Southport July 5, 2012
Tim Lee with a 6.24 lb. flounder that he hooked near a dock on the Southport waterfront. Weighed in at The Tackle Box.
Tommy, of the Tackle Box, reports that the inshore fishing around Southport is going strong.
Anglers fishing live shrimp in the creeks and marshes are connecting with red and black drum, speckled trout, and flounder.
The flounder bite is also turning on along the Southport waterfront (with fish to 6+ lbs. weighed in last week). Live menhaden and finger mullet are producing most of the flatfish action.
Some cobia are still feeding around the nearshore reefs and structure further out. They’ll bite live baits or bucktail jigs with large soft plastic trailers.
Offshore, anglers are still hooking big numbers of big black sea bass while bottom fishing around Frying Pan Tower.
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that that there’s still a good king mackerel bite in the 60’ range off Brunswick County, with live menhaden producing most of the fish.
More king mackerel, dolphin, and some cobia are cruising around structure in the 100’ depths, and live menhaden or cigar minnows are both fooling all three fish.
Bottom fishing in the same range has been producing plenty of action with gag and scamp grouper, amberjacks, black sea bass, beeliners, and more. Live baits are top choices for the grouper and jacks, and squid or cut baits will fool the smaller bottom feeders.
Timothy Sellers, of Bolivia, NC, with an 8.18 lb. flounder he hooked near Southport. Weighed in at Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Closer to shore, there’s been a decent flounder bite at the nearshore reefs. Live finger mullet and mud minnows are tempting most of the bites from the flatfish.
Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily along the beaches, where anglers can hook them on Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights.
Sharks are in the same areas as the spanish. Large cut baits will tempt bites from the big predators.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking some pompano from Oak Island’s piers and beaches on sand fleas and shrimp.
Speckled trout are falling for live shrimp in the early morning hours from the piers.
Flounder are feeding inshore, around the ocean piers, and at nearshore structure. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and Gulp baits are all top choices for the flatfish.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront and just off the inlets, and boaters are hooking plenty while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
Offshore, anglers are still hooking good numbers of king mackerel and dolphin while trolling with live and dead baits around Frying Pan Tower.
Bottom fishing in the same area is producing fast action with beeliners and sea bass. Squid and cut baits will tempt bites from
Jim Kiser, of Cherryville, NC, with a red drum that bit a live menhaden near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are still catching solid numbers of speckled trout and flounder from the piers.
The trout are biting early in the morning hours, and live shrimp are producing most of the action with them.
The recent heat wave has had the flounder bite best early in the day as well. Live shrimp and mud minnows or finger mullet will all tempt bites from the flatfish.
