Southport July 20, 2006
Jimmy, at Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that speckled trout are biting in Cedar Creek, Cape Creek, and Elizabeth River. They’re hitting both live shrimp and soft plastics.
The flounder bite is steady from the usual spots: Southport waterfront, Oak Island Bridge, Brown’s Landing, and Lockwood Folly (specifically the area around the Varnamtown fish house). Before the wind, the flounder were also biting well on the AR’s.
Catches of sheepshead continue to come from the ADM pier. And all the ladyfish you could want to catch can be found at Phizer’s at night. They’ll hit curly tail grubs, trout killers, mirrolures, and live bait.
Butch, at Yeah Right Charters, reports that dolphin and kings are biting live and frozen cigar minnows fished on the light-line at anchor. The dolphin have mainly been peanuts, but the kings are larger (up to 26 lbs.). The area to the southeast and east of the Tower has been the most productive.
Bottom fishing has been excellent this week. Red and scamp groupers are biting particularly well in the same areas as the kings and dolphin. In addition to the groupers, sea bass, pinkies, gray snapper, and b-liners are filling coolers for bottom fishermen. Cut baits and live and dead cigar minnows are the best baits for those looking to hook up with the bottom fish.
Amberjacks are mauling live menhaden around the Tower.
The menhaden have been easy to catch near the beach, particularly around the condos and the Hot Hole.
Muddy water has made fishing on the beach tough, with spanish mackerel action spotty. Clean water is the key to spanish action.
Not many reports are coming in from the gulf stream, but dolphin and wahoo should be biting in the deep blue. Trolling a mix of skirted and naked ballyhoo is the best way to find fish.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports that not much changed at the pier from last week to this week.
There have been king hits, but something big with teeth is out there eating them. The menhaden are around, so the kings and tarpon should be moving down the beach anytime.
Anglers throwing plugs are catching bluefish and the occasional spanish mackerel. Sheepshead are lingering around the pilings eating barnacles and fiddler crabs.
Spadefish and pompano are hitting the bottom rigs using fresh cut shrimp.
Speckled trout are hitting live shrimp, preferably early in the morning.
Flounder fishing continues to be decent, with fish up to 4 lbs.
Live baits have been the most productive, such as mullet and shrimp.
Jim, at Yaupon Pier, reports shrimp and artificial bloodworms catching croaker and whiting on the bottom. Shrimp are also producing black drum at night.
Live and frozen shrimp are enticing 2-4 lb. trout to bite.
Spadefish in the 3-4 lb. class have been surprising anglers this week.
Small flounder are biting minnows.
Plug casters are catching some bluefish.
No king or spanish mackerel were caught this week.
The water temperature is 82 degrees.
