Southport November 12, 2009
Robert Hughes, of Sunset Beach, with an American red snapper that fell for a live cigar minnow in 180' of water off Ocean Isle while he was fishing with Todd Helf aboard the "Almost There."
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the king bite’s been on at spots like Lighthouse Rocks, the 15 and 18 Mile Rocks, the Shark Hole, and others in 50-70’ of water. Live and dead baits will fool the kings this time of year. The fish should stay in the same area until they follow the upper-60’s water offshore sometime in the next month.
There have still been a few spanish mackerel around nearshore lately, but they’ll be leaving the area until late spring sometime soon. Bluefish are feeding nearshore as well, and they’ll hang around long after the spanish have headed for warmer waters. Trolling Clarkspoons will fool the bluefish and remaining spanish.
Gray trout are feeding on the WOFES, AR-420, AR-425, and other nearshore structure in the area. Anglers can hook up with the grays on baited bottom rigs or by jigging Stingsilvers and other metal lures just off the bottom. The fish have been on the small side for the most part so far, but they’ll be getting bigger as the water cools off.
Citation-class (40”+) red drum are feeding on the same structure as the grays, and they’ll also fall for the jigging lures, though landing them on the light gray trout tackle is challenging at best.
False albacore have also been feeding nearshore lately, though they’ve been absent for the last week or so. More of the fish have been reported on the other side of the Cape at Wrightsville and Carolina Beaches, so they may make another showing before leaving for the winter.
Inshore anglers are finding plenty of spot in the Cape Fear River, and the whiting should make a better showing as the water cools down.
Kenny Prevatte, of Oak Island, with a 9 lb., 1 oz. flounder he hooked in the lower Cape Fear River on a live finger mullet. Weighed in at Oak Island Pier.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the king mackerel bite’s been on at the Shark Hole and the Horseshoe, as the fish have followed the warmer water offshore. Anglers are hooking the kings on live baits like pogies.
Inshore, red drum are on the feed in the Lower Cape Fear River, and anglers are hooking up with big numbers. The fish are feeding in the creeks and around structure on the Southport side of the river, and they are falling for just about everything in anglers’ tackle boxes and bait buckets, including live peanut pogies, finger mullet, and shrimp, spinnerbaits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and more.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout bite is finally turning on in the Cape Fear River and around the usual places off the ICW. Live shrimp, MirrOlures, Gulps, and soft plastics in green and salt and pepper colors are fooling most of the trout into striking.
Red drum are also feeding in the backwaters, and anglers have been hooking them on live baits and a variety of soft plastics lately.
A few flounder are still around inshore, and live baits will strike their fancy when anglers can find them.
Some spot and whiting are feeding in the river and along the beachfront, and both will take an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp or bloodworms.
Dallas Spruill, of Wake Forest, and Scott Wood, of Charlotte, with a pair of citation-class red drum they hooked just off Bald Head Island on live pogies and released immediately after the photo.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are catching some fat whiting (1+ lbs.) on shrimp-baited bottom rigs. Some black drum, spot, and other bottom feeders are in the mix as well.
Anglers fishing with live baits are hooking up with some speckled trout and flounder.
Live baiters landed a king mackerel last week, so there’s still a possibility of a king hookup, although the fish will be moving offshore soon.
Deborah, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up decent numbers of whiting on bloodworms.
Those fishing live shrimp have been decking some flounder.
