hook up.
Some ladyfish and jack crevalle are feeding inshore as well, and both of the hard-fighting fish are suckers for topwater plugs. Live baits and a variety of soft plastics will also get their attention, so anglers shouldn’t be surprised to hook either one while targeting any other inshore fish.
Some black drum and speckled trout are looking for meals around oyster rocks, docks, and in the creeks. Live shrimp will attract plenty of attention from both fish.
Not many boats have been fishing offshore lately, but those who’ve been spanish mackerel fishing are reporting some hot action. Most of the fish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs.
Stacy Van Sise, of Oak Island, with a 26.75" red drum that bit a live shrimp near Bald Head Island.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and pompano along Oak Island while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Some spanish mackerel are also being caught from the piers, and boaters are connecting with big numbers while trolling between the beach and the nearshore reefs, as well as around Bald Head. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights are fooling most of the spanish.
The flounder bite has been excellent at the nearshore reefs lately, with anglers that are dropping live finger mullet and menhaden to the structure connecting with big numbers.
Flounder fishing inshore has also been decent lately, with fish coming from the Southport waterfront and other structure areas.
James, of Whatever’s Chewin’ Charters, reports that there’s been some flounder action along the rock wall behind Fort Fisher lately. The fish are a bit spread out, so anglers have to cover a little ground to find the most action. Live finger mullet have been tempting most of the bites from the flatfish, and they’re also attracting attention from some jack crevalle that are feeding in the area as well.
Marshall Farr, of Cornelius, NC, with a speckled trout that bit a live shrimp near Oak Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some pompano, sea mullet, croaker, and other bottom feeders on double-hook rigs baited with fresh shrimp.
Some speckled trout are still feeding under the pier in the early morning hours. Anglers are hooking a few on live shrimp, though the bite has slowed a bit from a few weeks back.
Flounder are also looking for meals under the pier and biting live finger mullet and other baits, but the action hasn’t been red hot.
Several tripletail were hooked and landed from the pier last week.
