Southport – September 11, 2014
Bryson Mayo with his first speckled trout, an 18″ fish that inhaled a live bait on a Carolina rig near Carolina Beach Inlet.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports rain and wind have kept many anglers off the water over the past week, but those who’ve been are still finding plenty of action. Cooler temperatures in the near future should get the fall bite started and make the action even better for local anglers.
Flounder fishing has been solid recently (with big numbers of 2-4 lb. fish) around Southport, and anglers are finding the fish around the docks on the Southport waterfront, Bald Head Island, Battery Island, and plenty of other spots inshore. The bite’s also been good at nearshore structure in the ocean (like Yaupon and McGlamery Reefs), but the weather has kept many anglers inshore lately. Live baits like finger mullet are fooling many of the flounder, but anglers are also hooking up while working bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastics.
Some large red drum have been looking for meals around the nearshore structure as well, and they’re taking an interest in both live baits and jigging lures.
Speckled trout fishing has been going strong throughout the area (with a pair of fish over 7 lbs. weighed in last week). The specks are feeding around inshore structure like docks and bridges, in the marshes, and in the creeks. Topwater plugs, live baits, curlytail grubs, and other artificials are fooling the trout.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas as the specks and flounder, and anglers are reporting that they’ve been biting a wide variety of baits and lures lately.
Anglers are seeing plenty of sheepshead feeding around the docks near Southport, the Oak Island Bridge, and other inshore structure in the area. Fishing fiddler crabs and sand fleas against the pilings or other structure is the way to connect with the sheeps.
Riley Larsen, of Sewickley, PA, with a red drum that attacked a live bait near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Spanish mackerel action has been hot for the boats venturing into the Atlantic in recent days, with most of the fish feeding just off the inlets and along the beachfront. Clarkspoons trolled with #1 and #2 planers or trolling weights will fool the spaniards into striking.
Some king mackerel action has been reported from spots just off the beach (like Yaupon Reef) on out to Frying Pan Tower lately. The impending cooler weather should push bait out the inlets and bring the main body of kings within a few miles of the shoreline, where they’ll bite live menhaden, bluefish, and other baits.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent wahoo action around local Gulf Stream hotspots right now. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches, particularly in darker colors like red/black and purple/black.
Large spanish mackerel are looking for meals just off the beachfront and biting finger mullet and peanut menhaden on light wire leaders.
Inshore anglers are finding plenty of action with red drum in the creeks and marshes and around structure like docks. Live baits are fooling the reds.
C.J. Branco (age 8), of Wilmington, with a red drum that struck a live pinfish while he was fishing from an ICW dock.
Kevin, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that there’s been some excellent action with big spanish mackerel (some 8+ lbs.) around nearshore structure off the local inlets lately. Most are falling for live finger mullet and other small live baits fished on the lightest wire rigs that anglers can tie.
Inshore, some large red drum have been feeding along the shell banks near Lockwood Folly Inlet, and anglers are hooking solid numbers while soaking live finger mullet. Some healthy speckled trout are feeding in the same areas and also biting mullet.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and spot on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Live-baiters landed a tarpon recently from the end of the pier.
