Southport/Oak Island – May 2022
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that spanish mackerel are being found just off the beaches, mostly off the local piers. They will be moving into casting distance of surf anglers any day now.
Bluefish and whiting are already providing action to anglers working the surf with bottom rigs.
Speckled trout fishing has been steady for inshore anglers fishing creeks along the waterway.
Nearshore bottom fishing has been providing plenty of black sea bass action.
Tim Brown caught this 7 lb. speckled trout on a MirrOlure Catch 2000 in a deep hole at the back of a creek in the Calabash River. He was fishing with Capt. Tim Disano of Tideline Fishing Charters.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that spanish mackerel have started showing up off the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons is an always productive tactic, with many anglers preferring to cast Gotcha plugs and similar glass minnow style jigs at surface-feeding frenzies.
Nearshore bottom fishing action has been mostly focused on the black sea bass bite in the 15+ mile range.
Whiting action has predominantly moved out of the rivers as these fish push into the surf zone.
Inshore anglers have been finding plenty of good red drum action in the creeks, and a mix of speckled trout and smaller flounder are also back in these same mainland creeks.
Mark, of The Tackle Box, reports that whiting action is still good but starting to taper off as water temperatures warm and scatter fish onto the beaches. Pieces of cut shrimp and sand fleas have provided most of the strikes.
Speckled trout fishing is picking up, with the warmer temperatures getting the schools more actively feeding from the creeks and out into the waterway.
Red and black drum are staged up around inshore structure, and they’re hitting bottom-rigged baits.
Nearshore anglers are finally seeing spanish mackerel arrive, and the fish have been in a wide variety of sizes. Both casting Gotcha plugs and trolling Clarkspoons are getting strikes.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that redfish have been biting very good in the Oak Island area. Most fish have been staged in deeper holes and under docks. Fishing Carolina rigs and jig heads rigged with live shrimp or mud crabs have been working great in getting strikes. With these springtime reds, once you find one fish, there tends to be plenty more around.
Speckled trout action has improved each day, as the warmer weather is getting the fish more active. Most of these trout have been in the 16-20” range, and they’re feeding best on live shrimp fished under floating corks along the ICW.
The black drum bite has been pretty consistent. These 14-20” fish are coming off docks in the ICW and up in creeks. Cut shrimp on a Carolina rig is a steady producer for this black drum action.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that there has been plenty of red drum (puppy to slot-sized) in the mainland creeks and around docks.
Black drum and sheepshead are staging up around inshore structure areas as they settle in after a long winter.
Off the beach, anglers have been finding some bull red drum moving into the area.
Spanish mackerel and Atlantic bonito are also being found in the nearshore waters, as water temperatures have warmed and pushed in bait.
Offshore runs are producing wahoo, blackfin tuna, and some early mahi.
Alyx Evans, of Shallotte, caught this 19″ redfish on a mullet fished under a cork in an Oak Island creek.
Elliot, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have started to arrive in good numbers off the beaches. Anglers have found some action while trolling Bowed Up Lures spoons. It has been key to have lighter (20 lb. test) fluorocarbon lines way out the back (a 20-25 second count on drop) to help with bite numbers.
Bottom fishing has been producing nice-sized black sea bass, vermilion snapper, grunts, and American red snapper.
Anglers have seen some kings skying in the area of the Tower, and these fish will work their way closer nearshore over the coming weeks.
Cobia are also starting to move into the area, so look for more catch reports as bait migrations bring better numbers through.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have moved onto the local beaches. They have been quite varied in terms of size, including 3-4 lb. fish in the mix.
Schools of bluefish are also in this same area.
King mackerel should be showing up on the beaches in the coming weeks. Water temperatures have been moving up quickly, and anything over that 67-degree mark can kick off action.
There are still whiting in deeper areas around the inlet, but this action will be tapering off in the coming weeks as they spread out into the surf zone.
Bottom fishing has been great all spring for black sea bass and vermilion snapper. With grouper season now opening, anglers should find plenty of catching action working the 80+’ depth range.
Offshore anglers look forward to mahi moving in at the Stream and out around the Tower sometime over the next few weeks.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that good numbers of bluefish have moved in with the bait pushing around the pier.
A few spanish mackerel have also started arriving. This action gets even better over the coming weeks as more schools migrate into the area. Both the blues and spanish are hitting Gotcha plugs in a variety of color patterns.
Bottom fishing has produced whiting and scattered pufferfish.
Donna, of Oak Island Pier, reports that some spanish mackerel have begun to arrive, and they’re feeding on baits along the surface.
Bottom rigs with a variety of baits have been producing croakers and a few whiting.
Bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs and bottom-rigged baits.
