Southport September 27, 2012
Todd Helf, of Sunset Beach, with an 8 lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet in th ICW near Holden Beach.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that anglers are starting to see some king mackerel feeding on the abundant mullet and menhaden schooling along the Brunswick County beaches.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just off the inlets and beaches, and they have a tough time turning down trolled Clarkspoons. Anglers can also anchor up at nearshore structure and fish small live baits to connect with larger spaniards.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite is still strong around structure, near the grass islands, and in the creeks. Live shrimp are the best bet for the specks, but anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs, soft plastics, and suspending lures like Yo-Zuri’s 3D series with success as well.
Plenty of puppy drum and black drum are feeding alongside the specks and will fall for the same baits.
Flounder are still searching for meals around inshore structure like the Southport waterfront and at the nearshore reefs. Live finger mullet and menhaden are top choices for the flatfish, but anglers can also tempt them to bite Gulps and other soft plastics.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to see king mackerel moving towards the beaches, and some solid reports came in from Lighthouse Rocks, the old sea buoy, and other nearby locations last week. Most of the fish are falling for live menhaden, but dead cigar minnows will also produce results.
The spanish mackerel bite remains solid near the Cape Fear inlet, along the beaches, and at nearshore structure. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights are the best bet for the spaniards.
Red drum and flounder are feeding all over the inshore waters from the creeks to the inlets, and in the marshes and around structure in between. Live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet and Gulp baits are some of the best bets for the flatfish.
Speckled trout are starting to show up in the creeks and around structure in the river and ICW. Live shrimp are the top trout baits, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft plastics, suspending hard baits, topwater plugs, and more.
Andy Couch, of Garner, NC, with a 5 lb., 3 oz. flounder that bit a Gulp shrimp on a 1/8 oz. Betts Flounder Fanatic jig in the marsh near Fort Fisher.
Some gray trout are showing up in deeper water in the river and at nearshore structure, and anglers can hook them on a variety of baits or on jigging lures.
James, of Whatever’s Chewin’ Charters, reports that small red drum are schooled up in the Cape Fear River, and anglers are finding them just about everywhere they look. Gulp shrimp are very difficult for the little reds to turn down.
Sheepshead are still looking for meals around just about any hard structure in the river and around Southport. Live fiddler crabs, shrimp, or other crustaceans are the best bet for the sheeps, and fishing them tight to the structure is the way to tempt them to bite.
Sharks (to 30-50 lbs.) are feeding in deeper water around the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and they have a hard time turning down cut and dead baits. The high and falling tides are much more productive than others.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are starting to see a few spot come over the rails. The bite’s been sporadic, and anglers fishing with bloodworms are having much more luck than those using other baits.
Flounder fishing remains strong off the pier, and some anglers have been taking home limits over the past week. Live finger mullet are fooling the majority of the flatfish.
Big numbers of slot red drum have pleasantly surprised anglers soaking baits for the flounder lately.
Spanish mackerel are feeding around the pier when the water’s clean, and anglers are hooking them on diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs.
