Southport – May 22, 2014
Brian Vick, Casey Kennedy, and Jerry Moss with a 73.4 lb. cobia that bit a live menhaden just off the beach at Oak Island. Weighed in at Oak Island Pier.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers have seen some excellent spanish mackerel action along the Oak Island beachfront lately, with most of the fish falling for trolled Clarkspoons. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spaniards.
There was an excellent cobia bite within a few miles of the beach last week, but it slowed a bit with the rain and front over the weekend. The fishing should be back on track after a few days of warmer weather. Live menhaden and bucktail jigs or large soft plastics will tempt bites from the cobes.
Some king mackerel have been in the same area, and there was a solid bite around Yaupon Reef last week, primarily on live menhaden.
Offshore, anglers have seen some dolphin move in to the Horseshoe area, and boats making the run to the Gulf Stream have been hooking big numbers. Some large wahoo have also been feeding out in the ‘Stream, with the best action around the 100/400 last week. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the wahoo and dolphin.
Inshore, the flounder action has improved quite a bit, with anglers seeing many more keepers than they did in previous weeks. Both live baits on Carolina rigs and soft plastics pinned to jigheads are fooling the flatfish. ‘
There’s some excellent speckled trout action going on as well, but not many people have been fishing for them since the season’s closed until June 15. The fish are starting to spread out from the creeks, and anglers found them in open water around Southport last week.
The red drum bite is still solid in the marshes, creeks, and around inshore structure like docks. Live baits or a variety of artificials will attract attention from the reds.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around bridge and dock pilings and other hard inshore structure. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs fished tight to their homes are tough for both crustacean-lovers to turn down.
Nicole St. Cyr, of Southport, with a 26 lb. dolphin she hooked while trolling 60 miles off Bald Head Island with Patrick Jones and Andy and Boyce Broadwell on the “Nauti Lady.”
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen have been hooking some pompano, sea mullet, and croaker on shrimp recently.
There was a good spanish mackerel and bluefish bite for plug casters on the piers and boats trolling Clarkspoons last week, but it’s been a bit slower since the cool weather last weekend.
King mackerel and cobia have been feeding between the beach and Yaupon Reef, but the weather also slowed that action down. Live menhaden have been the top bait choices for both of the larger predators.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers have seen some solid cobia action along the Oak Island beachfront recently, with live menhaden tempting most of the fish to bite.
The spanish mackerel action on the beach has been solid as well. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights are fooling most of the spaniards.
The main body of king mackerel is still feeding between the Horseshoe and Frying Pan Tower, but should be moving closer to shore over the coming weeks. Live baits, dead cigar minnows, and Drone spoons will all tempt bites from the kings offshore.
Bottom fishing around structure in the 100-120’ depths has been excellent when it’s calm enough to get to the fish lately. Gag and scamp grouper, beeliners, triggerfish, and other tasty bottom dwellers are all feeding in those areas. Anglers can hook the smaller fish on squid or cut baits and use live, dead, or larger cut baits to target the grouper.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the gaffer dolphin action at local Gulf Stream spots has been excellent lately, and anglers are hooking the majority of the fish on ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Kristina Steenborg, of Southport, NC, with a 31 lb. king mackerel that struck a live menhaden beneath a kite off Oak Island.
Gag, scamp, and red grouper are feeding around structure in 100’ and deeper, where anglers can target them with live baits.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some sea mullet, flounder, red drum, and big pompano while bottom fishing from the pier lately.
Live baiters sending out bluefish on king rigs have fooled some cobia over the past week.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and straw rigs that anglers are working from the pier.
