Southport August 7, 2008
Fred Monroe with a 24" red drum and a 20" flounder caught near Oak Island while fishing with Capt. Brandon Dean with Southport Angler Outfitters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the king and spanish mackerel bite is still a little slow, especially inshore. However, there have been a few nice kings caught in the Cape Fear River Channel lately.
The bait is moving back towards the beaches, and the fishing will definitely pick up if it stays nearshore.
Spadefish are schooled up tight at the nearshore reefs, and anglers should be able to hook up with good numbers when the winds allow them out in the ocean. Luring the fish to the boats with jelly balls and then baiting up with pieces of the jelly is the most effective tactic for the spades.
Flounder are feeding in the same areas as the spadefish. Finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flounder.
Some tarpon are feeding just off Bald Head Island, and anglers are hooking a few while fishing cut baits on the bottom. Big sharks are feeding in the same areas, and they will help anglers pass the time while waiting for tarpon bites.
There are still some cobia and dolphin around many of the typical king mackerel spots, and the sailfish bite is improving as well. Live and dead baits will fool all these fish.
Offshore bottom fishing is still solid. Boats should anchor on the downcurrent side of a ledge or rock with some visible activity on the depthfinder for the best results on groupers, snappers, triggerfish, sea bass, and other species. Cut baits, cigar minnows, squid, and Gulp baits will all get attention from the bottom feeders.
Scotty Gould and Chris Pope with a near-7 lb. speckled trout caught on a Skitterwalk in the lower Cape Fear River while fishing with Douglas Cutting.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that the hot water has the bait scattered and not much going on close to the Oak Island beaches.
Boats are catching big numbers of blacktip, hammerhead, sand tiger, and other sharks around the river mouth.
Offshore, amberjacks are schooled up on the wrecks and are providing some action for boats dropping live and other baits to the structure.
Boats are finding some red grouper action at offshore structure, but the bite has been better to the northeast of the area.
Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that anglers are again seeing good numbers of dolphin and kings in the vicinity of the Horseshoe. Dead cigar minnows are fooling both fish.
The bottom fishing should still be good at structure in 90-100′, where anglers will find sea bass, groupers, grunts, and other bottomfish. Cigar minnows and squid will fool them into striking.
Inshore, the spanish bite has been decent just off the beaches in 20-30′ of water. Trolled Clarkspoons will attract attention from the spanish.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some king mackerel just off the beaches. Live baits are tops for the kings.
Some spanish are feeding close to shore as well, and anglers landed fish up to 3 lbs. on Clarkspoons last week.
Spadefish are schooled up at the nearshore reefs. When boats can get out, they’re hooking big numbers of the spades while baiting up with jelly ball pieces.
Inshore, anglers are still finding good numbers of flounder in the river and the creeks. Live baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the flounder fishing is picking up again, and anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are hooking up with the flatfish.
Anglers are still catching good numbers of speckled trout on live shrimp, especially early in the mornings.
Bottom fishermen have been decking good numbers of spot lately, an oddity for August. Bloodworms and red worms are producing the most action with the spots.
Some spadefish are taking an interest in cut shrimp baits.
Plug casters are catching some spanish mackerel on Gotchas, but the action hasn’t been incredible.
Live baiters landed a 24 lb. king mackerel last week.
The water is 88 degrees.
