Southport – August 20, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers saw a slower week on the inshore fishing last week, but there are still plenty of fish finding their way onto hooks.
Flounder are feeding in the creeks and around inshore structure like the docks and rocks of the Southport waterfront. Anglers can tempt the flatfish to bite live baits or artificials like Gulps, Shrimpostors, and other soft plastics.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and on the shallow flats in the marshes. The reds will bite live and cut baits or topwater plugs and a variety of other artificial lures.
Anglers are also connecting with some speckled trout in the creeks and around inshore structure. The larger fish are biting topwater plugs early and late in the day. When the sun’s high, casting subsurface soft plastics or plugs like MirrOlures will get attention from the specks.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding off the river mouth and along the beachfront. Anglers are hooking good numbers of school-sized spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures on the surface and deep behind planers and inline sinkers.
Caleb Lee (age 3), of Fayetteville, NC, landed his first flounder while fishing the Southport waterfront with his father Stephen. The 20″ fish fell for a live shrimp on a Carolina rig.
Teresa, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have had good luck with flounder recently, landing keeper fish in the creeks and backwaters, from the piers, and around nearshore reefs in the ocean lately. Live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet are fooling most of the flatfish.
Red drum are looking for meals in many of the same areas and around the inlets. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite the same live baits or a variety of artificial lures.
Out in the ocean, there’s been a good spanish mackerel bite along the beachfront lately, with trolled Clarkspoons fooling most of the fish.
Some king mackerel and cobia are feeding along the beaches as well and biting live baits.
Offshore trollers are hooking more kings and some dolphin while pulling rigged ballyhoo and cigar minnows along with live baits.
Bottom fishing around offshore structure is producing plenty of action with grouper and black sea bass.
Ryan Wilson, of Raleigh, with a large flounder that struck a live bait near Bald Head Island while she was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that anglers have found some excellent flounder action while trolling the inshore rivers and backwaters lately. Live finger mullet are fooling most of the flatfish.
The spanish mackerel bite has turned back on on the beachfront, and anglers are putting together some solid catches while trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons.
Large blacktip sharks are also feeding along the beaches, and anglers should have little trouble tempting them to bite live, dead, or cut baits in the same areas where the spanish are feeding.
Offshore, bottom fishermen have found an excellent scamp grouper bite around structure in the 100’ depths. Live pinfish have been the most productive baits for the scamps recently, but anglers can hook up on a wide variety of dead and cut baits as well.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been some solid backwater fishing for local anglers recently. Flounder and red drum are feeding in the marshes, creeks, and around structure like docks. Anglers can tempt both inshore predators to bite live finger mullet or menhaden fished on the bottom.
The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent lately around the inlets and along the local beachfront. Anglers are hooking the majority of the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and inline sinkers.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are seeing an improving flounder bite off the pier (with fish from 3-5+ lbs. landed last week). Most of the flatfish are falling for live mud minnows and finger mullet.
Plug casters are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the pier.
Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are decking some black drum, pompano, spadefish, sea mullet, and more.
