Southport August 31, 2006
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the fishing on the beach for spanish is improving, with many schools feeding on the glass minnows. Many of the spanish have been a good size (2-3+ pounds).
The reef species, such as spadefish, are still doing well. Try for these with some small pieces of “jellyball” for bait.
Shark fishing remains steady. For good shark bait, save the heads of the spanish mackerel after you clean them.
The king mackerel fishing is slow right now. It may be in part to all the E-NE winds lately, but this fishery is due to really improve at any time as fall approaches and the kings move closer to the beach.
The flounder fishing has been good on the nearshore reefs and should continue until the water starts to cool down.
The grouper fishing is doing well. Although, many of the recent groupers have been just short of the 20 and 24 inch size minimums. Expect to find a variety of gags, reds, speckled hinds, rock hinds, and strawberries.
The bottom catches are getting a mixed bag of black bass, grey snapper, vermillion snapper, triggerfish, and joltheads.
The gulf stream is producing wahoos, sailfish, white marlin, and even a few dolphin. Look for this fishing to steadily improve as the fall season gets closer
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that good flounder fishing continues at the nearshore reefs and inshore spots. The Southport waterfront and ADM Pier are good places to start looking for flounder inshore.
Speckled trout are still biting well in the Elizabeth River, behind Battery Island, in Lockwood Folly River, and at Brown’s Landing.
Fishing fiddler crabs or sand fleas around the pilings of the ADM Pier and Oak Island Bridge will score hook-ups with sheepshead from 1-6 lbs.
Puppy drum are biting a variety of baits in back of Dutchman’s Creek and Wildlife Creek. Cut mullet, live finger mullet, live shrimp, and spinnerbaits will all catch the drum.
At the nearshore reefs, jigging will produce hookups with gray trout and bigger red drum (up to 25 lbs.).
Spadefish are biting at the reefs as well. Just dip net some jelly balls, and then fish strips of them to hook up with the spades.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel are biting very well, with fish averaging 3 pounds or better.
No kings this week, but with all the spanish and bait running the beach there has to be some smokers lurking.
Flounder in the 2-3 pound range are being caught on live mullet.
Spadefish up to 4 pounds are hitting cut shrimp around the pilings.
Speckled trout fishing picked back up this week, with the big fish weighing in at 4 lbs. 8 oz. Most of the trout are hitting live shrimp, but the biggest fish are hitting cut shrimp. Some nice bull whiting are being caught on the bottom on shrimp as well.
Jim, at Yaupon Pier, reports that black and red drum are biting well at night. They’re hitting a variety of baits, but live shrimp and minnows are accounting for most of the drum.
Pompano up to 3 lbs. have been caught on cut shrimp, and speckled trout in the 2-3 lb. class are eating live shrimp.
Live finger mullet and mud minnows are the ticket to catch flounder ranging from short fish to 3 lbs.
Anglers have weighed sheepshead up to 9 lbs. this week.
Fishing small live baits on slide rigs has been effective on spanish mackerel up to 20 inches.
The water temperature is 83 degrees.
