Southport – July 2, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the hard southwest winds have slowed fishing a bit over the past week, but anglers have still been finding some decent action inshore.
Speckled trout continue to feed in the creeks and around inshore structure near Southport and Oak Island. Anglers can fool the specks on live shrimp along with a variety of artificial lures. Topwater plugs have been particularly effective on larger trout early and late in the day, with soft plastics and MirrOlures producing results when the sun’s high.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same places and in the local marshes. Like the specks, the reds will bite live and cut baits, but a variety of artificial lures can prove effective as well.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the ADM dock and other heavy structure in the area. Both will bite fiddler crabs, sand fleas, shrimp, and other crustacean baits fished close to their homes.
Flounder are looking for meals around inshore structure like docks and rock piles along with the nearshore reefs out in the ocean. Live baits, bucktail jigs, and soft plastics will all attract attention from the flatfish.
Trollers continue to catch some spanish mackerel just off Southport and Oak Island, but dirty water from the wind has slowed the bite somewhat. Clarkspoons fished with planers and trolling sinkers are fooling most of the mackerel.
Not many people have been targeting king mackerel or cobia since nearshore and offshore runs haven’t been very comfortable in recent days, but they should be back to feeding at spots like Lighthouse Rocks once the water calms down.
David Coffey with a dolphin that struck a cigar minnow near Frying Pan Tower while he was trolling on the “Coffey Time.”
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that small sharks are proving a nuisance to anglers from the backwaters to the beachfront right now, but anglers are still catching a few fish inshore and on the beach.
There was a decent red drum bite for surf casters fishing Oak Island’s point last week. Shrimp and cut baits will fool the reds in the breakers.
Speckled trout are looking for meals in the creeks inshore, and they’re biting live shrimp along with a variety of artificial lures.
Anglers are also hooking some flounder in the backwaters, primarily on live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet.
Jennifer Schrom, of Southport, with a red drum she hooked while fishing locally on a live menhaden.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that there’s still a good king mackerel bite at local spots in 60-80’ of water, but persistent winds have kept many anglers from getting to them recently. Some dolphin, cobia, and sailfish are looking for meals in the same areas. All the predators will bite live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo paired with trolling skirts.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with good numbers of flounder along with red and black drum. All are falling for live shrimp fished around oyster bars, docks, and other structure in the ICW, creeks, and rivers. Other live baits like finger mullet and mud minnows will fool the reds and flatfish as well.
Michael Mendez (age 8), of Southport, with his first speckled trout, a 2.8 lb. fish that bit a live shrimp off Oak Island Pier.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that rough weather has kept many boats out of the ocean in recent days, but some are fishing out of Carolina Beach Inlet to battle the southwest winds. There’s been a good spanish mackerel bite out on the eastern side of Cape Fear, and anglers should be able to find some fish off Oak Island once the weather calms down. Clarkspoons trolled behind inline weights and planers are fooling most of the spanish.
Plenty of blacktip, hammerhead, spinner, and other sharks are feeding in many of the same areas as the spanish. Anglers are hooking them on live, dead, and cut baits.
Inshore, anglers are finding plenty of action with flounder, speckled trout, and red drum in the backwaters near Southport. Live shrimp, finger mullet, and menhaden are tough for all three to turn down.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are still seeing plenty of speckled trout action from the pier, with an excellent bite in the early morning hours and some bonus action in the late afternoons. Live shrimp fished under floats or suspended above pyramid sinkers are fooling the specks.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been plentiful recently when anglers have clean water around the pier. Gotcha plugs and straw rigs are fooling big numbers of both.
Bottom fishermen are primarily connecting with small sharks and skates.
Anglers are hooking some flounder on small live baits fished under the pier.
The water is 83 degrees.
