Added on Thursday, June 26, 2014  Fish Post

Southport – June 26, 2014

Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent flounder fishing throughout the Southport area right now (with good numbers of 4-5 lb. fish and some larger). The fish are falling for live baits and soft plastics around boat docks along the Southport waterfront, grass islands and oyster rocks in the river, and in the creeks and other ICW spots.

Speckled trout are also on the feed throughout the Southport area (many 1-3 lbs. but some much larger), and anglers are hooking good numbers on topwater plugs early and late in the day. Soft plastics and suspending hard lures are fooling the specks when the sun is higher.

Red drum are looking for meals in many of the same areas as the specks and flatfish, and they will bite all the same offerings along with gold spoons, spinnerbaits, and more.

The spanish mackerel bite is going strong along the beachfront off Oak Island, and anglers are hooking big numbers on trolled Clarkspoons.

A few king mackerel and cobia are still being caught around Yaupon and McGlamery Reefs, Lighthouse Rocks, and other nearshore spots. Live menhaden are fooling both.

Bottom fishermen are connecting with some stout black sea bass and plenty of other bottom dwellers around offshore structure like the Tower reefs. Squid and cut baits on double-drop rigs are fooling all the bottom feeders.

It’s time for African pompano to show up around Frying Pan Tower and other high-relief structure offshore, and anglers can tempt the unusual fish to bite live baits.

Dolphin are feeding around the Horseshoe and offshore to the Gulf Stream. Boats are hooking good numbers while trolling skirted ballyhoo.

John, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that pier anglers are hooking good numbers of speckled trout in the early morning hours while baiting up with live shrimp.

The specks are also feeding inshore alongside flounder and red drum, and all three are taking an interest in live baits, soft plastics, and a variety of other artificials.

Spanish mackerel are on the feed just off the beaches. Pier anglers are working Gotcha plugs to hook up with the mackerel, and those in boats are trolling Clarkspoons with success.

King mackerel have been few and far between recently. Some anglers have been finding the fish, but they’ve been scattered and not feeding in a consistent pattern.

Dolphin action is still strong when boats make it out to the blue water, and skirted ballyhoo are tempting the ‘phins to bite.

Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of spanish mackerel while trolling around the mouth of the Cape Fear River and up and down the beachfront. Most are falling for Clarkspoons rigged behind planers and trolling weights.

Large sharks are feeding in the same areas as the spaniards and won’t take long to find a big cut bait or live or dead menhaden. Anglers have landed hammerheads, blacktips, spinners, and more in recent days.

Inshore, there’s been excellent red drum action around docks and in the marshes. Anglers are hooking the reds on a variety of baits including live menhaden and shrimp. Some black drum are mixed in and also falling for live shrimp.

Flounder fishing has been good inshore as well, with most of the flatfish falling for live menhaden fished around docks and grass islands.Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking spadefish, sea mullet, and some puppy drum on rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits.

Flounder and more puppy drum are falling for live mud minnows and finger mullet fished under the pier.

Anglers fishing live shrimp in the early morning hours are finding action with speckled trout.

Plug casters are connecting with good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas from the planks.

Some cobia are falling for live baits off the end of the pier.