Southport September 17, 2009
Patrick and Dale Allman, from Cleveland and Mt. Holly, with a stringer of speckled trout, spanish mackerel, and a flounder caught near Oak Island using live peanut pogies. They were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Southport.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that anglers are finding excellent action with spanish mackerel from the beaches out to a few miles offshore. The proven #00 Clarkspoons behind #1 planers are producing most of the action with the mackerel.
Some small kings are feeding alongside the spanish and falling for the spoons as well, so anglers need to make sure anything under 24” is a spanish before keeping it.
King mackerel are headed to the beaches to feed on the masses of mullet and pogies working their way along the beaches, and all the bait should produce some “on fire” king mackerel action over the next few weeks. Live pogies are tough to beat for the larger kings.
Big numbers of bluefish are mixed in with the kings and spanish slashing through the bait schools on the surface.
The flounder bite at nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef has been excellent lately, and most anglers are hooking up with the flatfish on Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Some gray trout are beginning to show up at the same structure as the flatfish, and anglers are also hooking a few bull red drum as well.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is on in the 100+’ depths, where anglers can hook them on live baits or dead cigar minnows.
David Kessler with a 28 lb. scamp that fell for a live bait 45 miles off Southport in 120' of water and was reeled in by Brandon Turner on the "Reel Girl."
Grouper are moving into the 80-90’ depths, and the strong currents that have cursed bottom fishermen over the summer are starting to slow up. Anglers can find the grouper feeding around ledges, rocks, live bottom areas, and other structure, and live baits are top choices for the grouper. Anglers can either net pogies on the beach or jig up baits with a sabiki rig near the structure they’re fishing.
The Gulf Stream bite is picking up as the weather cools down. Wahoo are some of the first fall visitors to the area’s Gulf Stream hotspots, and anglers may well be surprised by dolphin, tuna, or billfish while trolling the blue water as well.
Keith, of Stand’N Down Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite is getting hot nearshore.
Trolling near the river channel in around 45’ of water produced solid action with the kings and large spanish mackerel last week (with kings to nearly 30 lbs.). Live pogies are the baits of choice, and there are also some barracuda taking an interest in the live baits in the mix.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the king mackerel bite is turning on at a variety of area spots after a slow couple of weeks. Anglers found action with the kings around Yaupon Reef and the Jungle last week. The bite was also solid at the Cabbage Patch and at other spots on the east side of the shoals. Live baits are producing most of the action with the kings.
There should still be some African pompano hanging around Frying Pan Tower, and anglers can hook them on live baits fished near the structure.
Capt. Brandon Dean, of Southport Angler Outfitters, with a big nurse shark he hooked at Yaupon Reef on a flounder outfit and a Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel bite has been on along the beachfront and around Yaupon Reef. Trolled Clarkspoons will fool the spaniards.
On the piers, the spot and whiting bite has been decent for anglers baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms lately, and the action’s been best at night.
Anglers are also picking up decent numbers of flounder on the piers, and the flatfish bite’s been pretty good inshore as well. Live baits like finger mullet are attracting most of the attention from the flounder.
The red drum bite’s been good inshore, where anglers are finding the fish feeding in flooded marsh grass and hooking them on Gulp baits.
Aaron, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers caught several king mackerel on live baits last week (the largest 28 lbs.).
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.
The flounder bite has been decent, and anglers are hooking the flatfish (up to 2.5 lbs.) on live finger mullet.
Bottom fishermen decked a few spot last week.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been hooking up with some whiting, spot, and pompano lately.
The flounder bite’s been fairly good for anglers fishing with live finger mullet, and the mullet are also attracting attention from some slot-size red drum.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for live baits and Gotcha plugs.
Live baiters fishing the end have hooked a few king mackerel lately, but only spanish have made it onto the pier deck.
The water’s cooled off to 78 degrees.
