Southport – May 25, 2017
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore the redfish bite has been steady. Most anglers are tempting the reds with Gulp shrimp rigged on 1/4 oz. jigheads. The flounder have been making their way inside, and they have been caught on Gulp shrimp and live mud minnows around docks and waterway structure.
Speckled trout have been biting from the pier lately, and they’re most willing to take fresh shrimp.
Nearshore, the spanish bite is picking up, and trolling Clarkspoons is the best bet. Some smaller kings have been mixed in with the spanish.
Offshore to about 60 miles, the mahi bite has been on. Trolling ballyhoo for these fun fish has been the key. While fishing for mahi, there have been scattered blackfin tuna in the mix as well.
Phil Pare, of Wilmington, NC, with a 26.5” redfish caught in Bald Head Creek on a MirrOdine.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite is heating up quickly, with several 5+ lb. fish weighed in this past week. Most of the flounder are falling for live peanut pogies and mud minnows on Carolina rigs.
Redfish have been feeding in the area creeks and marshes. The reds will fall for a live mud minnow, as well as a live pogie.
Speckled trout fishing in the area has been great. Anglers are connecting with the specks using topwater lures, such as the Zara Spook Jr., in the early morning hours. During the day the most productive baits have been Falling Tide lures, MirrOlure MR-17s (in electric chicken and hot pink), and Gulp shrimp.
The spanish bite off the beach is also starting to heat up. Trolling Clarkspoons will yield the highest number of fish, but casting jigs such as Stingsilvers around the edges of the fish will produce larger spanish. Some spanish landed this week have pushed the 4 lb. mark.
Nesbit, of The Tackle Box, reports that inshore the redfish and speckled trout are having a hard time turning down live shrimp under a float rig. If you prefer to use artificial lures, Gulp shrimp in pearl, natural, and new penny have been working (as well as Britt’s bucktails). The Billy Bay Halo Shrimp has also been popular recently for trout and reds.
The spanish bite is starting to heat up off the beach, with most anglers trolling Clarkspoons. Kings and cobia are showing up a few miles off the beach, and both are willing to take live pogies. Bucktails tipped with curly tail plastics have also been working on the cobia.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is hit or miss, but the grouper bite has been consistent. While fishing for the dolphin, trolling a ballyhoo behind a Blue Water Candy sea witch has been the key.
Jacob, of J & J Charters, reports that the black and red drum bite has been consistent throughout the past week. The rising tide has produced the best number of fish, and live shrimp has been the go to bait. Both red and black drum have been holding on structure, such as docks and oyster beds, in the waterway.
The flounder bite turned on this past week. Most anglers are having luck fishing mud minnows, mullet, and tiger minnows on the bottom. Most of the flatfish have been holding in 8-10′ of water, and the bite has been better early in the morning.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that nearshore action is in full swing with spanish mackerel feeding up and down the beach and over most of the nearshore structure. Kings are working the same areas, and both are shadowing the bait pods. Sizes vary on these fish, but there are some citation spanish in the mix.
Cobia are feeding along the beach in the same areas as the spanish and kings. Live bait is plentiful, so slow trolling the river channel near bait pods or around nearshore structure should do the trick.
Offshore, there are mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna coming over the rails in solid numbers. Target the usual locations—near weed lines and along temperature breaks.
Capt. Tyler Hailey (center) with his uncle Gary Hailey and cousin Hunter Hailey holding up 5 keeper flounder taken from the Lockwood Folly, including Hunter’s (left) 4 lb. flatfish.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that nearshore there has been a steady spanish bite. Most of the fish are in the 12-18” range, but some larger fish are mixed in. Out to two miles, there has been a decent cobia bite while targeting bait balls. Anglers can target the cobia with live menhaden or bucktails.
Kings have been near the beach and out to around 10 miles. Lighthouse Rock has hosted a consistent king bite, with most anglers trolling dead cigar minnows.
Around the 35-40 mile range, bottom fishing has produced grouper and black sea bass on cut bait, and in the 120-170′ range, the mahi have been sporadic but are feeding when the conditions are favorable.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are having luck landing keeper-sized spanish. Gotcha plugs have been the lure of choice. While casting for the spanish, anglers are also connecting with small blues and a few speckled trout.
One king was caught off the end of the pier on a live bluefish.
