Southport – June 12, 2014
Mallory Ables, of Charlotte, NC, with a red drum that bit a live bait near Oak Island while she was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite just keeps getting better (and fish approaching 8 lbs. were weighed in last week). Most are falling for live menhaden and mud minnows, as the area’s finger mullet are just approaching a usable size. Bucktail jigs, Gulps and other soft baits are also attracting attention from the flatfish.
Speckled trout action is still going strong in the Cape Fear River, with grass islands, docks, oyster rocks, and other structure playing host to feeding specks. The season opens next week, and anglers will likely be able to find the fish in the same spots and fool them with soft plastics, MirrOlures, topwater plugs, and live baits.
Red drum are in many of the same areas and also working the marshes of the Cape Fear and Elizabeth River. They’ll take an interest in all the same baits and lures anglers are working for the specks and flounder.
Spanish mackerel are on the feed just off the river mouth and Oak Island beachfront. Anglers can hook big numbers of the mackerel (and bluefish) while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and torpedo weights.
Some king mackerel reports are coming in from nearshore spots as well, and anglers found action with the kings at Yaupon and McGlamery Reefs and Lighthouse Rocks last week, primarily on live baits.
Leonard Lewis, of Southport, NC, with a 7.68 lb. flounder he hooked near Southport. Weighed in at Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers fishing along the beachfront and from the piers have hooked some large chopper bluefish over the past week.
Anglers are hooking flounder from the piers as well, along with plenty in the inshore waters. Live baits like mud minnows are fooling most of the flatfish.
There are still plenty of speckled trout around, and the keeper season opens next week. They’ll bite a variety of baits and lures, and the area’s shrimp are just becoming large enough to cast-net for anglers looking for live trout baits.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports the grouper bite remains strong around bottom structure in 100’ and deeper off Oak Island. Live baits like pinfish, menhaden, and cigar minnows are producing the best action and biggest gag and scamp grouper.
Plenty of smaller bottom dwellers are feeding in the same areas and pouncing on squid and cut baits.
Closer to the beaches, there have been plenty spanish mackerel feeding just off the river mouth and within a few miles of shore. Anglers are hooking big numbers of the spaniards on trolled Clarkspoons.
Jackson Turner (age 8) with a fat spanish mackerel that bit a live bait just off Lockwood Folly Inlet while he was fishing with his father and grandfather on the “Jaw Breaker.”
Large sharks are looking for meals in the same areas and have a tough time resisting a big cut bait.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers are seeing more flounder in the inlets right now and hooking them on small live baits.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding just off the inlets and beaches and taking a hearty interest in trolled Clarkspoons. Some false albacore have been mixed in and testing anglers tackle while they’re trolling for the spaniards.
Some cobia are still feeding around nearshore structure in the area and taking an interest in live menhaden.
Dolphin have pushed into the 20 mile range, where they’re feeding alongside king mackerel. Both will take an interest in cigar minnows or small ballyhoo pinned to dead bait rigs.
Bottom fishing at structure in 60-100’ of water has put plenty of black sea bass in the box recently, and squid and cut baits are attracting their attention.
Further offshore in the 100’ depths anglers are finding plenty of action with gag and scamp grouper. Live baits are fooling the groupers, and anglers are hooking triggerfish, grunts, and other bottom dwellers in the same areas on squid and cut baits.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and red drum while bottom fishing with shrimp.
More reds and some flounder are taking an interest in live baits fished under the pier.
Plug casters are finding plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Some cobia are falling for live baits off the end of the pier.
