Southport – September 28, 2017
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have had success landing bluefish and spanish. Casting Stingsilvers and Gotcha plugs has been the key to hooking both species.
A few false albacore are being caught from the pier, and metal jigs have worked best.
Kings have also started making their way to the beach. A few have been landed from the end of the pier, and boats slow trolling live baits in the nearshore waters have found fish in the 15-25 lb. range.
Just off the beach, the spanish bite has remained steady. Trolling Clarkspoons has been the best method for hooking higher numbers of fish.
Davis, of The Tackle Box, reports that the inshore flounder bite has picked back up. Anglers have had the most success targeting deeper pockets in area creeks, as well as creek mouths. Fishing these areas on the falling tide has been the best bet to hook into good numbers of flounder. Live finger mullet on a Carolina rig has been the bait of choice, and most fish have been in the 14-19” range.
Just off the beach, the king bite has fired up. Anglers trolling around Ocean Crest Pier and in front of Shallotte Inlet have started to see good numbers of fish in the 15-30 lb. range. Slow trolling live baits has been the best way to hook up with the kings.
Around nearshore structure, the bull redfish bite has begun. Anglers using large pieces of fresh cut mullet have done best on the big reds.
Offshore, the wahoo bite has improved, as anglers are finding good numbers of quality fish.
Jacob Hermann, of Wilmington, NC, with a 26” spanish mackerel that hit a trolled ballyhoo during a United Special Sportsman’s Alliance fishing event.
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that nearshore fishing has provided plenty of red drum action. These over-slot fish have been feeding around nearshore structure and near bait pods.
A mix of spanish, bluefish, and false albacore have also been feeding around the bait pods. Anglers trolling Clarkspoons and casting Stingsilvers have had the most success.
King fishing around nearshore structure has heated up. Live baits or cigar minnows on Pirate Plugs and Blue Water Candy Shovel Heads have produced steady action.
Around the inlets, the red drum, flounder, and speckled trout have also been feeding well. Casting a live shrimp or finger mullet on a Carolina rig has been the best way to box a few keepers.
Offshore in the 30 mile range, sailfish, blackfin tuna, mahi, and wahoo have all been feeding. A few kings have been mixed in as well.
Shane, of Fin-Fisher Charter Service, reports that the redfish bite continues to produce plenty of inshore action. Fish have been holding around docks and on shallow flats in the area rivers. Live finger mullet and topwater plugs have done the best job at drawing strikes from the reds.
A few speckled trout have been mixed in the same areas. For the trout, anglers have had the most success in the early morning hours.
The flounder bite has picked up inshore but slowed down a bit on the reefs. Tossing live finger mullet on Carolina rigs near docks and creek mouths has worked best in tempting the flatfish to chew.
Off the beach, the king bite has started to pick up near the beaches. Those slow trolling with live baits have landed some quality fish near structure.
The bull red drum have also made their way to nearshore structure. Dropping both large cut baits and live baits has hooked anglers into plenty of action.
Rhett Hubble with a pair of flatfish that fell for live finger mullet near Southport.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that the nearshore flounder bite has continued to produce consistent action. Dropping live baits and bucktails around nearshore structure has produced solid catches of keeper fish.
Those trolling with Clarkspoons just off the beach for spanish are finding high numbers of fish, and slow trolling the reefs with live mullet has produced spanish up to the 28” range.
A few kings have started to move in to the beach, and most have preferred live menhaden.
The shark fishing behind the shrimp boats has been hot. Tossing cut or chunk baits has done the trick.
In the 30 mile range, the king bite has been consistent when trolling Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows. A few mahi, sailfish, and blackfins have also been landed in this range.
Bottom fishing in the 30-35 mile range has produced grouper and black sea bass.
Steve, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that kings are starting to feed from the end of the pier. Anglers have landed a few fish and expect the bite to improve over the next few weeks.
Those casting jigs from the pier have hooked solid numbers of bluefish and spanish. Most of the blues and spanish have bit better early in the morning.
Fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp has produced a few speckled trout, whiting, and red drum.
