Southport September 15, 2005
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports the beginning of fall fishing seems to have arrived. There were 13 king mackerel on the deck between issues, with fish averaging in the 20s. The biggest weighed in just shy of 30 lbs.
A few nice spanish mackerel are being caught, as well as bluefish.
Good numbers of flounder in the 1 to 3.5 lb. class are eating up Carolina-rigged mullet despite the rough ocean. A few spots are being caught, but bottom rigs are mostly catching whiting and pompano.
Slot sized redfish (18 to 27 inches) are showing up eating finger mullet. Sheepshead and spadefish are also coming over the rails, and they are biting cut jelly balls, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or barnacles fished near the pilings.
Bobby, at Long Beach Pier, reports the ocean is churned up, but anglers are still going for flounder ranging up to 4 lbs. Before the rough seas there were good catches of spanish and an occasional speckled trout early in the morning. A few anglers are targeting sheesphead and black drum around the pilings, and they’re doing very well. One black drum weighed in at 8 lbs.
Jimmy, at Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that it’s been tough fishing with the wind. They have managed to catch some nice flounder recently, including a 10 lb. fish in the Wildlife Flounder Tournament. The trick is to get in a hiding space out of the wind and toss out a peanut pogy or a mullet minnow.
Other than flounder, your other option has been to work the marsh grass up in the creeks for a speckled trout or red drum.
Redd, at Yaupon Pier, reports that flounder has been the only action on the pier recently. They’ve been landing multiple flounder each day. Six pounds is the heaviest, but guys have been picking up fish from 2-5 lbs. Most of the catches have come during the day, but night fishermen have also picked up a few. There have been lots of mullet running the surf (all the flounder action has been on live mullet).
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the weather has slowed anglers but not the fish. Red drum and flounder have been the main catches in the area. A few blues are showing back up, and the spots should not be too far behind.
No reports from offshore due to ocean conditions, but the kings should be just off the beach. Bottom fishing was very good before the seas kicked up.
