Southport – June 18, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers continue to experience some excellent speckled trout fishing around Southport and Oak Island (with citation fish still around). Topwater plugs are fooling some of the largest specks early and late in the day. Anglers are catching more trout while working suspending lures like MirrOlure MR17’s and soft plastics when the sun’s high.
David Flowers, Jr. and David Flowers, Sr. with a 75 lb. wahoo that they hooked while live-baiting off Oak Island near the Horseshoe.
The flounder bite remains good as well (with decent numbers of 2-3 lb. fish and a few citations coming by the shop). Most of the flatfish are falling for live baits, but anglers are hooking some on Gulps and other soft plastics as well.
Red drum are feeding well in the marshes, creeks, and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Anglers are also fooling the reds with live baits like finger mullet and peanut menhaden along with soft baits and a variety of other artificials.
Claude Keeney, of Lake Norman, NC, with a pair of keeper flounder he hooked on live baits while fishing near Lockwood Folly Inlet with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.
Spadefish have shown up at nearshore structure like Yaupon and McGlamery reefs. They’ll bite small pieces of cannonball jellyfish, and anglers can use the cannonballs as chum to bring the schools of spades from the structure to their boats.
Spanish mackerel are still looking for food along the beachfront, where they’ll take an interest in Clarkspoons and other flashy trolling lures rigged behind planers and sinkers.
Anglers are still hooking some king mackerel along the beachfront and out to Yaupon and
McGlamery reefs. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are the best bets for the kings.
Some cobia are feeding in the same areas and on out to Lighthouse Rocks. The cobia also have a hard time turning down a live bait.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some cobia and king mackerel while fishing from the ends of the piers and just off the beachfront. Live baits are fooling both fish.
Offshore, anglers are finding more king mackerel along with some dolphin at spots 15-50 miles
offshore. Both will take an interest in live or dead baits like menhaden, cigar minnows, and ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen are hooking plenty of black sea bass around structure in the same areas as the kings and dolphin have been feeding. Squid and cut baits will fool the bass.
Inshore, there’s been a solid speckled trout bite recently, with anglers hooking the specks on live shrimp around bridges, docks, and other structure.
Red and black drum are feeding in the creeks and also biting live shrimp. Anglers can fool the reds on a variety of artificial lures as well.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent grouper action while bottom fishing around offshore structure in 100-200’ of water. Live baits like menhaden, pinfish, and cigar minnows are fooling most of the grouper. Plenty of triggerfish and other smaller bottom dwellers are in the same areas and biting smaller cut baits and squid.
Closer to the beaches, spanish mackerel action has been excellent recently. Anglers are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures from the beachfront out to spots a few miles offshore.
Inshore, anglers have been hooking plenty of flounder near the inlets and in the marshes. Live baits are tough to beat for the flatfish.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that the excellent speckled trout action off the pier continues. Anglers are putting together limit catches of specks during the early morning hours and also finding a decent bite in the later afternoons. Live shrimp are fooling the majority of the trout.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs and straw rigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are primarily hooking panfish and sharks, skates, and rays while baiting up with shrimp and squid.
The water is 81 degrees.
