Southport October 27, 2011
David Thrift II, of Winnabow, NC, with an over-slot red drum that bit a live bait at Yaupon Reef and was landed on 12 lb. line and a Dift Brothers custom rod.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that anglers are finding some action with gray trout and large red drum while fishing the nearshore reefs off Southport. Live baits on Carolina rigs will fool both, and anglers can also hook up while working metal jigs or bucktails over the structure.
Bluefish are feeding along the rips at the mouth of theCape Fear River, and they’ll attack trolled Clarkspoons or metal lures that anglers are casting.
Sea mullet and spot are feeding in the deeper holes around the river mouth. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms will attract attention from both.
The typical fall beach king mackerel bite hasn’t developed yet this year, and the fish seem to be feeding further offshore. There’s been a solid bite around Frying Pan Tower lately, and anglers can hook the kings out there while trolling live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Offshore bottom fishing gets even better as the water cools down, and anglers can expect to find action with grouper, snapper, grunts, triggerfish, and plenty of other bottom dwellers. Black sea bass season is closed until June, but anglers who make the run to 100’ of water or deeper shouldn’t have to fend off too many of the bass. Squid and cut baits will fool all the bottom feeders, but live baits are the way to go for the larger groupers.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream should find some solid wahoo fishing and good numbers of blackfin tuna. Some dolphin and a stray billfish may be waiting to surprise anglers as well. Trolling skirted ballyhoo and lures like cedar plugs is the way to go for the blue water predators.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the speckled trout bite has improved dramatically around Southport lately (with good numbers of fish and some topping 5 lbs.). Marshes, creeks, and inshore structure are the places to go looking for the specks. Live shrimp are the go-to baits, but anglers have been catching numbers of specks on artificials like Billy Bay Halo shrimp, Gulp baits, and other soft plastics.
Red drum are still schooled up and feeding in the marshes around oyster rocks and creekmouths (with mixed schools of fish ranging 15-25”). Live baits, Gulps and other soft plastics, and topwater plugs will all get attention from the reds.
Boats encountered a good king mackerel bite around Frying Pan Tower last week. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings.
Mercer Rhyne, of Wilmington with his first king mackerel, which he hooked on a live menhaden off Southport while fishing with his father and Capt. John Dosher on the "Little John."
Cathy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and black drum on shrimp and bloodworms.
Some bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the planks.
Anglers baiting up with live mullet are picking up a few flounder.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that a few spot and sea mullet are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms, and the action’s been better in the daytimes than at night.
Live baits fished under the pier are producing some keeper flounder.
