Southport August 19, 2010
Deci Yahya, of Archdale, NC, with a 10.1 lb. black drum that fell for a live shrimp while she was fishing from Oak Island Pier.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel are finally back on the feed in the area, and anglers are catching them while trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees along the beaches and just offshore.
Flounder are feeding on the nearshore reefs off Oak Island. They’ll take an interest in Carolina-rigged finger mullet or other small live baits.
Spadefish are schooled up on the same structure, and anglers can charm them by chumming with cannonball jellies and using small pieces of the jellies as hook baits.
Big sharks are feeding nearshore as well, but the bite has been hot one day and slow the next. Large cut or dead baits are the ticket to shark bites.
Offshore, some dolphin are still feeding at areas like the Horseshoe and around Frying Pan Tower. A few king mackerel are in the same places, and both will fall for live and dead baits.
Amberjacks are thick on high-relief offshore structure. They’ll take an interest in live baits or vertical jigs.
Offshore bottom fishing has been good for species like sea bass, grunts, pinkies, beeliners, triggerfish, and more, but anglers may have to move around some to get out of the currents, as they’ve been strong offshore lately. Squid and small cut baits will tempt bites from the bottom feeders.
Grouper are feeding in the same areas, and it’s been an excellent year on them so far. Live and large cut baits will prove tempting to the grouper.
Jason McDowell, of Southport with an 84" tarpon he caught and released in the Bald Head Thoroughfare on a live pogie.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are picking up some spanish mackerel while plugging from the ends of the piers, with a few bluefish mixed in.
Bottom fishermen are catching some pompano from the piers and surf (with some large fish in the mix). Shrimp and sand fleas will tempt them to bite.
A few trout are also coming off the piers for anglers baiting up with live shrimp.
In the backwaters, anglers are picking up a few speckled trout in the creeks and marshes, mostly on live shrimp.
Boaters are finding decent spanish mackerel fishing along the beachfront while trolling Clarkspoons.
Large sharks are in the same areas and will attack a big cut bait.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some sizeable spanish mackerel when the water’s clean. Most are falling for Gotcha plugs, but some of the bigger fish are taking live baits.
Anglers fishing with live shrimp have been picking up some speckled trout in the early mornings.
Flounder (most 2-3 lbs.) are falling for small live baits on the bottom.
J.J. Sullivan (age 14) with his first king mackerel, a 34 lb., 5 oz. fish that he hooked at Yaupon Reef on a large pinfish under a balloon while fishing with his father.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some spadefish, whiting, and spot on shrimp. Some black drum are also falling for shrimp and sand fleas.
The flounder bite is up-and-down, but anglers are catching a few on live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Some speckled trout are taking an interest in live shrimp near the pier.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings and will bite barnacles, sand fleas, and other baits.
Anglers are also picking up some spanish mackerel (most 2-3.5 lbs.) on live finger mullet.
