Southport – March 3, 2016
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that there has been fairly consistent fishing going on inshore and offshore throughout the winter months. Red and black drum, as well as some trout, have been providing action in the creeks and holes off the Cape Fear River and ICW. As the water temperatures warm up over the coming weeks, these fish will start to leave their winter hiding spots and make their way back into the ICW where they can be found around docks and oyster beds.
MirrOlures, X-Raps, Vudu shrimp, and Savage shrimp have been providing a majority of the action with the trout and drum, and expect that action to continue in the coming weeks. As the fish head into the ICW, cut shrimp on Carolina rigs and jig heads (as well as soft plastics) fished slowly should work to get the trout and drum to strike.
As the water warms up, we can also expect the Virginia mullet bite to turn on around some of the deeper holes and mud flats near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Double bottom rigs with small hooks are the ticket in getting the mullet to bite. Shrimp and Fish Bites are good baits for these very tasty fish, and when the bite turns on, it’s not too hard to put quite a few in the cooler.
Offshore fishing this winter has been all about the wahoo. When the weather has cooperated, boats making it out to the Stream have reported solid catches over the past couple of months. Skirted ballyhoo as well as artificials in purple and black have provided a good amount of the action with the speedy predators.
Look for all the fishing inshore and offshore to improve over the coming weeks with the warming weather, and it won’t be long before the bonito and spanish appear near the beach.
Leon Capel ,with his limit of Speckled Trout, caught in the Oak Island area on MirrOlures.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that there has been some good action with sea bass this winter when the weather has cooperated enough to get out for them. Squid, cut bait, and a variety of artificial jigs are all good ways to get these aggressive fish to bite.
As far as what’s coming up, spanish mackerel will be here before soon, along with some Atlantic bonito.
Austin and Avery Tate with a limit of speckled trout caught near Oak Island while fishing with Capt. Leon Capel.
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that there has been some solid king mackerel fishing around Frying Pan Tower as of late. Trolling cigar minnows has been the go to bait for putting kings in the boat.
Inshore there have been some catches of red drum around some of the deeper holes off the ICW. Working soft plastics and other artificials slowly will tempt these early season reds to strike.
Black White, of Oak Island, and JR Key, of Mount Airy, with two wahoo landed at the Backjack Hole. The smaller fish, 61 lbs., was landed on a skirted ballyhoo, and the larger fish, 68 lbs., fell for an 8 oz. jackahoo.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that there has been some solid wahoo action out along the break. Ilander-skirted ballyhoo have provided a majority of the action with the wahoo, and expect some tuna to show up sometime in the very near future.
A little further inshore, there have been reports of some flounder action at structure in the 20-25 mile range.
Inshore the trout action has been kind of up and down this winter, but it should consistently get better as the water warms up over the coming weeks. Rapala X-Raps, curly tailed grubs, and MirrOlures have been the best bet for getting strikes from the sometimes finicky winter trout.
