Southport July 11, 2013
Danny Morris, from Troy, NC, with a red drum that bit a live bait near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers have been finding some healthy flounder along the Southport waterfront recently (with some citation fish in the mix). Both live finger mullet and bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastics or live baits will get attention from the flatfish. There’s also been a decent flounder bite for anglers drifting in the creeks with live mud minnows and finger mullet.
Speckled trout are still feeding around oyster rocks in the creeks and marshes, and anglers are also hooking a few big trout along the Southport waterfront at night. Live shrimp are always a great bet for the specks, but a variety of artificial lures will fool them as well. The new Logic Lure Tandem Rig has been particularly effective lately.
Anglers are putting together some solid catches of red drum in the creeks. They’ve been receptive to topwater plugs on many days recently, and anglers are also catching good numbers on live shrimp fished around smaller creekmouths.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard inshore structure like the Southport docks and city pier. Live fiddler crabs are tempting bites from the sheeps in good numbers, and sand fleas have also been producing some action.
King mackerel are feeding at structure and around bait schools from the 10 mile range on out. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will both attract attention from the kings.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid grouper action at bottom structure in the 90’ range, but anglers have landed keeper gags in as shallow as 50’ over the past week. Live and dead cigar minnows are tough for the grouper to turn down.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been good in the backwaters over the past week. Most of the fish are falling for live mud minnows and finger mullet, but Gulp baits will also tempt them to bite.
The speckled trout action has also been solid, and anglers are connecting with the specks from the ICW to the Oak Island ocean piers. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but Gulp baits and other soft plastics are also good choices.
Jeff Beck cradles a 17 lb. king mackerel for junior anglers Brayden and Caroline McMullan and Camdyn Beck. The king fell for a dead cigar minnow under a green skirt offshore of Ocean Isle Beach while they were trolling on the “Team OIFC.”
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still battling dirty water from the recent rain and wind offshore, but the conditions are improving, as is the fishing.
There was a decent scamp grouper bite around bottom structure in 130’ of water last week. Live menhaden and pinfish are top choices for anglers seeking the grouper.
King mackerel have shown up around the Shark Hole and 15 Mile Rock, so the pelagic bite seems to be improving as well.
Blacktips and other large sharks are feeding within a few miles of the Oak Island beachfront. Anglers drifting with live or dead menhaden are finding fast action and hard battles with the sharks.
Inshore, there’s still some solid red drum action in the creeks behind Bald Head Island. Live shrimp are the best bets for the reds.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp.
Some flounder and speckled trout are taking an interest in live shrimp and minnows fished under the pier.
The water temperature is in the low-80’s.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel on live baits and Gotcha plugs.
Baiting up with live shrimp has been producing action with pompano, red drum, and some speckled trout.
