Southport/Oak Island – October 2022
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are seeing catches of spanish, bluefish, and pompano.
Anglers weighed in some large flounder (to 9.5 lbs.) over the course of this keeper season.
Wayne, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf anglers are seeing schools of spanish mackerel starting to move (with the bait) to within casting distance of shore anglers, especially on the incoming tides.
Bottom fishing has been producing pompano and some large whiting from the beach.
Inshore anglers are catching some nice reds and flounder while using live finger mullet or soft plastics.
Fishing with fresh shrimp around structure has been producing black drum and some sheepshead.
Nearshore anglers have been finding some larger spanish mackerel being caught in nearshore areas (such as Yaupon Reef) while fishing live baits. The structured bottoms out off the beach have also been holding plenty of flounder.
There is the occasional king mackerel being caught in those same areas. Anglers expect to see better numbers of kings push onto the beachfronts to take advantage of all the bait around.
Mark, of The Tackle Box, reports that nearshore anglers have started seeing some of the larger and, at times, citation-class spanish mackerel now pushed up onto the beaches.
With all this bait pushing out of the inlet, it should be no time until the kings also start showing up right outside.
Over-slot red drum fishing is starting to pick up, too, with anglers getting strikes fishing bottom-rigged live bait or cut pogies.
Flounder fishing has been really strong at both nearshore structures and inside, and inshore anglers are also catching a mix of red drum and speckled trout while fishing a variety of live baits throughout the waterway.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that redfish have been biting very good throughout the Oak Island area. Most have been staged up under docks and in deep holes along the waterway. Fishing a falling tide with either live shrimp or mud crabs has enticed the most strikes. Bottom setups have varied from Carolina rigs to jig heads on a lighter (15 lb. test) leader.
Speckled trout action is getting better almost every day. Live shrimp under a floating cork has been best for getting bites from these 16-20” fish staged in the ICW.
Black drum fishing remains consistent for anglers targeting docks and creeks off the ICW. A Carolina-rigged cut shrimp has produced most of the action.
Flounder anglers will find success with Carolina-rigged mullet throughout the area.
Off the beach, anglers are landing a mix of spanish and king mackerel while fishing with live bait.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that red drum have been schooled up way back in the shallow bays and around grass flats.
There is scattered action on speckled trout around these grass flats, though the strong fall bite is still a couple weeks out as anglers wait for cooler water temperatures.
The flounder have been chewing both along inshore grass lines and out on nearshore structure.
Off the beach, anglers have been finding some good spanish mackerel action while trolling spoons out over nearshore wrecks.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that anglers found really good numbers of flounder while targeting structure just off the beach, but some of the biggest fish of keeper season came from up in the river in holes near docks and similar hard structure.
Plenty of red drum are around, both slot and over-slot, and they’re feeding on cut pogies or mullet.
Some of these structured inshore areas are also holding black drum for those fishing with shrimp.
Nearshore anglers have been finding a good class of spanish mackerel (4-7 lbs.) while casting out a free-lined mullet while making bottom drops for flounder.
The fall king mackerel bite hasn’t quite shown up, but with cooler weather coming, it could be any day now.
A few bull red drum have started to show up in the area as they push through on their migration.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that nearshore anglers continue to find a good bite on spanish mackerel concentrated off the beach. Some of the larger fish have moved into the area and mixed in with the smaller juveniles that hang off the beach all summer.
Bait has started moving onto the beach, and anglers are looking any day now for better numbers of king mackerel to move nearshore, too. There are scattered fish around, but higher water temperatures (hovering around 80 degrees) have yet to push these fish to school up and move in.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that there are some schools of larger spanish mackerel hanging off the beaches for anglers fishing live mullet and pogies.
Some good-sized king mackerel (20+ lb. range) are starting to push nearshore as well, with water temperatures beginning to cool.
As keeper flounder season comes to a close, anglers were pleased to find some nice fish staged up around the nearshore reefs.
Trolling over structure further off the beach has been producing king mackerel, cobia, and some mahi.
Bottom fishing remains as strong as it has been all summer for grouper, vermilion snapper, and large black sea bass. Finding structure that isn’t loaded with aggressive American red snapper has been key for successful meat trips.
As we move into fall, look for better numbers of wahoo showing up alongside blackfin tuna for those making a run to the break.
Mike, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that flounder fishing was pretty good, with fish to 20” being brought up throughout the keeper season.
Bottom fishing is picking up, with catches of whiting, red drum (to 17”+), croakers, pompano, and a few black drum.
There are little waves of spanish moving by the pier for anglers looking to cast metal jigs around bait balls.
Donna, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been best, with anglers catching croakers and the occasional spot.
There are also a bunch of sharks around.
