Southport/Oak Island – September 2022
Eli, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that hot water temperatures along the beach still have surf fishing action a bit slow. Bottom fishing in deeper holes and off the local piers has been producing whiting and some croakers.
Inshore anglers are landing a couple slot-sized red drum while fishing Carolina-rigged live and cut baits around docks and other deeper structured areas along the ICW.
A few speckled trout are around, though very scattered with the high inshore water temperatures.
Cara Puckett, of Oak Island, landed this 24″ red drum using mullet on a Carolina rig in the Oak Island area.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf fishing action has started to pick up following cool fronts that pushed some mullet out and onto the surf.
Casting spoons off the beach has produced bluefish and some smaller spanish mackerel.
Inshore anglers are finding the best red and black drum action to be during times of both incoming and falling tides. Moving water has helped the bite as it pushes bait around their feeding holes.
Nearshore anglers have been finding some decent spanish mackerel action. The larger fish have been biting better in the mornings, before it gets too hot. Smaller spanish have seemed plentiful at any time of the day.
Mark, of The Tackle Box, reports that inshore anglers have found the sheepshead action really strong. Good numbers of black drum are mixed in around the same structured areas, with both species feeding on live shrimp or live crabs.
Anglers on the water early have found some large speckled trout while fishing with live shrimp or small croakers rigged under a cork. Flounder are being found literally everywhere, and fishing live baits along the bottom will produce strikes.
Nearshore fishing has been a bit scattered, with some schools of spanish mackerel still hanging right off the beach King mackerel are mostly staged up out in the 15-20 mile range.
The few anglers that have gone offshore have found a few scattered mahi and good bottom fishing.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that redfish have been biting very well. Most fish have been holding in deeper holes and near docks, with action being better during falling tides. Live shrimp or mud crabs have been the top baits. Rig these baits on both Carolina rigs or jig heads with light (15 lb. test) leaders.
Speckled trout fishing seems to get better with each passing day. The warmer weather fish showed back up, and these 16-20” trout are mostly hitting live shrimp rigged under a cork.
The black drum bite has been consistent. Most fish have been in the 14-20” range and staged up around docks in the ICW and mainland creeks. Cut shrimp on a Carolina rig has been the ticket to getting bites.
Sheepshead are also staged around docks, and they’re hitting fiddler crabs.
The flounder action has been red hot. A Carolina-rigged finger mullet will give anglers the best shot at one of the larger flatfish around.
Both spanish mackerel and scattered kings are being caught off the beach in water as shallow as 20-25’. Live pogies are the best bet for the kings and larger spanish, with Clarkspoon setups being great for landing big numbers.
The 5-10 mile range has been a bit more consistent for anglers targeting the 10-15 lb. class of kings with live bait.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing for grouper and other snapper species remains strong out in the 18-20 mile range.
Spanish mackerel are starting to show back up in good numbers from the beach out to three miles. This re-grouping of fish is generally a precursor to king mackerel action.
The flatfish action has been excellent, and there are no signs of it slowing down with bait just now starting to move around.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that inshore waters saw a slight cooling, and this really made the redfish bite better. Anglers are catching mostly slot-sized fish, with a few over-slots in the mix. Cut pogies, live pogies, and live mullet have produced most of the strikes.
A few more black drum have been showing up for anglers fishing in deeper holes and around hard structure.
There have been really good numbers of flounder (18-20” range) being caught while fishing bottom-rigged live baits throughout the inshore areas.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that nearshore anglers have seen a nice push of juvenile spanish mackerel moving onto the beaches.
Water temperatures are starting to cool, and anglers look forward to these changes kicking off fall king mackerel fishing.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that nearshore anglers are seeing good numbers of spanish mackerel from the beaches out to nearshore reefs. There are lots of smaller fish around, but anglers putting in the time are also producing some big fish (to 6 lbs.) on both spoons and live bait.
Around the inlets (and in tight to the shore) are schools of bluefish.
King mackerel action should start pushing its way closer. A few anglers are starting to locate fish in the 5-mile range while trolling for the larger spanish.
Anglers headed offshore are still having the most success while bottom fishing. Large vermilion snappers, pinkies, African pompano, and more are all feeding at these deeper structures.
Cora Cartrette caught this 23 lb. king mackerel slow trolling live menhaden just outside of Carolina Beach Inlet.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers have seen a nice little run of speckled trout while fishing live shrimp.
Bottom fishing has been steady, with a few pompano, whiting, and plenty of croaker, and there have been lots of flounder caught, too.
Spanish mackerel action has been a bit spotty, but the fish that have been caught have all been larger.
Ben, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a few speckled trout while getting out early in the morning.
There has been some pretty good spanish mackerel fishing alongside schools of bluefish for anglers casting Gotcha plugs and spoons to surface-feeding frenzies.
Bottom fishing has been producing whiting and croaker.
