Southport October 15, 2009
Mark, Sam, and Joe Hartman with a 64 lb. cobia they hooked on a live pogy 9 miles off of the Cape Fear River mouth.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the nearshore king mackerel bite is getting good, and anglers can hook up with king mackerel at structure like Yaupon Reef and the old river channel without leaving sight of land. Live baits like pogies are the best bet for the kings.
The nearshore shark bite is still hot as well, and some of the season’s biggest sharks will be feeding close to the beaches this month.
False albacore will also soon be making an appearance nearshore.
The spanish mackerel bite remains solid, with boats putting together good catches while trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel trees. The fish will be moving on for warmer waters within the next month, though.
Gray trout are starting to school up on the nearshore reefs and rocks, and some citation-class red drum are holding in the same areas. Jigging spoons will attract attention from both species.
Gag grouper are moving closer to the beaches, and this is the time of year to catch them within 15 miles of land. Live baits, cut baits, and cigar minnows will fool the gags.
Offshore, king mackerel and false albacore are feeding around structure, and they will fall for live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Amberjacks and barracuda are feeding in the same areas, and they tend to prefer live baits to the dead cigars.
Miek Jumpe with a 29" red drum he caught and released in the Oak Island surf on a live finger mullet.
Bottom fishing at offshore structure in 100’+ of water will produce action with red, gag, and scamp grouper, beeliners, triggerfish, grunts, and a host of other bottom feeders. Squid, cut baits, cigar minnows, and live baits are all effective for the bottomfish.
The wahoo bite is on in the Gulf Stream, and anglers can hook up with the striped predators while trolling skirted ballyhoo around the break. Blackfin tuna are feeding in the Stream as well, and some sailfish and dolphin are still around, too.
This time of year also offers anglers some of their best chances to hook up with yellowfin tunas, though the fish have been scarce the last few years.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the king mackerel are on the feed at Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure out of Southport. Some huge spanish mackerel (up to 7+ lbs.) are in the mix as well, and several sailfish have been caught around the old river channel sea buoy and Lighthouse Rocks recently, too. Slow-trolling live pogies will fool the spanish, kings, and sails.
Bob Sylverstein, of Wilmington, with a 35 lb. wahoo he hooked at the Steeples on a red/black-skirted ballyhoo behind a planer at the Steeples while fishing out of Southport on the "Theseus."
Patrick, of Twister Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent lately (with some fish to 30+ lbs.). The fish have been feeding all over the area, from Lockwood Folly and Shallotte Inlets out to Lighthouse Rocks, the Jungle, and the Hammer off of Myrtle Beach.
Live-baiting with pogies has been the most effective tactic on the kings, and anglers are also picking up some large red drum (some 40”+ citation fish) while trolling pogies near the inlets.
Bottom fishing has been producing action with gag grouper (averaging around 12 lbs.) around structure in the 65-80’ depths. Live pogies and pinfish are producing most of the grouper bites.
Bottom fishing further offshore in the 80-100’ depths has been producing action with amberjacks and some big beeliners.
Bubba, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking a few whiting, spot, and small pompano on shrimp.
Anglers are also landing some sheepshead on barnacles.
When the water was clear last week, anglers landed a few spanish and king mackerel, so when the winds calm down, the mackerel should return.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are catching solid numbers of spot from the planks, with bloodworms producing much of the action.
Good numbers of black drum (up to 4-5 lbs.) have been falling for shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
The flounder bite has been solid over the past few weeks, and anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on live finger mullet fished tight to the pilings.
Anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and live baits.
The king mackerel bite remains solid, with anglers fishing live baits from the end of the pier decking kings (up to 30 lbs.) last week.
