Southport August 3, 2006
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the pogies have consistently been along the beach. They’ve also been found regularly at the Hot Hole and up the river around Pfizer (ADM) Dock and Sunny Point.
There has been some good king mackerel caught on the inshore reefs and off the piers.
The beach bite for spanish mackerel has been good one day and the next day it’s off.
Shark fishing has been the same way: one day you can wear them out and the next day you couldn’t buy a bite.
Offshore in the 100 foot range, the grouper bite has been real good. The bite has been mostly east of the Tower, but other areas (such as southwest) have also produced.
Most of the grouper have been reds with a few scamps thrown in. And many of the grouper are in the “throw back” range.
Trolling around the Tower has been tough with all the “grass” that is in the water. It has been starting a little past the Horseshoe areas and running all the way past the Tower.
The dolphin bite has been good, but now they seem to be thinning out.
There continue to be reports of some African pompano being caught on the offshore structures in the 30+ mile ranges.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports similar conditions as last week, and this is good for fishermen. King mackerel in the 20 to 25 pound range are being caught, along with spanish mackerel.
Pods of menhaden are along the beach, and mullet are running the surf. So there is plenty of bait in the area.
Sheepshead are holding around the pier pilings and can be caught with fiddler crabs.
Speckled trout in the 2 pound range continue to hit live baits.
Flounder are turning on, probably due to the mullet increasing in numbers. There have been flat fish in the 2 to 3 pound range being weighed in.
Spadefish are still around eating live shrimp or cut bait.
Jim, at Yaupon Pier, reports excellent bottom fishing, with black drum, spadefish, spots, and whiting all eating shrimp.
Speckled trout (up to 3 lbs.) are biting well on live shrimp.
Carolina-rigged mud minnows are accounting for plenty of keeper flounder.
And bluefish have been hitting the plugs well.
Kings weighing 32 and 19 lbs. fell victim to live baits this week.
The water at the pier is in the mid-80’s.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that trout in the 2-3 lb. range are plentiful in the Elizabeth River, Dutchman’s Creek, and at the Beaver Dam. Some fish up to 5 lbs. are mixed in, but the 2 lb. fish are much more common. Curly tail grubs and Trout Killers in smoke/metal flake or chartreuse/metal flake are the hottest lures, but a Mirrolure will catch fish as well. Bait fishermen are doing well drifting a live shrimp under a float, which will also get attention from flounder.
Flounder from 2-5 lbs. are thick on the Southport waterfront. Carolina-rigging a finger mullet or bouncing a bucktail on the bottom are excellent ways to hook up. Flounder are also biting well on the Yaupon and McGlammery Reefs, where they should stay until October. The reefs are holding spadefish as well.
Anglers are catching plenty of sheepshead up to 10 lbs. at the ADM Dock. Sand fleas are the top bait.
Puppy drum are abundant in Dutchman’s Creek, around Striker’s Island, and at the oyster bars behind Battery Island. Soft plastics will get bites, but gold spoons and spinnerbaits are the prime lures.
