Southport/Oak Island – September 2023
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that a few nice-sized spanish mackerel (to 3 lbs.) are being caught on the local piers and from the surf.
A lot of croaker are around in the surf area.
Inshore anglers have stayed on a pretty decent red drum bite, especially with the bait (mullet) showing a little better.
Flounder are being caught, and anglers definitely look forward to that short keeper season.
Garrett, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that inshore fishing has been pretty good, with nice-sized flounder being caught all over the place.
Slot-sized red drum are staged up around docks from Southport all the way down to Lockwood.
Some speckled trout are in the mix, but they’re mostly being caught during low light hours or in deeper holes.
Bait (both finger mullet and menhaden) have been showing up in good numbers, and this is helping the inshore action pick up for a variety of species.
Surf anglers have been catching some speckled trout around the piers, and pier anglers have been catching them from the piers. The action for both surf and pier anglers is best in the early morning.
Offshore anglers are mostly focused on the strong bottom fishing action out in the 18-20 mile range.
Teresa Richardson, of Asheboro, NC, caught this flounder using live shrimp. She was fishing in the Southport area.
Mike, of Mad Kingz Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have been catching a mix of red drum and trout both in the waterways and back in deeper marsh cuts. The trout have been feeding much better in the cooler, low light hours (early or late in the day).
Surf anglers have been catching croakers and some nice pompano.
Nearshore anglers have been seeing a steady Spanish Mackerel bite, with some of those nearshore king mackerel starting to show up, too.
Jennifer, of The Tackle Box, reports that inshore anglers are catching a mix of red drum, flounder, and black drum. With the hot water temperatures, natural baits have been best.
Nearshore anglers are still finding scattered Spanish Mackerel, though the bite is a bit slower.
King mackerel action is just starting to pick up. With the bait moving onto the beach over the coming months, the bite really kicks off and the fish will be much more schooled up.
Scattered mahi are being caught alongside kings in the 15+ mile range.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that there has been a big push of finger mullet and this has helped the inshore action. The red drum have really seemed to tune in on the mullet, preferring them to artificials or menhaden. On high tides, the red drum are pushed up into the flooded grass, and cut baits can help draw fish out. As the tide falls out to low, target the grass lines and holes near oyster beds.
Nearshore anglers have finally started to see a few bigger Spanish Mackerel (4-8 lbs.) showing back up. Water temperatures haven’t cooled yet, but this change is coming soon and will really fire off the nearshore Spanish fishing (and all fishing in general).
With the cooling water temperatures, King Mackerel will start to be in the mix along the beaches. For now, the king bite is best out in the 60’ area.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been pretty hot in recent weeks. Anglers are seeing a mix of slot and over-slot fish while soaking live finger mullet on Carolina rigs. For the best results, target areas around oysters with some nice water flow.
Flounder are mixed in just about everywhere, especially in areas with structure. On higher tides, you can look around the grass lines.
Speckled trout are around, too, but getting on the water early is key. These fish will be staged up around some of the deeper structures and feeding up until around 7:30 a.m.
Jaxon Williams (age 9), of Wilmington, caught this 23″ red drum while fishing in the Cape Fear River near Southport.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers are looking forward to this summertime heat moving on and making fishing more comfortable. Soon the area will see more king mackerel starting to hit the beaches. These shallow kings are best targeted by slow-trolling live menhaden. When fishing out over the deeper nearshore wrecks, the kings are more likely to strike at dead baits (such as cigar minnows) under skirts.
Spanish mackerel fishing has largely been hit or miss lately. The winds have had water conditions a bit dirty, so with calmer patterns should come cleaner water and better numbers of fish.
Anglers along the beach are seeing some tarpon and big red drum.
Summertime mahi are out in the 25-mile range, and cobia fishing over bottom structure in the 20-30 mile range has been and continues to be really good.
These same deeper reefs have gag grouper, black sea bass, and American red snapper.
David, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that there are some speckled trout being caught with live shrimp.
Bottom fishing has produced small pompano, and anglers casting plugs are having success catching Spanish Mackerel.
Trish, of Oak Island Pier, reports that with all the dirty water around, bottom fishing has mostly produced croakers.
Speckled trout are being caught, but being out in the early mornings has been key.
Some red drum showed up for a small period of time, and hopefully the pier sees that action return again shortly as conditions settle.
