Southport May 27, 2004
Linda, of Southport/Oak Island Sportfishing Charters, reports that the wind blowing has put a damper on the offshore fishing. A few boats tried to make it out to the Shark Hole, but it was too rough to fish. “Fish Finder” went out on a backwater trip, and the party caught approximately. 25 flounder. Unfortunately, none of fish were above the legal size restriction. So there is flounder, just not the right size. “My Way” went out and brought in a few blues, spanish, a dolphin, and a sand shark. It was too rough to go offshore, so they had to stay in close. Before the wind hit that day, everything was hungry, especially the grouper. Once the wind lays down we will be fishing again.
Capt Rick, at Blue Water Point Marina, reports that fishing has been a little down due to the weather; however, limits of king mackerel are being caught from the area reefs on cigar minnows. Dolphin in the 5-10 lb. range are being caught as close as 15 miles, and green/yellow and blue/white have been the hottest colors so far. The tuna bite has fizzled out due to water temperature, but there are still some wahoo biting. Bottom fishing has been good in the 42 mile range with good catches of black bass and beeliners but no legal size grouper yet. Spanish mackerel in the 16-18 inch range and bluefish mixed in are biting silver or gold Clark spoons just off of the Brunswick beaches.
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that fishing has been off and on inshore with a few red drum being caught. The flounder bite is picking up, and more keeper size fish will show up this week. Mud minnows are primarily being used in the Southport/Oak Island area for the flounder. Speckled trout are scattered, but a few have been caught in the Davis Creek area and on the area piers.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports plenty of king mackerel early in the week, but the wind and dirty water slowed the bite. Cobia are around, and bluefish are still being taken by the pluggers. Bottom fishermen are taking whiting on shrimp and spots on bloodworms. Live shrimp are enticing the speckled trout bite to pick up. The trout are primarily in the 1-2 lb. range. Keeper flounder are being caught using live mud minnows, and a citation size pompano of 2.5 lbs. was weighed in this week.
Bobby, at Long Beach Pier, reports a couple of kings and a few spanish earlier this week, but the dirty water turned the attention to the great spot/whiting bite. Both species were hitting the bottom rigs with shrimp or bloodworms. Speckled trout are biting early in the morning on live shrimp, and the bluefish are still biting very well for those who are plugging.
