Southport September 1, 2011
Kathryn Travis with a 19" red drum she hooked on swuid in the Oak Island surf.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that now that the hurricane has passed, the fishing should only improve by the day as the water and weather conditions return to normal.
Offshore bottomfishing in the wake of Irene has been excellent. Anglers found a good bite in 100-120’, catching grouper, grunts, black sea bass, beeliners, and plenty of other bottomfish. Squid and cut baits are fooling most of the fish, while live baits or large cut baits are top choices for the grouper.
Not many anglers have been spanish mackerel fishing since the storm, but those who have are finding some fish willing to bite. As the water continues to clear, the spanish action should be back on pace for this time of year by the holiday weekend. Bait and working birds were already present early this week.
Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs will tempt bites from the spaniards when anglers can find them.
The hard currents created by the hurricane should only speed up getting the dirty water flushed out of the area, so anglers need not worry about long-lasting impacts from the storm.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with red drum inshore on both sides of the Cape Fear River. At higher tides, the fish are tailing in flooded marsh grass and anglers can sight-cast to them. Live shrimp and finger mullet, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and flies like Clouser Minnows will tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are feeding at Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure, and anglers can tempt them to bite live finger mullet on Carolina rigs.
Some large spanish mackerel have been feeding around the same structure as the flounder, and a free-lined finger mullet will get their attention.
Fortunately for anglers searching for bait, mullet have been extremely plentiful both inshore and just off the beaches since the storm.
Teresa, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of red drum in the backwaters and along Oak Island’s beachfront this week. Live finger mullet and shrimp, cut baits, and a variety of artificials will get attention from the reds.
Some flounder are feeding in the same areas, and the flounder bite was solid last week at nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef. The nearshore action should be back on soon if it isn’t already.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are catching some red drum and a few flounder on live finger mullet soaked under the pier.
Some pompano are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp, but the sea mullet and other bottomfish have been a bit scarce this week.
When the water’s clean, anglers have also been connecting with decent numbers of spanish mackerel on live baits.
Tomo Smith with her first red drum, which fell for a live finger mullet in the lower Cape Fear River while she was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that there’s been a decent pompano bite since the storm. Cut and live shrimp are getting attention from the pomps.
Anglers are also hooking some speckled trout in the early morning hours on live shrimp.
Some flounder and red drum are taking in interest in live shrimp and finger mullet under the pier.
Anglers are also connecting with some spanish mackerel while free-lining live baits on the surface.
