Southport July 23, 2009
Melinda Hicks, from Charlotte, NC, with a dolphin she hooked on a small ballyhoo while trolling offshore of Southport with Capts. Butch and Chris Foster of Yeah Right Charters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent nearshore over the past week. Anglers are hooking plenty of the spaniards (some 5-7 lbs.) on #00 Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers.
The nearshore reefs are holding good numbers of flounder right now, and a Carolina-rigged peanut pogy or finger mullet should attract attention from the flatfish.
Spadefish are also schooled up on the nearshore reefs, and anglers can tempt them to bite with pieces of cannonball jellyfish.
The king mackerel are still feeding strong in the area; however, the bite has been hot at one spot and cold at another, so anglers must move around to find active fish. South Chatham Tackle Pirate Plugs (especially in pink) on top of cigar minnows are fooling the lion’s share of the kings right now.
Dolphin are beginning to thin out. Anglers are still picking up a few stray fish, but the big catches that anglers were hauling in a few weeks ago are gone.
Some sailfish and cobia are showing up in the spots that anglers are king mackerel fishing to make up for the slower dolphin bite.
Bottom fishermen have had to deal with some strong currents lately, making the fishing a little tougher. Anglers are still catching good numbers of beeliners, sea bass, grunts, pinkies, and other bottomfish, along with a few groupers at offshore structure. Squid and cut baits have been producing the best results overall with the bottom feeders, and live cigar minnows are top choices for the groupers. Anglers should remember that lower bag limits for grouper and vermillion snapper take effect on July 29, so it’s important to check the new regulations before going out.
Shelby Kotler-Ross, of Charlotte, NC, with her first king mackerel. A live bluefish on a king rig fooled the fish at Oak Island Pier.
Keith, of Stand’N Down Charters, reports that the Shark Hole and Horseshoe have been hosting a solid king mackerel bite lately. Green Pirate Plugs atop frozen cigar minnows are fooling most of the kings.
There are still a few dolphin in the area, and Pink Pirate Plugs have been fooling them.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding well closer to the beaches (many 15-24”). Green flash #00 Clarkspoons behind #2 planers have been the most effective weapon for the spanish lately.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some spanish and king mackerel in the area, both from the piers and nearshore in boats.
Many of the spanish have been larger fish, and they’re falling for trolled Clarkspoons. Most anglers are live-baiting for the kings.
There’s also been a good king bite at offshore spots like the 18 Mile Rocks. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will fool the kings offshore.
Inshore, anglers are finding some flounder action in the ICW and the backwaters. Live baits or Gulps will fool the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in some of the area creeks, and they’ll also take an interest in live or dead baits.
Ashley McDavid with her first citation flounder. She caught the 5.2 lb. flattie on a live bait in Snow's Cut.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that anglers began to catch decent numbers of flounder around Yaupon Reef over the past week. Live finger mullet or other small baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish.
The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent just off the beaches, and anglers are landing some large fish (5+ lbs.) while trolling Clarkspoons.
Fishing live shrimp beneath floats in the marsh has been producing some action with speckled trout, red drum, and ladyfish.
Deborah, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers caught a few flounder last week (up to 3 lbs.) on small live baits fished on the bottom.
Live shrimp have been producing some action with speckled trout and whiting.
Live-baiters fishing the end of the pier landed several king mackerel last week.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers caught good numbers of king mackerel from the pier last week, and the pier recorded its 100th king mackerel of the season midweek. Live baits on king rigs are fooling the kings and also some large spanish mackerel (4-5 lbs.).
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs are hooking decent numbers of smaller spanish.
Some speckled trout are falling for live shrimp early and late in the day.
Anglers are also picking up some flounder on small live baits.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting, pompano, and black drum on shrimp.
The water is 81 degrees.
