Southport June 9, 2005
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports a good week of fishing with the highlight a 49 lb. cobia caught by Daniel Blanks Monday morning. Dave himself got some fishing in with a 12 lb. king on the evening of 6/5. Speckled trout fishing is good in the AM and should be especially good as it cycles with the high tide early in the morning and around sunset. Flounder bite has been slow but there are a few biting as well as mixed catches of pompano, whiting, spots, and bluefish. The pluggers are still getting blues and a few spanish mackerel as well.
Bobby, at Long Beach Pier, reports a few cobias caught with a 66 lb. monster being the biggest but no kings to speak of. Spanish and blues are hitting early and late now and the specks are biting early AM. There are some sheepshead around the pier for those who want to target them. Bottom fishermen are catching whiting, a few spots, pompano, and small flounder. Best baits for the flounder have been mud minnows or live shrimp.
John, at Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that offshore the action is dolphin. They’re catching plenty of them, and several big ones are part of the usual catch. The offshore water temps are still about 7-8 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.Normally the water is in the high 70’s at this point in June, but lately all the water’s been just at 70 degrees.
Jimmy Price, at Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout fishing is still strong in the river and the area back bays. He had an 18 fish trip, with all fish coming on artificials. The flounder in the area have been small, but the Southport waterfront has had a few fish weigh up to 3 lbs. It’s all live bait for flounder now. Some places other than the waterfront to try are docks around Fort Caswell and the Eller Wreck off Bald Head Island. Try mud minnows, peanut pogies, or bucktails with a strip of bait or a mud minnow.
A good spade fish bite has started on Yaupon Reef. Many fish in the 4-5 lb. range have been caught. There’s also plenty of blues around Jaybird Shoals.
