Southport August 8, 2013
Debbie Potter, of Raleigh, NC, with a 6.80 lb. red drum that won The Tackle Box’s monthly fishing tournament for July. The red bit a live shrimp in the Cape Fear River near Southport.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are still seeing good numbers of big flounder inshore around Southport (good numbers of 5+ lb. fish). They’re feeding around the docks and other structure along the Southport waterfront and at many other spots in the area. Live baits like finger mullet and peanut menhaden are tough to beat for the flatfish, but anglers are catching good numbers on Gulp baits and bucktail jigs as well.
Some healthy speckled trout are also looking for meals around the waterfront, and anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and mullet as well as a variety of artificial lures. Anglers are also hooking the specks in the creeks and around oyster bars and grass islands off the river and ICW.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes and on the flats, where anglers can sight-cast to the fish on calm, sunny days. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and live baits are all effective on the reds.
Some tarpon have been seen in the lower river near Southport, and there are plenty of menhaden around for anglers looking for bait.
Spanish mackerel fishing is improving, and anglers reported some larger fish feeding around the nearshore reefs last week. Trolling Clarkspoons will put the spaniards in the boat, but anglers fishing live baits on light-wire leaders generally connect with the largest fish.
Thomas Woodman with an over-slot red drum that bit a live menhaden near Lockwood Folly Inlet.
King mackerel have been feeding around the Shark Hole and 15 and 18 Mile Rocks. Live baits like menhaden or dead cigar minnows are tough for the kings to turn down. The bite has been best in the early morning hours and dies out after lunch.
Anglers who made it offshore last week were rewarded with more king mackerel, African pompano, and some dolphin while live-baiting around Frying Pan Tower.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with gag and scamp grouper and some healthy black sea bass in the same vicinity. Live baits are top choices for the grouper, while squid and cut baits will fool the bass.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing some speckled trout action from the Oak Island piers. Most are falling for live shrimp, with a few biting artificials.
Some flounder are also feeding under the piers, where they’ll bite live mud minnows or finger mullet.
Boaters have been reporting a decent spanish mackerel bite off Oak Island while trolling Clarkspoons. Anglers have also landed some large spanish from the piers on live baits.
Kamaron Owens Goodrich, of Richmond, VA, with a flounder that bit a Marsh Works soft plastic bait while she was kayak-fishing near Tubbs Inlet.
Inshore, some over-slot red drum are feeding around Bald Head Island and Southport. They’ll bite a variety of live and cut baits or soft plastics like Gulps.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has turned back on off Oak Island. Anglers are hooking most of the spanish while trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons within a few miles of the beachfront.
Large blacktip and other sharks are feeding in the same area and won’t take long to find a cut or dead bait.
Inshore, anglers are still connecting with red drum and flounder in the creeks and backwaters behind Bald Head Island. Most are falling for live shrimp fished under floats.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are still connecting with some speckled trout early and late in the day, primarily on live shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for finger mullet and mud minnows fished under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking a few bluefish.
Some large spanish mackerel are falling for live baits off the end of the pier.
