Southport October 25, 2007
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that king mackerel are feeding well at spots around 10 miles offshore when the wind is coming out of the S, SE, SW, or W. However, the E and NE winds seem to slow the bite down. Anglers have reported landing some very large kings over the past few weeks (up to 50+ lbs.). Live pogies are the number one baits, but they’ve been somewhat difficult to locate recently. A box of frozen cigar minnows gives anglers a back-up in case the pogies are scarce.
Some gray trout are around the nearshore structure, but neither they nor the big red drum have shown up yet in great numbers. The unusually warm water is likely to blame, and the fish should arrive in November when it finally cools off.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent near the beaches, especially on a S wind. Clarkspoons in size #00 trolled behind planers or trolling weights should attract attention from the spanish. The best trolling speed seems to be around 7 knots.
Shark fishing has also been good just off the beaches, and spanish mackerel heads are excellent baits for the big sharks.
Out in the Gulf Stream, boats are landing good numbers of wahoo along with a few dolphin. Rigged ballyhoo are the go-to baits out in the deep water.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the king mackerel bite remains solid as long as the water is clean. The pier saw its 200th king of the season last week. Fishing a trolley rig with a live bait, particularly a bluefish, is the way to hook up with the kings.
Bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs, and plug casters are still catching a few spanish mackerel as well.
Flounder fishing also continues to be steady. Anglers are landing good numbers of flatfish (with many exceeding 3 lbs.) on Carolina-rigged finger mullet fished on the bottom.
Some puppy drum are also taking an interest in the finger mullet, and most are within the slot limit.
Bottom fishermen are starting to land good numbers of spot, and they are also hooking some big whiting (1.5+ lbs) and a few pompano. Shrimp will draw strikes from all three, but bloodworms are the top bait for the spot.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that excellent speckled trout fishing is still happening in the river bays. The trout have a hard time resisting a live shrimp fished under a float, but anglers are also hooking specks on DOA and Billy Bay shrimp imitations, topwater plugs, and MirrOlures. The MirrOlures have been especially productive recently.
Boats have had some good catches of spot in Cape Fear River near the Coast Guard channel. Bloodworms fished on bottom rigs are the most effective spot baits.
Sheepshead and black drum are looking for meals around the pilings of the Pfizer dock, Oak Island Bridge, and the Southport waterfront. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are the best baits for the crustacean-loving fish, and they should be fished close to the pilings for the best odds.
The fall flounder bite around the Southport waterfront is in full swing. Most anglers are hooking up with the flatfish on live Carolina-rigged finger mullet, peanut pogies, spot, or pinfish, but anglers can also bounce a bucktail tipped with a soft plastic bait off the bottom with good results.
Some flounder are also still feeding on the Yaupon Reef, where live baits are the top producers.
Anglers vertically jigging Fish Jigs or Stingsilvers over the structure at Yaupon are hooking up with spanish mackerel and gray trout, along with a few big red drum (in the 20-40 lb. class.).
The king mackerel bite is hot nearshore, particularly in the shipping channel and around the sea buoy. Live pogies are the top king baits, but when they are difficult to locate, anglers can troll dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo with success.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that bottom fishermen are hauling in plenty of beeliners and triggerfish, but the grouper bite has been a bit slow.
King mackerel are feeding heavily along the beaches, and boats can target the kings by trolling either live or dead baits.
Inshore anglers are hooking up with flounder, speckled trout, and 18-20” red drum in Dutchman’s Creek.
The Cape Fear spot bite is unusually slow for this time of year.
