Southport June 6, 2013
Ashton Lee with a wahoo that wshe hooked while trolling the Gulf Stream off Southport with Marc and Ray Adcock on the “Rigger Mortis.”
Steve, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of black sea bass from the nearshore AR’s out to offshore bottom structure. Cut bait is fooling plenty of the tasty bass.
Grouper action is still solid around structure from 90’ out to 150’, and live baits are the best bets for the bigger grouper.
Anglers are seeing decent numbers of king mackerel around 15 miles offshore (and finally some larger fish). Both live menhaden and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings.
Cobia have been feeding near structure and menhaden pods in the 5-10 mile range, and they will often strike bucktails or live menhaden cast by anglers who spot them.
Flounder have begun to show up on nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef, where anglers also connected with some large red and black drum last week. Live baits or bucktails tipped with Gulps will fool the flatfish and drum.
The flounder bite is also turning on in the creeks, where anglers hooked solid numbers on live mud minnows and peanut menhaden last week.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and around structure and current breaks (like oyster bars and the Fort Fisher rocks). Many anglers are hooking up with the specks on soft plastics and MirrOlures, but some of the largest fish are falling for live baits.
The red drum bite has also been strong in the creeks, where anglers are tempting them to bite Gulp baits around oyster bars.
Annette, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of speckled trout from the piers on Gotcha plugs and electric chicken MirrOlures.
Spanish mackerel are also biting from the piers and for boaters along the beachfront. Gotcha plugs, straw rigs, and Clarkspoons are all fooling the spaniards.
King mackerel are moving in and out, biting along the beachfront one day and at offshore structure the next. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will both fool the kings when anglers can find them.
Mark Daniel McAuliffe, of Stephens City, VA, with a citation speckled trout that bit a live bait near Southport while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Red drum are feeding in the backwaters, where anglers are hooking them on live baits and MirrOLures.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the dolphin bite is still going strong in the Gulf Stream around spots like the Steeples and Blackjack Hole. A few wahoo are in the mix as well, and both are falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing at structure in around 100’ of water is producing some big grouper (some 20-30 lbs.), but the overall bite has been a bit slow. Live baits are the best bets for anglers looking for the large grouper.
Black sea bass (many 2-4 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas and will pounce on squid and cut baits.
Cobia have been seen from the beach out to offshore buoys and structure, and anglers are hooking some on live baits and bucktail jigs.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking speckled trout on live baits and artificial lures.
Those working Gotcha plugs are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel along with the specks.
Small live baits fished under the pier are producing some flounder.
Bottom fishermen are decking sea mullet and a few spot on shrimp, and some cobia are falling for live baits fished from the end of the pier.
The water is in the low-70’s.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers caught solid numbers of king mackerel (to 37 lbs.) last week while live-baiting from the end of the pier. Several cobia were also landed.
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Speckled trout, some sea mullet, and a few puppy drum are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Anglers are also landing specks on MirrOlures and Gotcha plugs.
