Southport May 31, 2007
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports good catches of grouper, dolphin, and kings coming from the Frying Pan Tower area. The ledges and rocks to the east and southwest of the Tower are holding plenty of grouper, and fishing a light lined bait on the surface above the structure will produce strikes from kings and dolphin.
In the Gulf Stream, dolphin are now the main catch, but some yellowfins and wahoo are still in the mix. Lately, the best bites have been around the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole.
On the beach, the spanish bite has slowed down as a result of the dirty water, but they should begin feeding hard again as soon as the water clears up.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that four kings were caught over the past week. Live baits fished off the tee at the end of pier are tempting the kings.
Early and late in the day, anglers are catching lots of speckled trout. A live shrimp drifted under a float is the prime trout bait.
The flounder are starting to get bigger, but anglers must still weed through some short fish to find keepers.
Fat 2+ lb. Florida pompano are hitting both shrimp on the bottom and Gotcha plugs.
Plug casting is also producing nice catches of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Chopper blues are biting anything and everything fished from the pier.
The water is 72 degrees.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that the flounder bite is heating up at the Yaupon and McGlammery Reefs. Mud minnows and peanut pogies on Carolina rigs are accounting for most of the flounder.
Plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding on the reefs, and a few kings and cobia are around too. Light lining a mud minnow or casting Gotcha plugs and Clark spoons will draw strikes from spanish and blues, as will trolling Clark spoons. Fish a live bait, such as a big pogie, under a float to score with the kings and cobia.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been solid on the Southport waterfront. Most of the flatfish are 2-3 lbs., but anglers are catching a few larger flounder (up to 5 lbs.). The fish are hitting live baits and bucktails tipped with curlytail grubs.
Flounder are also mixed in with red drum and trout in Davis Canal and Dutchman’s Creek. Target all three species with a DOA or Billy Bay Halo shrimp fished near the bottom under a rattling float. Pink and chartreuse are the best shrimp colors. The trout and drum will also fall for soft plastics (such as curlytails and Trout Killers) and Mirrolures.
Anglers are catching good numbers of sheepshead off the pilings at the Pfizer dock. Clam strips, sand fleas, and fiddler crabs will get attention from the sheepshead.
Black drum are feeding at the big bumpers on the end of the ADM dock. The drum are averaging 5-8 lbs., but there are some larger fish (up to 25 lbs.) around too. Drop a cut mullet/clam combination next to the bumpers to hook up with a black drum.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that pier anglers are catching trout, pompano, flounder, and big bluefish.
In the backwaters, drum and flounder are biting well. A few speckled trout are also showing up, but the trout bite is slowing down for the summer.
Spanish mackerel are running the beaches.
At the Frying Pan Tower, boats are finding small king mackerel and dolphin. Plenty of dolphin are also coming from the 100/400.
John, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that dolphin and wahoo are making up the majority of Gulf Stream catches.
Bottom fishing has been very productive over the past week, and boats are coming in with coolers full of grouper and beeliners.
