Southport June 20, 2013
Alan Beasley, of Southport, with a 9 lb. flounder that bit a Gulp bait along the Southport waterfront. Weighed in at Over & Under Tackle.
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that the flounder bite is improving, and anglers landed some big flatfish along the Southport waterfront last week. The bite has also been strong at Yaupon Reef and for anglers drifting in the creeks. Live baits like mud minnows and menhaden are tough to beat for the flatfish, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft plastics.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks as well, with some larger fish biting topwater plugs and small menhaden last week. Oyster rocks and creek mouths that create current rips have been the best bets for the big specks. The trout are also feeding in the ocean around the Oak Island piers and taking an interest in live shrimp.
Red drum are feeding in the bays and marshes, with anglers getting in on some sight-casting to tailing fish at lower tides. Live shrimp, menhaden, and Gulp baits are all fooling the reds.
Black drum are feeding around inshore structure (some 10+ lbs.) and biting dead shrimp and pieces of clam.
Out in the ocean, there’s been a decent king mackerel bite for anglers trolling live and dead baits from 10 miles on offshore.
Grouper are feeding at bottom structure in 90’ of water and deeper. Anglers can tempt them to bite a variety of live, dead, and cut baits.
Dolphin have moved inshore to the 20 mile areas, with more feeding from there out to the Gulf Stream. Live baits and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will attract attention from the ‘phins.
Mallory Baty, of Long Island, NY, with a dolphin that fell for a ballyhoo behind a pink chugger while she was trolling near the 30/30 with Jamie Mercer and Will Cartier.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with some fat scamp and gag grouper while bottom fishing around structure in the 100’ depths off Southport. Live baits are the best bet for the big grouper, and they are also fooling big numbers of amberjacks in the same areas.
Dropping cut baits and squid in some of the same locations is producing plenty of action with big triggerfish, black sea bass, and other tasty bottom dwellers.
Some large king mackerel are feeding in the same areas and will bite live or dead baits.
Inshore, the speckled trout, red drum, and flounder bite is still going strong in the marshes, creeks, and near the inlets. Live baits like mud minnows and menhaden will get attention from all three, and anglers can also hook up on soft baits like Gulps.
Spanish mackerel action has been a bit slow due to dirty water, but the fish should return once it cleans up a bit.
Plenty of blacktip sharks are feeding within a few miles of the beaches, and they will attack cut baits.
Annette, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers continue to find some solid speckled trout fishing from the Oak Island piers and in the creeks and backwaters. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, but anglers are also hooking up while casting soft plastics and MirrOlures.
Craig “Cookie Monster” Cook with a 28 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bait off the end of Ocean Crest Pier.
Some flounder are still feeding inshore and around the piers. They’ll pounce on live baits or Gulps.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are hooking pompano and black drum on shrimp.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and spot while fishing with shrimp and other baits.
Speckled trout are still feeding near the pier and biting live shrimp.
Some flounder are taking an interest in live mud minnows and finger mullet under the pier.
Live baiters landed one cobia from the end of the pier last week.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are still hooking good numbers of speckled trout from the pier on live shrimp.
Some spot are falling for bloodworms on bottom rigs, and anglers baiting up with shrimp are connecting with some red drum and sea mullet.
