Southport May 13, 2010
Terry Bevell (age 14), from Boiling Springs Lakes, with a 21" flounder he hooked near Southport on a live pogy while fishing with his father.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the bait has arrived nearshore, and with it plenty of predators. The large sharks that generally don’t appear till summer are making an early showing, and anglers can hook them while drifting fresh cut baits just off the beaches.
Spanish mackerel are getting more numerous by the day along the beaches, and trolling #00 Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers will fool the spanish. Anglers can also cast small spoons and other lures to breaking fish on light tackle.
Plenty of blues are mixed in with the spaniards, especially right at the river mouth.
King mackerel have also made their spring showing along the Brunswick beaches, and anglers are hooking good numbers (to 30+ lbs.) on live pogies.
Cobia are feeding in the same areas as the kings, and they will fall for live pogies or a 2 oz. bucktail tipped with a whole squid.
Bottom fishing has been solid lately for sea bass, grunts, snappers, and other species. Squid and cut bait will fool them all. The fish are often a little finicky this time of year, so moving around to a number of spots until anglers find some active fish is the best way to ensure a good catch.
The grouper bite has been good since the season opened May 1, and anglers are hooking most of the fish around structure in 100’+ on live baits. Plenty of amberjacks are in the same areas, and they’ll take an interest in the live baits or vertical jigs.
Gulf Stream trollers have seen some large wahoo so far this season, and dolphin are joining the offshore mix now, too. Blackfin tuna are scattered in as well, and several blue marlin have been seen recently. Ballyhoo rigged under dark-skirted lures like South Chatham Pirate Plugs are producing most of the action in the Stream.
Lewis Turner and friends, from Cumming, GA, with dolphin they hooked on skirted ballyhoo while trolling a weedline inshore of the Steeples with Capt. Eugene Landis on the "Bullfighter."
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the grouper bite has been good at bottom structure in around 100’ of water lately, mostly for scamps. Cigar minnows, live baits, and cut baits are all fooling the groupers.
The beach king mackerel bite turned on last week, and anglers caught good numbers while working along the beachfront, and at nearby structure like Yaupon Reef and the 90/90. There are plenty of pogies on the beach, and they’re producing the lion’s share of the king bites.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers caught decent numbers of king mackerel from boats and the piers off Oak Island last week.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding in the same areas, and anglers trolling Clarkspoons are catching plenty of both.
The puppy drum bite’s been good lately in the creeks, especially the ones behind Bald Head. Live mud minnows and D.O.A. and Gulp soft plastics are fooling the reds.
The speckled trout bite is improving inshore as well.
Flounder fishing is also picking up, and anglers are seeing more fish in the 16-18” range mixed in with the throwbacks now.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is getting started in the Gulf Stream, and anglers are also catching some wahoo.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that anglers caught a decent number of cobia at spots like Lighthouse Rocks last week.
Bottom fishing has been good since the grouper season opened up last week, and anglers caught good numbers of red, scamp, and gag grouper, along with triggerfish and other bottom dwellers last week. The best action has been to the north and east of the area.
Jeremy H. Love, of Denver, NC, with a 48" red drum he hooked on cut bait near Yaupon Reef.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that the whiting bite has been excellent when the wind has been blowing lately, with bloodworms and fresh shrimp producing most of the fish.
Bottom fishermen are also picking up a few keeper flounder.
Pluggers are catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the king mackerel bite turned on last week, and anglers caught five kings while live-baiting from the end of the pier (the largest 32 lbs.).
Plug casters are catching plenty of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel (to 3 lbs.).
A few flounder are also coming over the rails, but most are throwbacks.
