Southport – July 31, 2014
Travis Ackerman with an over-slot red drum he caught and released at Yaupon Reef after it fell for a live finger mullet.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that fishing’s been a bit slower around Southport over the past week, but anglers are still bringing in some nice catches.
Flounder are feeding around the Southport waterfront, Bald Head Island, Oak Island Bridge, and other inshore spots in the area, as well as at Yaupon Reef out in the ocean. Most of the flatfish are taking an interest in live finger mullet and peanut menhaden, but anglers are hooking some on soft plastic baits as well.
Red drum and speckled trout are looking for meals in the creeks and marshes, and anglers are hooking both on topwater plugs, soft plastics, live baits, and other offerings.
Anglers are connecting with sheepshead around the Pfizer dock, Southport waterfront, and other inshore structure in the area. The sheeps are falling for sand fleas, fiddler crabs, and barnacles fished tight to the pilings.
The spanish mackerel bite has been on the slow side lately, but anglers are still landing a few. Plenty of bluefish have been feeding around Jaybird Shoals, and they’re biting trolled Clarkspoons and other lures along with metal casting jigs.
Boaters are reporting the best king mackerel action at offshore spots like the Horseshoe and Frying Pan Tower. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows are fooling the kings.
Some dolphin have been in the same areas and are also biting live and dead baits.
Bottom fishermen offshore are connecting with grouper, sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and more. The area around Frying Pan Tower has produced good results on the bottom feeders lately, and anglers are hooking them on squid, cigar minnows, and a variety of other baits.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still hooking some speckled trout and flounder from the beach, piers, and inshore in the creeks. Both are falling for live shrimp and finger mullet along with soft plastic baits on jigheads.
Some red drum are in the same areas and feeding in the marshes. They’ll also bite live baits and soft plastics along with topwater plugs and a variety of other lures.
The spanish mackerel bite has been slower this week. Anglers are connecting with a few of the spaniards but have been tight-lipped as to where recently. Trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures around Bald Head and off the Oak Island piers is generally a good strategy for anglers looking for some spanish fillets.
Offshore trollers continue to connect with dolphin around Frying Pan Tower and other spots in the 30 mile range. Skirted ballyhoo and dead cigar minnows are fooling most of the ‘phins.
Jake Maguire, of Tabor City, NC, with a 21″ flounder that bit a live finger mullet in 15′ of water along the Southport waterfront.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some solid flounder action around Yaupon Reef right now. Most of the flatfish are falling for Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
There’s been a good drum bite in the marshes around Southport and Oak Island, and finger mullet are attracting attention from the reds as well.
Spanish mackerel action remains steady within a few miles of the Oak Island beachfront. Most of the spanish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Large sharks are also feeding close to land and will pounce on dead and cut baits.
Offshore bottom fishing around structure in 100’ and deeper is producing some large grouper, amberjacks, triggerfish, and more. The grouper and jacks are mostly taking an interest in live baits, with squid and cut baits fooling the triggers.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers are seeing the spanish mackerel bite along the beach turn back on (and some 4-5 lb. fish are mixed in with the schoolies). Anglers are fooling the spaniards on trolled Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
Some king mackerel are also feeding near the beachfront and taking an interest in live menhaden and bluefish.
Warm water inshore has scattered the other pelagics, but anglers have reported some dolphin and sailfish not too far out over the past week.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet, spadefish, and puppy drum on shrimp.
Speckled trout are feeding around the pier in the mornings, and they’re biting live shrimp.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas from the pier.
