Southport/ Oak Island – July 2023
T.J., of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have been finding steady red drum in areas along the ICW.
Flounder are being caught (and released) just about everywhere inshore, and while speckled trout are being hooked, the bite isn’t very consistent.
Docks and bridges are holding black drum and sheepshead, with both species feeding on crabs or shrimp.
Offshore anglers are catching scattered wahoo in the Stream and some mahi closer to the Tower.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that nearshore anglers have started to see a push of king mackerel moving in, and the kings are feeding on slow-trolled live menhaden.
Some nice cobia are off the beaches. Anglers are seeing these fish around bait pods that are anywhere in the 1-10 mile range.
Inshore anglers are seeing some good topwater fishing for red drum and speckled trout when out on the water in the early mornings. As the day wears on, a switch to Carolina-rigged finger mullet has helped stay on the bite.
Grayson Waldrop, of Oak Island, caught this 8 lb. sheepshead using live mud crabs. He was fishing in the ICW near Oak Island.
Jeffery, of Mad KingZ Tackle, reports that king mackerel fishing has finally picked up for anglers making the run out towards the Tower.
The deeper reefs out around the Tower have also been holding the occasional cobia, with some scattered cobia caught off the beachfronts as well.
Grouper fishing in the 80-100’ range has been productive, and some smaller mahi have started to move more into the 20+ mile range.
Nearshore anglers are catching plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beachfronts.
Inshore anglers have been finding steady action on red drum while fishing the ICW and connecting area creeks.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that spanish mackerel action has been really good along the beaches. The larger spanish are staged up around all of the bait, and they’re hitting larger Clarkspoons and Bowed Up drone spoons. Both gold and chartreuse color patterns have been the hot ticket.
King mackerel are starting to work their way into the 50-60’ range, with amberjacks and barracuda mixed around structures in this range.
The cobia bite along the beach has been one of the best the area has seen in years, with some solid fish feeding around the bait balls. Sight-casting bucktails or live pogies will get that strike.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that schools of peanut pogies are everywhere in the ICW. This push of bait has allowed anglers to see a better red drum bite. Both shallow bays and docks are holding fish for anglers throwing cut and live pogies.
Bait schools are all over the nearshore beachfronts, and subsequently spanish mackerel and some kings are being caught in this area. King mackerel are also being caught offshore, but it seems numbers and sizes have been better along the beaches.
Cobia are scattered around nearshore areas as well, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out when fishing the bait balls.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that flounder are getting more active and are being found just about everywhere. They are striking at most live baits fished on the bottom.
Anglers targeting red drum are doing best by fishing back in the creeks where there is less boat traffic.
Black drum are also back in the creeks, and anglers will have the most success finding them by targeting deeper holes on low tides.
A few speckled trout are in the mix, though they are generally scattered in the summer months.
Anglers finding a window to get off the beach are catching spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and the occasional cobia.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing a nice speckled trout bite. There aren’t huge numbers of fish being caught, but the sizes make up for it. Many of these trout are well into the upper 20” range, and they’re feeding on some of the live menhaden easily found in the area.
With bait being so plentiful, the red drum action has also been picking up. The reds have been feeding on bottom-rigged pogies as well.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged up around oysters, bridges, and docks, and they’re feeding on dead shrimp or live fiddler crabs.
There have been a ton of bait pods running off the beach, and all of the bait has the nearshore action fired up. Spanish mackerel fishing has seen a nice pop for anglers utilizing both trolling and sight-casting tactics, and a few nice-sized king mackerel have also started to move in closer.
With some cobia also hanging around these bait pods, anglers should keep an eye out, and a nice weather window can be a great chance to run further off and catch mahi (in the 18-mile range).
Brooks Mansfield, of Hampstead, caught this red drum using a topwater Super Spook Jr. He was fishing near Bald Head Island.
James, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers have been catching croakers and a bunch of smaller sharks.
Those casting plugs are catching bluefish and a couple spanish mackerel.
King mackerel are starting to show better for anglers live-baiting off the end, including two citation-sized fish.
Anglers out in the early mornings have found scattered speckled trout.
Trish, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing remains good, with catches of whiting, croakers, and pompano.
Some nice, but scattered, speckled trout are being caught both early and late in the day, and anglers fishing off the end have been catching bluefish and king mackerel.
