Southport/Oak Island – December 2023
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are finding speckled trout in the mainland creeks and canals. The surf and pier action is mostly whiting and croakers. Over the winter, expect to see speckled trout remain the top target, with red and black drum mixed in.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that backwater anglers are catching speckled trout, red drum, and scattered black drum. Live shrimp has been the top producing bait for all three species, with the main target areas being mud flats and oyster beds. Surf fishing efforts have produced whiting and pufferfish.
In the coldest months, inshore efforts will continue to produce trout and red drum. Targeting both species will require patience when searching through areas to find schools. The surf zone should continue to hold puffers and whiting all winter, and off the beach, the black sea bass action will start firing up on the deeper nearshore ledges.
Jerry Damora, of Oak Island, caught this 106″, 125 lb. sailfish near Frying Pan ledge slow trolling live pogies. He was fishing with Capt. George Petron and Capt. Adam Wilson of Oak Island Charters.
Jeffery, of Mad Kingz Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are seeing the speckled trout action just starting to pick up after a slow start to the season. Live shrimp drifted over shell banks along the ICW and in the backs of creeks have been producing strikes.
Some whiting have been moving into the deeper holes. Nearshore runs are starting to find black sea bass in the 5-15 mile range, and offshore trips are catching wahoo and blackfin tuna.
In the coldest months, look for target species to remain the same, with inshore anglers catching whiting and trout and offshore efforts producing wahoo and a variety of the bottom fish species (black sea bass, grunts, etc.).
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that gray trout are staged up and feeding on the nearshore reefs and ledges. Anglers have caught a mixed bag of black sea bass, American red snapper (released), porgies, grouper, and the occasional bull red drum in the 50-60’ range. Squid and a variety of other cut baits on bottom rigs will get the job done, but jigging diamond jigs or bucktails may produce the larger fish.
King mackerel and some cobia are still hanging out in that 15-25 mile range, but the most productive fishing will be in the Tower area as we move into winter. Anglers targeting kings will do well trolling dead baits either naked or under Big Nic Mac-A-Hoos and Blue Water Candy Shovels. Keep an eye out for areas with slightly warmer water temperatures over live bottom ledges and rocks.
Blackfin tuna will be scattered in the trolling bite in the coming months and many times feeding in the same areas as the kings. The same bait setups will produce strikes, and if not, scale down your gear.
Mike Rosenbaum, Dean Nichols, Bruce Loyd (angler), and Dewayne Rosenbaum, of Eden, NC, caught this 54 lb. king mackerel fishing out of Shallotte Inlet using a live pogie. They were fishing with Capt. Adam Jones of Seabbatical Charters.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum have started moving into their winter patterns where they gather in large schools and slide up into the skinny inshore waters. Most of these fish have been smaller, but handfuls of slot-sized fish are mixed in. Jerk shads and D.O.A. shrimp have both been great lures.
Outside of the skinny water, red drum are also staged up in deep pockets near hard structures, and these fish are striking at live shrimp under a slip cork rig. Black drum are being caught in deeper areas around structure. Carolina-rigged cut shrimp has been best. Speckled trout action has been hit-or-miss. Fish are around, but locking down a pattern has been difficult.
Kaleb, of River Run Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout and black drum action has been picking up as water temperatures cool.
Anglers targeting speckled trout have had success casting MirrOlure MR-17s, MR-18s, and Vudu shrimp. Another great tactic is drifting a live shrimp under a cork. The trout have been in the marshes and bigger water areas such as the Cape Fear River, but consistent cold temperatures will push them into the backs of creeks where they will hang all winter. Black drum will stay out in the main sounds and river areas. They are staged up around the deeper docks and hard structures, and cut shrimp will be the best bet to entice a strike.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been finding good numbers of the 15-19” class of red drum, with some fish to 26” in the mix. These reds will gather into larger schools as they move into their winter patterns. On higher tides, target the grass lines, and on lower tides, focus on deeper water docks with nearby structure.
In both areas, some bottom-rigged cut pinfish or shrimp should produce. Black drum are also being caught on the dead shrimp, especially when fished around docks. Speckled trout fishing has been steady, and live shrimp is the best tactic.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers hitting the nearshore reefs have been able to find gray trout, and the sizes have been good. Black sea bass have been moving in and are staged up over structure in the 50’+ areas. Getting deeper (100-120’+) has produced jumbo black sea bass, triggerfish, and good-sized vermilion snapper. The fluctuation in water temperature has the king mackerel still scattered anywhere in the 15-30 mile range.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that whiting have made a big showing, and bottom-rigged baits are also producing gray and speckled trout. Some bluefish are mixed in the daily counts. Over the winter months, catches can include trout, whiting, red drum, and black drum.
Jay, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing croakers and some skates. Over the coldest months, look for croakers, black drum, and skates to be the available targets.
