Southport/Oak Island – August 2022
J.T., of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been catching decent numbers of croaker and scattered whiting while bottom fishing. A few pompano have also started to show up in the counts.
Anglers on the piers are finding a few spadefish.
Flounder action (released) has been strong inshore. Anglers are doing well while targeting hard structure areas with Carolina-rigged live bait, and this same tactic has been producing decent numbers of red drum.
Some black drum are staged up around oyster rocks, docks, and bridges, and a few speckled trout are in the inshore mix, mostly from anglers fishing early in the day.
Colton Merritt, of Denver, NC, caught (and released) this 26.25″ flounder on an artificial swimbait near the Lockwood Folly Inlet.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that inshore anglers have been doing well finding speckled trout in deeper areas of the creeks. Black drum action has been picking up for those bottom fishing fresh or live shrimp around hard structure. Some redfish are also in the mix.
Anglers targeting docks, pilings, and oyster beds have been catching good-sized sheepshead.
Nearshore fishing has been difficult with the small weather windows, but as conditions stabilize, look for more spanish mackerel from anglers trolling just off the beaches out to nearshore reefs.
Bottom fishing these local ARs has also produced some catch-and-release flounder action.
King mackerel are scattered in all this hot water, with the highest concentration of fish out in the 10-15+ mile range.
Mark, of The Tackle Box, reports that nearshore anglers have found the king mackerel starting to show back up after a run of strong winds. The 5-mile range has produced some good-sized fish (to 40 lbs.). Fishing live bait in this area is also producing sharks.
Spanish mackerel are around, though most of the bites have been out deep and to the north.
Spadefish action has really picked up, with plenty of fish out over any nearshore structure, and flounder are also biting really well in these same areas on live bait.
Surf anglers have found both red drum and speckled trout action while getting out early in the morning before the heat and the crowds.
Anglers taking advantage of the small offshore weather windows are finding decent numbers of schoolie-sized dolphin and some great bottom fishing.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that redfish have been a consistent catch. Most of these fish have been staged up in deep holes or under docks. The bite has been better on falling tides, with most fish feeding on live shrimp and mud crabs.
The speckled trout bite has gotten better each day. The warmer weather fish have shown back up, with most in the 16-20” range. Just about all strikes are coming from live shrimp fished under floating corks in the ICW.
Black drum action has been pretty consistent, with 14-20” fish staged up around docks in both the ICW and creeks. Most are feeding on Carolina-rigged cut shrimp.
Sheepshead action has also been good, with most being caught on fiddler crabs fished around dock pilings. The bigger sheepshead have been coming from the Cape Fear River.
Spanish mackerel and scattered kings have been on the beach in the 20-25+’ range. Fishing live pogies has produced the bigger spanish, but if looking for numbers, a Clarkspoon behind a #1 planer will get the most strikes.
A higher concentration of kings have been out in the 5-10 mile range hitting slow trolled live bait.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that flounder action has been a bright spot inshore, even though you can’t keep them. Plenty of flatfish are staged up around structure areas and are hitting both live baits and soft plastics fished along the bottom.
Red drum action has been picking up, likely as a result of good-sized finger mullet finally moving into the area.
Anglers catching a chance to get off the beach have been able to produce dolphin, king mackerel, and a few cobia while fishing live menhaden
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that even after all the rain, anglers are still catching plenty of red drum and scattered speckled trout.
Flounder are just about everywhere. Any bottom-rigged live bait fished in deeper holes, ledges, or around structure will entice a few strikes. Inshore hard structures such as rocks or pilings are also holding schools of black drum and some good-sized sheepshead.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are still around for anglers looking to troll spoons anywhere from the beachfront out to the reefs.
King mackerel have been pushed farther out, with most anglers reporting action in the 10-mile range.
Running out to structure in the 20+ mile range will produce plenty of black sea bass, snapper, and grouper. There are mahi scattered out in this same range, as well as larger kings for anglers rigged with live bait.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that those finding a weather window have been catching mahi, king mackerel, and cobia over some of the bottom structure areas.
Bottom fishing has seen a mixed bag of snapper, grouper, and sea bass being caught with cut baits.
Nearshore anglers have found action to be scattered due to hot temperatures and murky water conditions. Plenty of sharks, some tarpon, and jack crevalle are being caught with live baits.
Spanish mackerel are still around, though the bite has slowed and fish are scattered.
Alyson Shipman, of Mars Hill, caught this 25″ speckled trout on a live finger mullet in the Oak Island area.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that some big pompano have been showing up now that strong winds are starting to calm down. Large whiting are also in the mix for anglers doing some bottom fishing.
Speckled trout (to 5 lbs.) have been caught by anglers fishing live mud minnows in the evenings.
Steve, of Oak Island Pier, reports that a stretch of rough weather brought a lot of choppy and murky water around the pier. Bait fishing has been the best bet, with a mixed bag of bottom fish species around.
A few speckled trout have been caught at first light.
