Southport June 30, 2005
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports good speckled trout fishing in the area on live shrimp. Along the beach, the bluefish are biting well, with a few spanish mixed in. Flounder are here and there, and more are keeper sized lately. King mackerel fishing has been good from Lighthouse Rocks out to the Frying Pan Tower area.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports live shrimp under a float rig should catch you some nice speckled trout if you’re out early enough. Gray trout are hitting live or cut shrimp on the bottom. Bluefish are hitting cut baits or gotcha plugs, and the plugs will also land some spanish mackerel. Pompano are hitting cut shrimp, and flounder fishing has been best on live shrimp or live minnows. No big fish to report this week. The kings weren’t around with the dirty water, but they should be back as the water clears.
Bobby, at Long Beach Pier, reports 1 to 1.5 lb. speckled trout with an occasional fish up to 3.5 lbs. being caught. The action is mainly early in the mornings using live shrimp for bait. The live shrimp is also snagging black drum. Flounder fishing should pick up with mullet beginning to run the surf. If the water is rough, anglers have been doing well with the whiting and spots. Pompano are still biting, as well as bluefish, and a run of spanish mackerel usually goes on almost at dark.
Jimmy Price, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder fishing continues to be good at the Southport waterfront, the Caswell docks, and at the Bald Head Island entrance. The trout bite was good over the weekend, even with the bad weather. Guys found fish by going back up in the creeks, specifically Walden’s and Dutchman’s Creek. They caught the trout on mirrolures, soft plastics, and drifting live shrimp. Dutchman’s also saw a consistent redfish bite.
Yaupon Reef is covered in spadefish. Get a jellyball and go to town. You’ll also find a few flounder out at Yaupon Reef.
John of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that one of his divers reported a school of African pompano in the Tower area, but no reports of any being caught. The offshore fishing has been slow. All of the action is just picking at a few fish.
