Southport July 4, 2013
Amber Locklear with a pair of fat flounder she hooked near Southport on live menhaden and landed on a Bazen Custom Rod.
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers managed to find some good action inshore around Southport last week in spite of the daily wind and rain.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes and around inshore structure. They’ve been responding to topwater plugs well in the shallows lately and taking an interest in live baits in deeper water.
Speckled trout are feeding in many of the same places as the reds. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, but anglers can also hook up on soft plastics or suspending hard baits like MirrOlures. There are also a few specks still feeding along the docks on the Southport waterfront.
Flounder fishing remains solid in the creeks and at nearshore reefs in the ocean. Most anglers have been drifting the creeks with live baits with success on the flatfish. Live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails are getting the job done in the ocean.
Sheepshead have moved inshore, and anglers have caught some solid fish around structure like the Southport city pier over the past week. Live fiddler crabs are some of the best bets for anglers looking to hook up with the sheeps.
Capt. Joe and Daniel Jenkins with Daniel’s first dolphin, hooked while they were trolling the Gulf Stream off Southport near the Blackjack Hole
Not many boats have made it offshore in the past week, but there should still be king mackerel feeding in the 15 mile range and further when the weather calms down. Live menhaden are top choices for the kings, but anglers can also tempt them to bite dead cigar minnows.
Grouper are feeding around bottom structure in 90’ and deeper, and live baits like menhaden and pinfish offer anglers the best odds of hooking the largest grouper.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout inshore around docks, as well as in the creeks and from the Oak Island piers. Live shrimp are doing most of the damage on the trout inshore and in the ocean.
Some red drum and flounder are feeding in many of the same areas as the specks, and they’re biting the shrimp, live mud minnows, and Gulp baits.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some fat red and black drum while fishing the creeks behind Bald Head Island. Live shrimp are fooling both fish in solid numbers.
Evan Reif with an over-slot red drum he caught and released near Oak Island while fishing with Capt. Ryan Rayfield of Conjured Up Charters. The red fell for a live menhaden.
Before last week’s storm, the blacktip shark action was still going strong just off the Oak Island beachfront, and it should be again whenever the water clears up. Live menhaden have been fooling the blacktips in good numbers.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Speckled trout are taking an interest in live shrimp and Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the planks, which are also fooling some bluefish.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp.
