Southport June 23, 2011
Caleb Pitcock (age 5), of Winchester, VA, with a speckled trout he hooked on a live shrimp while fishing from Oak Island Pier.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the unrelenting SW winds have made it tough for boats to make it outside the inlet, let alone get offshore, over the past week.
Those who have headed out have hooked up with some king mackerel and cobia. The kings are scattered from the beaches to offshore spots right now, with cobia popping up at random among the kings. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings and cobes.
Spanish mackerel fishing has slowed down as the strong winds dirtied the nearshore water, but anglers should see the spanish action pick back up as soon as the water clears. Trolling with Clarkspoons or mackerel tree rigs around diving birds and bait will help anglers locate the spanish. If they’re feeding on top, anglers may be able to cast small metal jigs into the action to hook up on light spinning rods.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with flounder, speckled trout, and red drum in the creeks and backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. Live baits will tempt bites from all three.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the inshore fishing around Southport has been solid lately. Anglers are connecting with good numbers of red drum and some healthy flounder while casting live finger mullet to drop-offs, docks, oyster beds, and marshy shorelines.
A few black drum are feeding in the same areas.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers were still catching a few spanish mackerel while trolling off Bald Head Island last weekend, but dirty water slowed the fishing down. Once it clears, the spaniards should be on the feed once again. Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures are the best bet for the spanish.
Some flounder are feeding around Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure, and small live baits on Carolina rigs will tempt them to bite.
Large sharks are on the hunt from the beachfront to a few miles offshore, and they’ll have difficulty turning down cut baits.
Anglers making the run offshore are reporting some action with dolphin and king mackerel near Frying Pan Tower. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will appeal to both fish.
Bottom fishermen are scoring action with black sea bass around bottom structure from a few miles offshore on out to the break. Squid and cut baits pinned to bottom rigs are the way to go for the bass.
Benjamin Madren, from Leland, NC, with a 2.05 lb. citation pompano he hooked on a sand flea in the Oak Island surf.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that dirty water has slowed down the action recently, but there are still some fish to be caught.
Flounder fishing has been the hottest ticket on the pier over the past week. Anglers fishing small live baits near the pilings are finding decent numbers of flounder (up to 4 lbs.).
Despite the dirty water, anglers are hooking up with pompano on live and cut shrimp (with some 2+ lb. citation fish).
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are decking a few speckled trout on live shrimp from the planks. Once the dirty water clears out of the area, the speck bite should get better.
Anglers can also expect some spanish mackerel and bluefish action once the water quality improves.
