Southport August 4, 2011
Terry Cook, of Concord, NC, with a 24" speckled trout that fell for a live shrimp near Southport while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that anglers are catching some larger spanish mackerel (2+ lbs.) along the beaches and just offshore while trolling Clarkspoons.
Blacktip sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats in the same area, and large cut baits won’t go unnoticed by them for long.
A handful of king mackerel have been feeding in the 60’ depth range over the past week. A few sailfish and dolphin and plenty of amberjacks are in the same areas, and they’re all taking an interest in live menhaden.
Further offshore, more kings and dolphin have been feeding around structure and bait concentrations in the 100’ range. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows are fooling the fish out deeper.
Bottom fishing in around 100’ has been producing plenty of action with black sea bass and a few scamp grouper.
Brandon, of The Tackle Box, reports that the flounder bite in and around Southport has been solid over the past week. Anglers are hooking big numbers of flatfish (and some to 6+ lbs.) while fishing live finger mullet and menhaden around inshore structure like docks, points, and oyster rocks.
The red drum bite has also been solid on the Southport side of the river lately. Anglers are finding the fish around inshore structure and in the marshes, and they’re tempting them to bite live shrimp and finger mullet and a variety of artificial lures.
Christian Wilson, of Oak Island, with a 3 lb. spanish mackerel that bit a live threadfin herring off the end of Oak Island Pier.
Sheepshead are feeding around pilings and other structure in the lower Cape Fear River, and anglers have been hooking good numbers on sand fleas and fiddler crabs. Some black drum are mixed in.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have been hooking some fat speckled trout (to 4 lbs.) and pompano (to 3+ lbs.) on live shrimp from the Oak Island piers.
A few large spanish mackerel are biting live baits on king rigs from the ends of the piers.
Boaters had good luck with smaller spanish while trolling Clarkspoons around nearshore structure and just off the beachfront.
Inshore, anglers are finding some consistent action with red drum and flounder behind Bald Head Island. Live baits and Gulps or other soft plastics will tempt bites from the reds and flatfish.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are primarily hooking sharks and skates on two-hook rigs.
Fishing small live baits on the bottom has been producing solid action with flounder (some to 3-4 lbs.).
A few pompano are falling for live and cut shrimp.
Spanish mackerel are feeding near the pier when the clean water is in. Anglers are catching them on Gotcha plugs with a few larger fish on live baits.
Tyler Knight (age 10), of Raliegh, with a 4.66 lb. flounder that fell for a live finger mullet off a dock in the Cape Fear River near Southport while he was fishing with his uncle.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some puppy drum, flounder, and a few speckled trout on live baits over the past week.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotchas worked from the pier when the water’s clean.
A few larger spanish have been taking an interest in live baits on king rigs.
