Southport Winter 2010
Jim Foreman, of King, NC, with a red snapper he hooked on a whole squid at some structure in 100' east of Frying Pan Shoals while fishing on the "Bottom Scratcher."
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that boaters have found a decent king mackerel and false albacore bite around bottom structure, bait, and temperature breaks in the 20-30 mile range lately. The kings will be schooling up and moving offshore to follow the 65+ degree water and bait out to the Frying Pan Tower area.
When the kings are schooled up like this, the action is often fast and furious, with multiple hookups a regular occurrence. Though live baits like pogies are becoming more difficult to find as the water cools, the kings will attack dead baits, strip baits, and lures like Drone Spoons, so getting bites shouldn’t be a problem if anglers can locate the fish.
Offshore bottom fishing remains good all winter long, so when the weather’s good enough to go, anglers should be able to find action with sea bass, groupers, grunts, triggerfish, pinkies, and more at bottom structure in 80-100’+. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will attract attention from the bottom feeders. Anglers should also pay attention to the constantly changing regulations on grouper, beeliners, and other bottom fish to make sure they’re not keeping fish in a closed season.
Jason Armstrong, of Southport, with a 23" flounder he hooked in Wildlife Creek on a Gulp Shrimp.
Nearshore, anglers can find gray trout and other bottom feeders like sea bass, croakers, whiting, and more feeding at structure within a few miles of land. Vertical jigging with Stingsilvers or other lures or baiting up bottom rigs with squid and shrimp will draw bites from all the above species.
Some citation-class (40”+) red drum are also feeding around the nearshore structure, and they will fall for the jigging lures as well. The big reds will soon be heading offshore for the winter, however.
No one’s landed a bluefin tuna off the area yet. The right bait and birds are already in the area, so it shouldn’t be long until they arrive. Trolling horse ballyhoo under large skirted lures near bottom structure, bait concentrations, and temperature breaks is the way to fool the bluefins into striking.
Ray and Cheney Boggs, from Soutport, with an over-slot red drum they hooked on a live finger mullet near Bald Head Island. they were fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Keith, of Stand’N Down Charters, reports that the wahoo bite has been excellent around the Steeples lately. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo under red/black Blue Water Candy JAG’s and green/yellow Pirate Plugs.
King mackerel have moved out to the Frying Pan Tower area, and anglers are hooking them on live cigar minnows they can jig up from the Tower legs and nearby structure.
Gag grouper and keeper black sea bass are feeding at structure in 65’ of water, and they will take an interest in squid, cigar minnows, and other baits.
Further offshore, bottom fishing in around 90’ has been producing action with red snapper, red grouper, triggerfish, and more bottom dwellers.
It won’t be long before the bluefin tuna show up in the area, so anglers looking to fight one of the sea’s largest predators should have an opportunity soon.
Randy Jones with his first king mackerel. He hooked the 22 lb. king on a cigar minnow 25' deep on the downrigger while fishing near Frying Pan Tower with Philip and Frank Roesel on the "Fowl Hooked."
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that anglers found some good king mackerel action around the Cucumber last week. There should be plenty of kings around Frying Pan Tower already as well, with more on the way as the water cools down. Trolling live baits or dead cigar minnows should get attention from the kings.
Inshore, the red drum bite’s been solid lately. Anglers are hooking up with the fish in the creeks and bays off the lower Cape Fear River. Live baits, Gulp baits, and other artificials will attract their attention. The red drum bite should stay consistent for most of the winter.
Anglers are hooking up with some speckled trout in the river, but the larger winter fish don’t seem to have shown up yet.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers landed a few big whiting over the past week.
Gray trout are schooled up at nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef and the WOFES, and anglers can hook up with them while jigging metal lures like Stingsilvers near the bottom.
Inshore, anglers are catching good numbers of speckled trout, but most have been running on the small side.
Cathy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been decking a few speckled trout and whiting over the past week. Shrimp on bottom rigs seem to be producing most of the action.
