Southport – July 17, 2014
Tim Lee, of Fayetteville, NC, with 9 .5 and 5.25 lb. flounder that bit live mullet in the Cape Fear River. Weighed in at Oak Island Pier.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the local flounder action has been stellar lately, and excellent reports are coming in from the Southport waterfront, Cape Fear River, Oak Island Bridge, and Bald Head area. The action on Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure in the ocean has been red hot as well (when the seas let anglers get out). Most of the flatfish are falling for live finger mullet and menhaden, but anglers are hooking up while working soft plastic baits as well.
Red drum and speckled trout are also on the feed inshore and looking for meals in the creeks and bays, around inshore structure like docks and bridges, and on the flats. Both will respond to topwater plugs, soft plastics, or live baits along with a variety of other offerings.
Sheepshead continue to get more numerous in the area, and anglers are finding the fish feeding around dock and bridge pilings, rocks, and seawalls. They’ll bite fiddler crabs, barnacles, and sand fleas.
The spanish mackerel bite has turned back on following the hurricane, and anglers are hooking big numbers on Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and trolling weights.
Spadefish are schooled up on nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef, and they’re biting pieces of cannonball jellyfish and shrimp.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder are the main talk among Southport anglers right now, and they’re finding the flatfish throughout the inshore waters, with Bald Head Island, Lockwood Folly inlet and river, and the Southport waterfront all producing solid catches. There’s also been some excellent action on Yaupon Reef. Live shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet are producing most of the fish, but many anglers are also casting Gulp baits with success.
Drew Maynor and Samantha Stephens with a pair of scamp grouper they hooked on cigar minnows while fishing southwest of Frying Pan Tower in 80′ of water with Chris Maynor on the “Knot-A-Clue.”
The area’s speckled trout bite has slowed down, but red drum are making up for it and feeding in the marshes, creeks, and around inshore structure like docks. The reds will bite all the same things as the flatfish, along with topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and more.
There’s also been a good black drum bite around inshore structure like docks and bridges, and shrimp and crab baits are fooling them.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing around structure in the 100-120’ depths has been rather productive over the past week. Anglers are landing solid numbers of some large gag and scamp grouper, primarily on live baits like menhaden, cigar minnows, and grunts. Some red snapper have been in the same area and biting the same baits.
Triggerfish and other smaller bottom dwellers are in the same areas and pouncing on cut baits and squid.
King mackerel are also looking for meals in the same zone, and they’re biting trolled and free-lined dead baits.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have shown back up along the beachfront of Brunswick County, and they are biting trolled Clarkspoons as well.
Some large sharks are in the same areas and have a hard time passing up a dead or cut bait.
Dolphin have moved into the 15-20 mile range, where anglers can target them with trolled ballyhoo and cigar minnows.
Paige Lisson (age 9) with a red drum that struck a live mud minnow in Davis Creek while she was fishing with her father.
Some king mackerel are in the same areas, but it’s been tough to pattern the king bite lately.
Bottom fishing has been excellent over the past week, with anglers hooking large grouper and amberjacks and plenty of smaller bottom feeders like black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, and more.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding action with sea mullet, spadefish, and more while baiting up with shrimp.
Some red drum and flounder are falling for live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the early morning hours on live shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Anglers are also hooking some larger spaniards and a few cobia on live baits off the end of the pier.
