Southport August 9, 2012
Kevin Collie, of Fayetteville, NC, with a 19" flounder he caught and released near Oak Island after it struck a 4" Gulp shrimp.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of flounder inshore around the Southport waterfront and other heavy structure areas. Live baits like mud minnows, finger mullet, and menhaden are top choices for the flatfish, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps or other soft plastic baits.
Red drum are feeding in the same areas and in the marshes and creeks (with a mixture of small, slot, and over-slot fish in the area). They’ll strike a variety of lures, including topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, flies, and more. Live shrimp and minnows are even tougher for the reds to turn down.
A few speckled trout are still feeding in the creeks and bays, but the trout bite has slowed down a bit from a few weeks back.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent outside the Cape Fear River mouth and along the beaches. Most of the fish are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and mackerel tree rigs.
Gulf Stream trollers are catching a few wahoo and dolphin, but the bite hasn’t been too hot lately.
James, of Whatever’s Chewin’ Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some large (40”+) red drum around docks on the Southport waterfront, with live pogies producing most of the action.
Keith Huntley, of Chesterfield, SC, with a citation 5 lb., 10 oz. speckled trout he hooked off Oak Island Pier on a live finger mullet.
Flounder are in the same areas, but interestingly, the larger fish have been biting at night lately. Casting live pogies to lighted docks is tempting them to bite.
A lot of speckled trout (but most on the small side) are feeding around Southport and in the creeks, and live shrimp or minnows will tempt them to bite.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around docks and other hard structure in the area. Live shrimp or fiddler crabs will attract attention from both crustacean-lovers.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still going strong off the beaches of Bald Head. Most of the fish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Flounder are feeding inshore, in the surf and under the piers, and out at the nearshore reefs. Anglers are hooking them on live finger mullet, mud minnows, and menhaden as well as Gulps or other soft plastics.
Speckled trout and red drum are also feeding inshore in the creeks and around structure. Live shrimp and a variety of soft plastics and other artificials will attract attention from both.
Ian McCormick (age 12), of Silver Spring, MD, and Capt. Jamie Gauldin, of Whatever's Chewin Charters, with a 48" red drum McCormick hooked on a live menhaden in the Cape Fear River.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are catching good numbers of large black sea bass, with the best action out around Frying Pan Tower. Squid and cut baits will attract attention from the bass.
There’s been a decent king mackerel bite offshore, too. The fish are taking an interest in both live baits and dead cigar minnows.
Cathy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are picking up a few flounder while soaking live mud minnows and finger mullet under the pier.
The speckled trout bite was on last week (with fish to 5.5 lbs. landed). Live shrimp are fooling most of the specks.
