Southport Winter 2009
Capts. Butch and Chris Foster, of yeah Right Charters out of Southport, with a stringer of speckled trout they landed near Oak Island while casting Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows and MR17 MirrOlures.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that even though the temperatures are falling there’s still plenty of fishing action to be had over the winter.
Gray trout are schooled up on nearshore structure during the cold months, and they will fall for jigging spoons or cut bait on bottom rigs. Anglers shouldn’t use super light tackle when fishing for the grays, because citation-class red drum also school up in the winter months and will definitely attack the jigging spoons as well.
Black sea bass migrate from the offshore waters to nearshore structure over the winter months, allowing anglers to reach them in smaller boats. Like the grays, they’ll fall for squid and cut baits, but it’s more fun to target the bass with a jigging lure like a diamond jig or Stingsilver. The jigs will draw strikes from the bass, drum, trout, blues, and just about anything else anglers are likely to encounter nearshore during the winter months.
Bottom fishing at structure further offshore will produce catches of grouper, snapper, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers. Cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will all produce good results on the bottomfish.
Winter produces some of the best blue water fishing of the year. Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream should be able to find some action with wahoo and blackfin tuna at local spots like the Steeples and Blackjack Hole.
King mackerel school up on temperature breaks a bit closer to the beaches over the winter, and they can usually be found between the Frying Pan Tower and the Gulf Stream edge. Water over 65 degrees with bait nearby is what to look for. Frozen cigar minnows and #3.5 Drone spoons trolled behind planers will produce fast action with the kings when anglers find the schools.
Giant bluefin tuna feed near the Frying Pan Shoals in the wintertime, with the best odds of hooking one usually in December and January. Horse ballyhoo trolled behind Blue Water Candy JAG heads have proven themselves extremely effective baits for the bluefins, and anglers should pull some on top and some behind planers for the best results. The fish can be extremely dangerous, though, so anglers should be extremely careful and respectful of their power when pursuing them.
False albacore will be feeding in the area over the winter, too, and can usually be found chasing bait from just off the beaches to well offshore. The same tactics that produce kings are effective on the false albacore.
John Mercer, from Richmond, VA, with a 27” speckled trout caught near Bald Head Island using a live mullet minnow. He was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters out of Oak Island.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout in the creeks and rivers on live shrimp and MR17 MirrOlures. The trout bite should continue on into the winter.
A few black drum are mixed in with the trout.
Red drum have begun to form their wintertime schools and are feeding on the flats, in the creeks, and around grass islands on the nice sunny days. Anglers can hook up with the reds while casting weedless-rigged Gulp baits, and they may be able to coax the fish to bite topwater plugs on especially nice days.
John, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are finding good speckled trout action around St. James Marina, the Lockwood Folly River, Davis Creek, and a few around the docks at Bald Head.
Live shrimp are producing the best action on the specks, but anglers are also catching them on D.O.A. shrimp, Gulp baits, and MirrOlures. White and chartreuse color patterns have been the most productive.
Good numbers of black drum are feeding in Davis Creek, and they will take an interest in live shrimp.
Offshore, boats have had some excellent grouper fishing lately.
The kings have followed warm water well offshore of the Frying Pan Tower.
Some bluefin tuna have already been sighted in the area, but none landed so far.
Mike Martin, of Oak Island, with a 6 lb., 7 oz. speckled trout caught on a Gulp bait in the ICW near Oak Island while fishing with Capt. Vanessa Martin of Nauti-Girl Charters.
Richard, of Get Reel Charters, reports that king mackerel fishing’s been pretty good offshore of the Frying Pan Tower lately, although most are small. Drone spoons and frozen cigar minnows trolled behind planers are both deadly on the kings.
The kings will be following bait and warm water in roughly the same vicinity all winter long.
Jon, of Haag and Sons Seafood, reports that things have been a bit slow lately, but divers are still seeing plenty of hogfish offshore.
Amberjacks and sharks seem to be very numerous at offshore structure right now as well.
Despite the AJ’s and sharks, boats targeting vermillion snapper have been putting together decent catches.
