Added on Thursday, July 2, 2009  Fish Post

Southport July 2, 2009

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are still on the feed nearshore around Southport, and they should be there for most of the summer. Trolling #1 and #2 planers with #00 Clarkspoons around 6-7 knots is the best way to hook up with the spaniards.

King mackerel are feeding at the Yaupon and McGlammery Reefs, and a bull dolphin was caught in the area last week as well. Live pogies will produce action with the kings and any dolphin that have ventured inshore.

Spadefish and flounder are feeding around the reefs as well. Anglers can hook up with the spades on small pieces of cannonball jellyfish on strong hooks, as the mighty fighters can straighten a light wire hook.

The flounder are falling for finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs with 1-2 oz. weights.

King mackerel and dolphin are feeding around the Horseshoe and other similar spots off Southport. Frozen cigar minnows on lead head dead bait rigs are top choices for the dolphin, and anglers can also hook up on live pogies.

Some sailfish are starting to show up in the same areas as the dolphin. Tarpon should begin showing up off Bald Head soon, too.

Offshore bottom fishing is still producing some reliable action with grouper and other bottom feeders like sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, grunts, pinkies, and more. Squid and cut baits are top choices for the smaller bottom feeders. Anglers can jig up live cigar minnows on sabiki rigs—these are almost impossible for the grouper to resist if they’re around.

Amberjacks are plentiful on wrecks and other high relief structure in the area, and live baits or vertical jigs will produce action with the AJ’s. African pompano are feeding on similar structure as the AJ’s and will also fall for jigs or live baits.

 

Keith, of Stand’N Down Charters, reports that anglers are finding excellent dolphin and king mackerel fishing at the Shark Hole and similar spots offshore. South Chatham Tackle Pirate Plugs baited with cigar minnows have been producing most of the fish.

Large quantities of bait are schooled up at the Shark Hole and drawing schooling king mackerel and cobia to the area. Cigar minnows on Pirate Plugs will produce bites at the ‘Shoe, too.

Bottom fishing has slowed down a little bit with the rising water temperatures lately, but the excellent king and dolphin fishing has made up for it.

 

Chad, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the king mackerel and dolphin bite has been excellent around the 18 Mile Rock and the Horseshoe lately (with most of the dolphin gaffers to 15+ lbs. and most kings schoolies with a few to over 30 lbs.). Slow-trolling live pogies is producing plenty of action, and anglers can also troll faster with dead cigar minnows with success, especially on the dolphin.

Inshore, the speckled trout bite is on around the ADM dock and other structure in the lower Cape Fear. Live shrimp are top bait choices for the specks.

 

Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout, red drum, and flounder in the creeks on live shrimp.

Surf and pier anglers are finding action with whiting and spot on shrimp-baited bottom rigs.

King mackerel are feeding very close to the beaches, and anglers are hooking them on live baits and cigar minnows. Dolphin are mixed in with the kings at spots a bit further offshore.

 

Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers fishing with live shrimp are hooking good numbers of fat speckled trout in the mornings and evenings (with the runs lasting about 1.5 hours.).

Bottom fishermen are decking spots, spadefish, and pompano, mostly on cut shrimp.

Not many keeper flounder have been landed yet, but the mullet run is beginning, so it won’t be long until flounder fishing improves.

Some large spanish mackerel are falling for live baits on king rigs.

Anglers caught several king mackerel last week as well.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers caught good numbers of king mackerel while live-baiting from the pier last week (with the largest going 27 lbs. and many in the low-20’s). A few large spanish mackerel (5-6 lbs.) are falling for the king rigs, too, but not many spanish have fallen for Gotcha plugs lately.

Anglers fishing live shrimp off the bottom have been hooking excellent numbers of speckled and, surprisingly, gray trout off the pier lately (with specks to 4 lbs. and grays to 3 lbs.).

Pompano (many 2+ lbs.) are falling for the live shrimp and cut shrimp anglers are fishing on bottom rigs.

Bottom fishermen are also picking up good numbers of spadefish and big spots on shrimp and bloodworms, as well as a few whiting.

Sheepshead are feeding along the pier’s pilings, but not many people fished for them last week.