Southport Winter 2012-2013
Tucker Swigget (age 15), of Archdale, NC, with a 4.5 lb. speckled trout that bit a live shrimp under the Oak Island bridge.
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of speckled trout in the creeks off the Cape Fear River and ICW right now. A variety of artificials will fool the fish, but live shrimp have been and will be the best bets until they’re no longer available. As the water cools off further, anglers can expect the specks to take up residence in deeper (8’+) water and well up the creeks, where they’ll bite shrimp or artificials worked very slowly.
Big numbers of “rat” red drum are mixed in with the specks and feeding just about everywhere else inshore. Larger reds are working through the bays, where they’ll spend the winter in areas with dark mud bottoms that absorb the sun’s heat. The reds get sluggish as the water temps fall, but anglers can still hook them while working small artificial lures very slowly or free-lining live shrimp.
Striped bass have shown up in the Cape Fear River around Wilmington. They’re feeding around drop-offs, bridges, and other structure and will take an interest in diving plugs or a variety of soft plastic baits.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been excellent east of Frying Pan Tower, where trolled cigar minnows and Drone Spoons are putting big numbers in the boat.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout are feeding in Davis and Wildlife Creeks and up the Lockwood Folly River. Anglers are hooking them on MirrOlures, Gulp baits, D.O.A. shrimp, and a variety of other artificials, and the action should stay good until it gets very cold.
Alex Nilsson (age 14) with a 28.5″ red drum that bit a Gulp shrimp in a creek between Ft. Fisher and Bald Head Island while fishing with family.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and falling for the same baits.
Boats making the run to Frying Pan Tower are hooking plenty of king mackerel while trolling cigar minnows.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers saw bluefin tuna breaking water around Frying Pan Shoals last week, and it’s only a matter of time until one is landed. Several have been hooked thus far, but none brought to the boat. Trolling large skirted ballyhoo around concentrations of bait, working birds, and whales will offer anglers the best odds of hooking up with one of the giant tunas.
King mackerel fishing has been excellent east of Frying Pan Tower lately. Trolled cigar minnows and Drone spoons are both fooling the fish (with the minnows attracting bigger fish in the 15-30 lb. range). The king fishing should remain solid in the vicinity of the Tower for much of the winter as long as the water doesn’t get too cold.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a good speckled trout and red drum bite in Wildlife Creek and around the Oak Island Bridge recently. Soft plastics and MirrOlures are fooling both fish (with Xmas tree/firetail, salt/pepper/chartreuse tail, and green/smoke the best grub colors, and 750 and 808 the most productive MirrOlures).
The fish should remain in the same areas into January, moving far up Waldens and other area creeks when the water temperatures take a sharp dip. The same lures will produce results up the creeks, but anglers must work them much more slowly in the cold water. Targeting mud and oyster banks in the warmth of the day and the middle of the creeks early and late will offer anglers the best odds of connecting with the reds once winter arrives in force.
