Southport July 15, 2004
Tommy, at Long Beach Pier, reports a strong flounder bite with fish running up to 4.5 lbs. The flounder are hitting live mullet the best. Try fishing early and late in the day. A few speckled trout are still biting very early in the morning, but sizes are smaller in the 1 to 2 lb. range. Whiting and spots are being caught on the bottom, while bluefish are also around. Not much king or spanish action this week, but the water is clearing.
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports a good flounder bite in the river on live bait. There’s also a few speckled trout in the creeks and along the beach. Also on the beaches, the whiting are biting well in the surf. Spanish mackerel are being caught at area piers on live bait and plugs.
Richard, at Blue Water Point Marina, reports very good days offshore this week with king mackerel and dolphin coming from the 18+ mile range. Further offshore, the bottom fishing has produced grouper, black sea bass, grunts, and a rare squirrel fish.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the fishing has been fair this week. Flounder are eating live mullet, and they are ranging up to 4 lbs. Black drum to 4 lbs. are eating cut shrimp along the bottom, and a few red drum have also hit the cut shrimp. A few speckled trout are still biting live shrimp, while others prefer live mullet. Spanish mackerel are biting very well, and they are hitting plugs or the live baits off king rigs. The spanish are producing an occasional fish weighing up to 5 lbs.
John, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that there’s been catches of kings off the beach, but not much else. There are still no beeliners. One guy found a few African pompano around the Tower, but the next day he couldn’t find them again. Cobia catches remain solid, with most fish coming from 250′ to 300′ of water. On the beach, small sharks are everywhere. It’s unclear whether they are the basic dogfish, or if they are infant blacktips coming out of their spawning grounds at the mouth of the river. The surf fishermen are also hooking lots of skates and rays.
