Southport/Oak Island – August 2023
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that anglers looking to fish these hot summer days will find better action (and more comfortable conditions) by getting out on the water early in the morning or late in the evening.
The nearshore king mackerel bite has been going steady, with anglers finding the best numbers of fish staged over structure in the 50’+ area. Live baiting is the best tactic and can also open up the chance at catching some amberjacks, barracuda, or cobia.
Anglers fishing shallower are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel. Trolling spoons has been the top tactic when the fish aren’t actively surface-feeding on bait balls.
T.J., of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are catching a lot of flounder. These flatfish are everywhere, and they’re feeding on any live baits put on the bottom.
The bite for slot-sized red drum has been strong, with anglers having success using the same Carolina-rigged live baits.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged up around docks, bridges, and other hard structure. These fish are feeding best on fiddler crabs, mud crabs, or shrimp.
Surf anglers have been finding a mixed bag of species coming from bottom fishing, such as whiting, pufferfish, small rays, sharks, and a few large pompano.
Anglers headed off the beach have been doing really good while bottom fishing, with catches of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and amberjacks.
Trolling offshore has been producing smaller mahi and a few sailfish.
Garrett, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf anglers have been finding a nice mixed bag of species that includes pompano, whiting, croakers, and bluefish. Getting out on the beach early (before 10:00 am) has been key as it helps to avoid both the crowds and the mid-day heat.
The local piers have been landing bluefish, pompano, and a lot of speckled trout when there is nice, clean water along the beaches.
Inshore anglers have been catching speckled trout in the early mornings.
Red drum and flounder are both scattered everywhere in the area, and they’re hitting bottom-rigged live baits.
Nearshore anglers are still finding spanish mackerel. When the clear water is pushed in close, these schools are right along the beach. At other times, it has been best to target areas over nearshore reefs in the two-mile range.
The king mackerel action has generally been best in the 60-70’ range, and offshore trolling has been producing wahoo and mahi.
Cody Preddy, of Clinton, NC, hooked this red drum using a bucktail. He was fishing in the Southport area.
Jeffery, of Mad KingZ Tackle, reports that anglers on the water early in the mornings are catching speckled trout.
The water is hot inshore, and these temps have the red drum and flounder bite scattered.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that good-sized mullet minnows are now showing up more. With the mullet numbers getting better, the red drum have really seemed to turn their feeding attention to them. Anglers are doing best fishing mullet minnows around structured areas, whether that’s deeper docks, oysters along the waterways, or creek mouths.
Speckled trout fishing remains pretty good compared to typical summer fishing. A bunch of live shrimp are around, and this has kept the trout relatively active.
Nearshore runs are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel. Chasing the birds to target fish just off the beach is producing good numbers (but plenty of smaller fish). Live bait fishing over the nearshore reefs has generated strikes from the large (to 6 lbs.) spanish.
King mackerel fishing is good though scattered. The best concentration of fish has been in the 5-10 mile range.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action has been steadily picking up with all this bait around inshore.
Flounder are everywhere that anglers are looking to target the reds.
Focusing efforts on the inshore structures, such as deeper docks and holes near oysters, is producing some black drum.
Off the beach, the summertime staple spanish mackerel are around in good numbers, and kings have mostly pushed out into the 5+ mile range.
Dean Porter, of Wilmington, hooked this red drum that fell for live pogie. He was fishing in the Oak Island area.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that flounder are literally everywhere and feeding on the live baits intended for other inshore targets.
Red drum are chewing on both Carolina-rigged live mullet and menhaden. Target the reds around hard structures and creek mouths, and there has been a better bite in the mornings.
Speckled trout are still in the mix, and they’re striking at both live shrimp and artificial shrimp rigged under popping corks. Similar to the redfish, the lower light times have been best, and the primary habitats are docks, rock piles, and oyster beds.
Nearshore runs are producing some good-sized spanish mackerel (to 24”) while both trolling or casting metal jigs.
The nearshore reefs are holding black drum and a bunch of spadefish.
Anglers targeting king mackerel are doing best running out to the 10-mile areas with live bait.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers out casting plugs are finding action from schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish breezing by the pier. The early and later hours have been best.
Bottom fishing has produced a variety of croakers, pompano, whiting, and the occasional spot.
Cindy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are still paying off for anglers getting out to enjoy the summer conditions. Fishing the low light hours can really help with fishing success in the hottest months.
Fresh cut baits have been producing scattered red drum (and some sharks and rays).
The smaller baits are getting strikes from pompano and croaker.
