Southport March 7, 2013
Bill Page, of Oak Island, with a 26″, 6 lb. speckled trout he hooked on a curlytail grub and 6 lb. line while kayak-fishing the Lockwood Folly River.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers have found limited success with speckled trout and red drum over the winter, with the little action to be found primarily in the local creeks. As the month wears on, rising water temperatures should have the fish recovering from their lethargy and feeding actively. Much of the early-season action will be taking place in the creeks. Soft plastic baits or hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s and 18’s and Yo-Zuri 3D baits are some of the best bets for the specks at present. Once shrimp get on the move around the end of the month, live shrimp will be tough to beat for specks or reds.
Some red drum should also begin feeding on the flats in the local marshes, where anglers can cast soft plastic baits or flies like the DuPree Spoonfly with success.
Not many local boats have been king mackerel fishing recently, but March is often an excellent month to chase kings around Frying Pan Tower. Once water in the mid-upper 60’s shows up in the area, the king bite should turn on.
Those making the run to the Gulf Stream from local ports should be able to find action with wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures.
Kenneth Thayer, of Rockingham, NC, with a red drum that bit a D.O.A. shrimp in the shallow backwaters of Dutchmans Creek.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the local creeks. A variety of soft plastic baits and suspending hard lures will attract attention from the specks, and the bite should get even better as the water warms up a bit.
Anglers will also likely see a spring showing of red drum in the backwaters in the coming weeks.
Sea mullet are beginning to show up around the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and they will only become more numerous over the month. Anglers can also expect to see some pufferfish feeding in the same areas, and tempt both to bite bottom rigs baited with shrimp and other natural baits.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Tackle, reports that the creeks and rivers in the area are giving up a few speckled trout and red drum to persistent anglers. The Lockwood Folly River and Wildlife, Beaver, Dutchman’s, and Walden’s creeks have all produced some action recently. Soft plastic baits, MirrOlures, and Gold Betts Halo Spins are all tempting some bites from the specks and reds.
Both the drum and trout fishing will improve over the course of the month as the water temperatures rise.
Debby Aydlett with her first black drum, caught on cut shrimp near Southport.
Anglers can also expect to see some flounder around the beginning of April.
March is one of the best months for sea mullet around the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and anglers have already been catching a few. Fishing cut shrimp on bottom rigs around drop-offs and holes in the lower river is the way to go for the mullet.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream over the coming month should encounter some wahoo and blackfin tuna action. Ballyhoo trolled under skirted lures will tempt bites from both of the blue water predators.
Not many people have been king mackerel fishing, as the water around Frying Pan Tower has been cold for much of the winter. Once water in the mid-60’s or warmer arrives, though, there should be some king action to be had in the area.
Closer to the beaches, there are big numbers of black sea bass and dogfish feeding on nearshore structure for anglers looking for action (but the sea bass remain closed to harvest until June). Finding something the two species won’t eat will likely be harder than finding baits and lures they will.
