Southport/Oak Island – July 18, 2019
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder, trout, redfish, and sheepshead are the biggest inshore species to target right now, if you can find bait.
High water temperatures have made live bait hard to come by, though mullet are just starting to run in better numbers.
The redfish are moving around a little bit more now that the weather has cooled a bit, but they’re not acting any hungrier than they were when the water was hot. Cut bait is the best option for catching the reds.
Nice trout have been biting, but they’re few and far between. A lot of smaller specks is the more likely trout action.
Flounder (with some fish going as heavy as 8-10 lbs.) are coming from inshore waters, the surf, and nearshore reefs.
Nearshore waters are holding plenty of spanish.
While the kings have slowed, some fish as big as 34 lbs. have been caught near Lighthouse Rock, so the kings are still out there. Ballyhoo and cigar minnows are the best choices for bait.
Jeff Williams with a 5.2 lb. flounder that fell for a live pogie while fishing just off the Southport beach. He was fishing with Capt. Robert Capps, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters.
Tim, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that a couple of tripletail have been caught in the Cape Fear River by anglers using live mullet. These fish only run for a few weeks out of the year, so now is the time to target them.
Flounder fishing is incredible, with nice fish coming from both the backwaters and the nearshore areas.
Red drum and trout are also chewing steadily, with finger mullet and pogies proving to be the best bait. Using live shrimp may get a better bite from the trout, but live shrimp has been hard to come by.
In the surf, pompano and whiting have made up most of the catch.
Nearshore spanish fishing has stayed strong, with 0 and 00 Clarkspoons still drawing the most strikes.
Kings have moved a bit closer in, and cigar minnows have been getting their attention. Troll the dead bait rigs around Lighthouse Rock to find fish.
Dolphin have been hit or miss, with most of the fish scattered. They’re primarily biting in the morning, and the bite turns over to the kings later in the day.
On the bottom, black sea bass are chewing around the Tower and on out, while grouper, triggers, grunts, and pinkies can all be found in the 60 mile range.
The Hamilton family from Lincoln, MA, with a 23.4 lb King mackerel they landed while fishing with Capt. Kaleb Frink aboard the Angry Pelican II off Oak Island.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican, reports that flounder have been in the backwater creeks and hugging nearshore reefs, with fish between 16-18” seeming to be the norm. Carolina-rigged finger mullet have been drawing the most strikes.
Redfish between 20-25” and a lot of smaller puppy drum have been chewing inshore. Finger mullet on Carolina rigs have once again been responsible for most of the bites.
Specks have been biting here and there inshore. Once again, a finger mullet/Carolina rig combo is hard to beat.
Big 4-5 lb. spanish have been active on the nearshore reefs, with plenty of kings (up to 15 lbs.) mixed in. The key to catching the kings is to use a single treble on a fluorocarbon leader with a 4” bite cable at the very end to avoid losing fish.
Offshore, the mahi have been biting, with grouper and big black sea bass accounting for the majority of the bottom catch.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that the nearshore bite has been off and on from the river channel to Lockwood Folly Inlet, with a mix of false albacore, big blues, and some really nice spanish. Pink, green, and silver Clarkspoons have been effective, as well as Almost Alive spoons.
For the most part, king mackerel have moved into deeper water over the last week. The majority of fish are coming from the 15-30 mile range, where cigar minnows behind Big Nic lures (or live bait) will draw strikes. Barracuda, dolphin, and the occasional sailfish are feeding in the same areas. The bait is holding on structure, and so are the fish.
The inshore action has been good for flounder, redfish, and trout on live bait. Nearshore reefs and wrecks are also holding some fish, with larger flounder and some upper-slot redfish feeding in these areas.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that flounder are moving into the backwaters, but the nearshore bite remains hot.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are hitting Clarkspoons, but the larger spanish are coming in on live and dead bait and from areas about 5-10 miles out.
King mackerel are spreading out and are anywhere in the 7-30 mile range. The king bite is usually hit or miss. A cobia can be found here and there with the kings.
Big black sea bass are chewing offshore, along with scamps, gag grouper, beeliners, pinkies, and triggerfish.
Mahi are moving in from the Stream.
Lynn, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that flounder are being caught on frozen shrimp, while the trout prefer live shrimp. The catch has been best in the mornings due to cooler water temperatures.
Morgan, of Oak Island Pier, reports that trout, flounder, croaker, and whiting are being brought in over the rails. Live bait is the best option, and second best is fresh shrimp or squid.
Sting rays and sand sharks have been in the mix as well.
