Southport/Oak Island – June 6, 2019
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum can be found just about anywhere inshore, and they are biting both live and artificial (especially topwater) baits. Some flounder have been caught, with more keepers starting to show. The speckled trout have been found sporadically, but there aren’t any really hot holes anymore.
A few spots have been caught on bloodworms by anglers throwing out bottom rigs from the surf.
Off the piers, blues, whiting, pompano, and flounder are all biting.
Spanish have been feeding just off the beach, along with king mackerel.
Bottom anglers have been limiting out on black sea bass, and they’re finding a couple of red and vermilion snapper here and there.
Jonmichael Fackrell weighed in a 5′, 40.2 lb. mahi at Wildlife Bait and Tackle. He was fishing out of Southport.
Tim, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that black and red drum are biting just about everywhere, and plenty of big flounder are coming in as well. The average size for the flatties has been between 3-5 lbs., but fish as big as 7 lbs. have been found. Mud minnows, in addition to bucktail jigs and Gulps, have been working for the flounder (and the reds).
Surf fishing has been slow, with a few pompano and whiting being the only catches of note.
Spanish mackerel (up to 6-7 lbs.) are being caught right off the beach, where a 0 or 00 Clarkspoon will do the most damage. A few cobia and kings have come from just off the beach as well.
Schoolie kings have been reeled in near the Shark Hole, where pogies or Drone spoons are top choice baits. A few dolphin have been caught offshore, too.
On the bottom, the grouper bite is decent. Pinfish, squid, and cigar minnows are all great at grabbing their attention, and you may also find a trigger or beeliner.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that spanish mackerel on the beach has been hit or miss while trolling Clarkspoons. The larger (5-7 lb.) spanish are further off the beach and are mixed with kings. Both are biting dead cigar minnows.
Flounder and cobia have shown up nearshore. Looking for turtles and stingrays is a good way to find the cobia.
Kings that are still nearshore are now starting to move offshore to deeper water, but the mahi are just starting to show up closer in than the Gulf Stream.
Grouper are chewing, along with black sea bass and beeliners. Scamps and gags are making up the majority of the catch, and amberjacks are holding to any structure with relief.
Will Phillips (age 6), of Wallace, NC, showing off his Atlantic spadefish caught off the coast of Oak Island using salted clam strips.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that inshore the red drum are going for live baits and cut shrimp on the lower tides.
Flounder have finally made their presence known in the creeks, along the Southport waterfront, and on the nearshore reefs. There are lots of peanut pogies around that are the perfect size for the flatfish.
The king mackerel bite in about 50′ of water has continued to be good over the last week, with solid numbers of juvenile fish in the 5-10 lb. range feeding alongside some stud cobia and large spanish mackerel. Live bait, naked cigar minnows, or cigar minnows behind Pirate Plugs will get the job done with these fish.
Nearshore spanish and blues are working the beachfront and nearshore reefs from right behind the breakers out to the 30-35′ line. Fishing cleaner water east of the Cape Fear or the west end of Oak Island should improve your odds of steady hook-ups. In addition, the falling tide has been producing good numbers at the inlets on the tide lines around Caswell and Lockwood Folly.
Wally, of Oak Island Charters, reports that flounder fishing is picking up in the backwater creeks and the Cape Fear River. Red and black drum are also biting. Pogies or any live bait on a Carolina rig has worked well for the flatties and reds, while the black drum still prefer shrimp.
Spanish are close to the shore and can be easily fooled by a trolled Clarkspoon.
King mackerel are in the 45-65’ range, and frozen cigar minnows have been the bait of choice.
Further off, mahi are still around, if you can find a weed line.
On the bottom, scamp and gag grouper are biting in 130’ of water. Cigar minnows are bringing the majority of the fish to the boat.
Lynn, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bluefish, trout, and spanish are being caught on Gotcha plugs, and a few scattered spots have been pulled in as well. Live shrimp has been the top producer and is bringing plenty of fish in.
