Southport May 24, 2012
Brad Fly, of Leland, NC, with a 42.95 lb. king mackerel that bit a dead cigar minnow at Yaupon Reef. Weighed in at Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the nearshore fishing’s been solid lately around Yaupon Reef and other structure just off Oak Island. Anglers are hooking good numbers of flounder and a lot of gray trout at the reef while fishing small live baits on Carolina rigs.
A few cobia are also cruising around Yaupon, and anglers landed several last week while they were flounder fishing.
Some king mackerel have been feeding in the same area, and several days last week produced wild king bites. Live menhaden are the best bet for the kings, and there have been some along the beachfront to net for baits.
Large spanish mackerel are also in the mix at nearshore structure (some 5+ lbs.). Slightly smaller live baits than anglers would pull for king mackerel are the tickets to bites from the big spaniards.
Trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures between the beach and nearshore reefs is producing action with smaller spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish. Anglers can also cast small metal jigs to schools of fish feeding on the surface and under the working birds to hook the spanish and blues on lighter gear.
Bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action with grouper at spots in 100’ and deeper, and live baits are the way to go for the largest grouper.
Mike Loflin, of Lexington, NC, with a 4.8 lb. flounder that bit a live mud minnow beneath Oak Island Pier.
Inshore, the flounder bite is turning on at the traditional spots all around Southport, and anglers are seeing some citation-class fish mixed in with the smaller ones. Live menhaden on Carolina rigs are top choices for the larger flatties.
Speckled trout and black drum are feeding in the creeks and around rocky structure around Southport and Oak Island. Live shrimp are the hot baits for both, but anglers can also hook the specks on a variety of lures and fish cut shrimp for the black drum.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking up with some speckled trout from the ocean piers in the early mornings. Live shrimp are far and away the best trout baits.
Sheepshead are also feeding around the pier pilings, and they will bite shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas.
Spanish mackerel fishing has slowed down a bit, but anglers are still hooking a few from the piers while working Gotchas. Boaters can find them feeding in clean water within a few miles of shore and troll Clarkspoons to hook up. Bluefish are feeding in all the same areas and will readily strike the plugs or spoons that anglers are fishing for the spaniards.
King mackerel and dolphin are rewarding anglers who make the run to Frying Pan Tower and further. Trolled ballyhoo and cigar minnows will attract attention from both.
Inshore, the flounder bite is turning on around Southport. Fishing live baits or Gulps around docks, creekmouths, and other inshore structure in the area is the way to connect with the flatfish.
Will Snellgrove with a 35 lb. dolphin that bit a skirted ballyhoo near the Steeples while he was trolling on the "Pokey."
Cathy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers decked good numbers of flounder over the past week (with several in the 3-5 lb. range). Small live baits fished close to the pilings are producing most of the flatfish.
Speckled trout are feeding around the pier in the early mornings, and anglers hooked them both on live shrimp and Gotcha plugs recently.
The spanish mackerel bite has also been solid, with white/white Gotcha plugs outproducing other colors lately.
Live baiters fishing the end of the pier landed a 17 lb. king mackerel last week and a 40 lb. cobia several days prior.
