Southport March 31, 2011
Stephen Nichols, Susan Queen, Tom Nicholson, Alex Lee, and Jesse Vang, with false albacore, a skipjack tuna, and a wahoo they hooked while trolling the Gulf Stream off Southport with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the Gulf Stream is beginning to come alive. Boats running to the Stream are hooking up with some wahoo and blackfin tuna, and they saw some of the first dolphin of the year last week. The best action comes around sharp warm-water temperature breaks, and the best breaks have been up to the north around the Same Ol’ Hole recently. Satellite temperature shots will let anglers know where the best water is on a given day.
Jigging along the edge of the Gulf Stream is producing action with blackfin tuna, amberjacks, African pompano, cobia, and more for anglers in the know.
Despite the many species closures, offshore bottom fishing is excellent right now. Anchoring up around a rock or wreck in 80’ or deeper should produce plenty of action for anglers dropping rigs baited with squid or cut baits, but anglers must check to see what species they can and can’t keep before heading out.
King mackerel should be feeding around Frying Pan Tower as long as there’s some upper-60’s water in the area over April, and they will be moving toward the beaches along with the warm water as the month wears on. Dead cigar minnows will tempt plenty of bites from the early-season kings as long as anglers can find them.
Anglers can also expect to see the brief appearance of Atlantic bonito at nearshore structure in the area sometime in April as the water warms up. Trolling diving lures or small spoons or casting small metal jigs at feeding pods of fish is the way to hook up with them.
Sea mullet have moved into the river and are biting well in the ICW, where anglers can hook them on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Bluefish should be showing up in the mouth of the Cape Fear River any day now, and when they do, they’ll provide fast action for anglers casting and trolling with small metal lures.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching a few sea mullet off the piers and in the island’s surf, and the action should improve over the next few weeks as the water warms up. Fresh shrimp are the way to go for the mullet.
Inshore, anglers are catching some red and black drum in the backwater creeks. Spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and live mud minnows will fool the reds, and fresh shrimp should appeal to the black drum.
Steven Austin Henderson with a 22 lb. blackfin tuna he hooked while trolling the Gulf Stream aboard the "Jay Bird" with Jeff Peoples. Photo courtesy of Island Tackle and Hardware.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the recent cold weather slowed down the red drum fishing a bit, but anglers are still hooking a few in the backwaters near Southport. Gulp baits and other soft plastics will often fool the reds, but when they’re finicky, live mud minnows, crab chunks, or other natural baits will often work better than artificials.
Anglers aren’t reporting much speckled trout action, but it’s likely because not many people are targeting them.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been putting together some decent catches of sea mullet lately, particularly on warmer days. Shrimp on bottom rigs will attract attention from the mullet. Some hake, skates, and small sharks are also falling for the bottom rigs.
