Added on Thursday, July 8, 2010  Fish Post

Southport July 8, 2010

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that anglers are still finding some solid spanish mackerel action along the beaches. Trolling 00 Clarkspoons behind #1 planers is producing most of the fish.

Plenty of sharks are also feeding along the beaches and just offshore, and large dead and cut baits will tempt them to strike.

Flounder are feeding strong on the nearshore reefs, and live pogies will tempt them to bite.

Some king mackerel are scattered from the beaches on offshore and will take an interest in live pogies or frozen cigar minnows on dead bait rigs.

Some cobia are mixed in with the kings, along with increasing numbers of dolphin the further anglers work offshore. Pogies, cigar minnows, and ballyhoo will all draw bites.

Bottom fishing at offshore structure in 80-100’ and deeper has been producing plenty of action with grouper, snapper, black sea bass, and plenty of other bottom dwellers. Squid and small cut baits are the way to go for the smaller fish, and the grouper will take an interest in larger cut baits, cigar minnows, and live baits.

Amberjacks are plentiful on higher relief offshore structure, and anglers who want to battle one can hook them on live baits or vertical jigs.

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore bite in the lower Cape Fear has been excellent lately. Fishing the area’s creeks with live shrimp has been producing some solid numbers of speckled trout (along with some fish to 5+ lbs.).

Red drum (some well over-slot) are feeding in many of the same areas and will fall for the shrimp, live finger mullet and pogies, or a variety of other lures.

Anglers have seen big numbers of tarpon toward the mouth of the river and along the beachfront, and they’re starting to hook a few while shark fishing. Anglers can target the tarpon by fishing live, dead, and cut baits along the bottom and on top.

John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a solid king mackerel bite from the piers and along the beaches over the past week (many fish 20-30+ lbs.). Live pogies and bluefish are fooling most of the kings.

Anglers are catching more king mackerel and some dolphin offshore at spots like the Horseshoe. Live and dead baits are fooling the fish.

The spanish mackerel bite is still solid for plug casters on the piers and boats trolling Clarkspoons and other lures along the beachfront.

Inshore, the flounder bite has been excellent in the creeks and around the backwaters. Live mud minnows have been the most productive baits lately.

Some puppy and larger red drum are in the mix inshore, and they will fall for a variety of lures and baits.

Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and around inshore structure, and live shrimp are the most productive baits for them.

Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers had an excellent weekend over the holiday, hooking both king mackerel (to 37 lbs.) and tarpon on large live baits fished from the end of the pier.

Live-baiters also landed a citation spanish mackerel last week, and anglers are picking up some smaller spanish and plenty of bluefish while working Gotcha plugs.

Those fishing live shrimp near the pier have hooked solid numbers of speckled trout lately along with some fat pompano (2+ lbs.), spadefish, and more.

Flounder are also biting well from the planks, and anglers are hooking most of them on live mud minnows and finger mullet.

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers caught solid numbers of king mackerel last week and weekend on live baits fished from the end of the pier.

Anglers are also hooking some spanish mackerel on live baits and a few while plugging and jigging.

Those baiting up with live shrimp are catching good numbers of speckled trout and some black and red drum.

Live finger mullet and mud minnows fished on the bottom are producing some flounder action.

Bottom fishermen are decking some spadefish, whiting, spot, and more on shrimp.