Southport October 23, 2008
Stanley Register with a 14.75 lb. scamp and a 11.50 lb. lobster caught offshore of Holden Beach. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Bait and Tackle.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the big fishing news in the area is the nearshore king mackerel bite. Although, it can go from red hot one day to slow the next. The kings are feeding along the beaches, the river channel, the inlet tidelines, and at structure like Yaupon Reef.
Live baits like pogies are best for the kings, but they’ll also fall for dead cigar minnows.
Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure are also holding gray trout and large citation-class red drum. A variety of baits will fool both fish, but one of the most effective methods of hooking them is by vertically jigging Hopkins spoons, Stingsilvers, and diamond jigs over the structure.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches, but they’ll be leaving the area for the winter soon. Trolling Clarkspoons and other lures around surface activity and working birds will give anglers chances at the spanish while they’re still here.
Offshore bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of grouper and other bottomfish. Anchoring up on structure in 80-100+’ of water and dropping rigs baited with cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will produce some action with the bottom dwellers.
As the water cools off, black sea bass will begin feeding at structure closer to the beach, and the bass will find a bottom rig baited with squid hard to resist.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Steam are still hooking a few dolphin, and finding decent action with wahoo and blackfin tuna. Hopefully some yellowfins will show up soon to make up for the poor spring tuna season this year. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures will attract attention from the Gulf Stream pelagics, and anglers can also pull some cedar plugs and other lures with success.
Steve Steele with a 28" flounder caught in Davis Canal off a dock. The flounder fell for a live finger mullet.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore bite has been a bit off recently, although it should be improving as the water cools down.
King mackerel are still feeding well along the beachfront, around the inlets, and at nearshore structure. Live pogies are the top choice for king baits, and anglers should have little difficulty netting some from the schools moving along the beachfront between the gray condos and Ocean Crest Pier.
There are still some big red drum holding at Yaupon Reef and similar structure. Some are falling for live baits anglers are trolling for king mackerel, but fishing live and cut baits on the bottom near the structure should prove more effective in targeting the reds.
Tim Ellison with a 36.2 lb. African pompano caught butterfly jigging structure in 70' of water. He was fishing with Andy Richmond out of Ocean Isle.
Billie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching spot and bluefish from the surf and piers.
Puppy drum are feeding at Yaupon Reef.
Boats are still landing some king mackerel very close to the beaches.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that the spot have come and gone, but more may be on the way.
The king mackerel bite just off the Oak Island beachfront is still excellent, and anglers are catching all the kings they want (with most in the 10-20 lbs. range).
Bottom fishing boats had excellent catches of beeliners last week with the full moon, and also hauled in a good number of red grouper at offshore structure.
Gag grouper have begun moving a bit closer to the beaches, and divers are reporting big numbers at spot well inshore of where anglers are finding the reds and beeliners. Decent numbers of hogfish are in the same areas as the gags.
Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite is still hot along the beaches. Trolled cigar minnows are producing plenty of action with the nearshore kings.
