Southport June 14, 2007
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that bottom fishing is stellar on just about any ledge, reef, or rock in the Frying Pan Tower area. Big grouper are on the feed in 80-120’ of water. Fishing live pogies, live and frozen cigar minnows, or cut baits should draw strikes from the grouper.
Anglers are currently catching a variety of grouper: reds, scamps, and gags. And last week, they landed a rare black grouper.
Kings and dolphin are feeding around the same structure, and boats can hook up with them by light lining while bottom fishing or by trolling. Live pogies, live spanish sardines, or cigar minnows (both live or frozen) will all get strikes. When trolling, use a weightless skirt like a Blue Water Candy Hot Shot or Featherweight in blue or green to make the bait more attractive to the kings and dolphin.
Spanish mackerel are around and jumping nearshore, but the dirty water has them off the feed. When the water clears, try #1 and #2 planers with Clarkspoons to tempt spanish mackerel bites.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that speckled trout are biting well in the early mornings. Successful anglers are hooking up with the trout on live shrimp fished under floats.
Pompano (averaging over one pound) are hitting live and cut shrimp. The pompano action has been best in the early- and mid-morning hours. Whiting are also eating cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
Some live bait-sized bluefish are hitting the bottom rigs as well.
Live bait fishermen have caught cobia and kings up to 28 lbs. over the past week.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that speckled trout fishing has been excellent at many area spots. Anglers are finding specks in the Elizabeth River, Walden’s Creek, Dutchman’s Creek, the Thoroughfare, and around the Oak Island Bridge, Striker’s Island, and Battery Island. The trout are hitting soft plastic baits (like curly tail grubs and Trout Killers) and live peanut pogies and shrimp fished on float or bottom rigs.
Red drum are also feeding around the Oak Island Bridge and in Dutchman’s Creek and the Elizabeth River. The drum are holding near oyster rocks, and they will fall for cut or live baits fished on the bottom.
Flounder fishing has taken off at the Southport waterfront. Anglers are also catching flounder at Brown’s Landing, Lockwood Folly Inlet, Holden Beach Bridge, Davis Creek, and around boat docks, sea walls, and rocks in the waterway. The flatfish are running up to 7 lbs., and they will strike Carolina-rigged live baits or bucktails tipped with mud minnows or soft plastics.
Anglers are hooking up with sheepshead at the Pfizer Dock, ADM Dock, and the Quarantine Station by fishing with fiddler crabs, sand fleas, oysters, and clams. The oysters and clams should be opened and hooked through the tough foot muscle.
Black drum (from 6-20 lbs.) are feeding around the big bumpers off the ADM Dock. The drum will take any of the same baits anglers are using for sheepshead, as well as cut mullet and whole or half crabs.
The flounder bite is still good at the Yaupon Reef. Anglers anchored up and flounder fishing on the reef are also light-lining live baits to hook up with 20-30 lb. kings, 40-70 lb. cobia, and 4-7 lb. spanish mackerel.
Smaller spanish (in the 1-3 lb. range) are feeding along the beach and will fall for trolled Clarkspoons.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking up with speckled trout on live shrimp in the mornings. Anglers are also catching some kings off the piers.
Inshore, flounder fishing is improving, and the fish are getting bigger.
