Southport March 10, 2011
Jim Atack, of Oak Island, with a 40 lb. gag grouper he hooked in 100' of water near Frying Pan Tower on a live cigar minnow just before New Year's.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the weather has conspired to keep most anglers from venturing offshore from the area over the past months, but they should be able to find some action once they can get out.
Offshore bottomfishing is excellent this time of year, but grouper, beeliners, and black sea bass are all closed to harvest at the moment. Other bottom feeders like grunts, triggerfish, porgies, and more will provide plenty of action and tasty meals for bottom fishermen over the next month, and they’ll be feeding around structure in 80’ and deeper. Bottom rigs baited with squid will tempt bites from all of them.
King mackerel have been pushed far offshore by the cold winter, but anglers who can find some 65+ degree water in the vicinity of Frying Pan Tower along with some bait should be able to hook up with plenty of early season kings. Drone spoons and other lures or dead cigar minnows will attract plenty of bites from the mackerel.
Gulf Stream anglers have been finding some wahoo and blackfin tuna in the area all winter, and springtime should improve the blue water bite even further. Dolphin, yellowfin tuna, and even billfish are all possibilities as the water warms, and ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will get attention from all the Stream predators.
Inshore, speckled trout are also closed to harvest, but warming water should bring an improved trout bite to the backwaters of the lower Cape Fear for anglers who’d like to catch and release them. Soft plastics and small live baits will tempt bites from the specks.
Red drum are also on the feed in the shallows of the lower river. Anglers can tempt them to bite Gulp baits or other soft plastics.
Capt. Mike Wright, Matt Alamond, Dustin Simpson, and Rocky Hoffner with four of many wahoo they hooked on black/purple and blue/white skirted ballyhoo while trolling at the Blackjack Hole with Capt. Steve Henson on the "Split Decision II."
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the red drum bite has been going all winter long, and anglers are still finding action with the reds in the backwaters on both sides of the lower river. Anglers’ best odds of connecting with the reds will come in shallow areas with dark bottoms where the fish find slightly warmer water than in the deeper areas.
Gulp baits and natural baits like cut mullet and shrimp will attract plenty of attention from the reds in the cool water.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking up with some red drum in the backwaters of the area. Gulp baits and other soft plastics and a host of natural baits will fool the reds.
The water is warming up, and it won’t be long until anglers find more action with sea mullet and other bottom feeders in the surf and deeper holes in the river.
