Southport September 16, 2004
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports a very good flounder bite with fish weighing up to 5 lb. 3 oz. They’re primarily eating live mullet. A few whiting and pompano weighing up to 2 lbs. are biting on the bottom, but the freshwater from the river is still flushing out the area. It’s slowed all other species from eating. There is still tons of menhaden and mullet around, so as the water cleans up the fishing will improve.
Tommy, at Long Beach Pier, reports that the river water is slowing down the fishing. However, there has been some hit or miss catches of red drum. One red recently pulled in weighed 8 lbs. There’s also a mixed catch of small flounder, pompano, specks (very early in the morning), black drum, and spots. No spanish or king mackerel to report, but the bait is around the pier for them when the water clears.
Capt. Flick, at Blue Water Point Marina, reports only one trip due to rough conditions, but it was a very good one with catches of grouper, grunts, beeliners, blacks, and some amberjacks. Two kings, weighing approximately 12 to 15 lbs., were caught live lining while bottom fishing 38 miles off the beach. The water cleaned up around the 15 to 20 mile areas with 77 to 78 degree water temperatures, so the game fish should be around if the water would calm down for boats to venture out.
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports a good flounder bite in the lower Cape Fear River as fresh water continues to push the fish further down. Speckled trout and spots are also feeding pretty well in the river. In the surf, the sea mullet and pompano are the catch with a possibility of a red drum hookup.
John, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that unsurprisingly not many boats have gone offshore. Friday was a fish-able day, and one boat found some gags, some scamps, and a 30 lb. class king. Otherwise, nothing to report on.
Linda, of Southport/Oak Island Sportfishing Charters, reports that nothing has been happening in the ocean. Nobody’s been out, and the one boat that ventured out couldn’t even get a shark on the line. The backwater trips have been catching fish. They’ve been finding flounder, trout, and blues. The flounder bite has been the strongest inshore bite, with fish up to the 9 lb. class.
