Southport August 22, 2013
Clay and Brayden Dilday, of Greensboro, NC, with a 38″ red drum they caught and released at Yaupon Reef while fishing with family on the “Fish-in-Chip.” The red struck a live finger mullet on a flounder rig.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the flounder bite around Southport is still going strong. Anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on live finger mullet, mud minnows, and menhaden, but soft baits like Gulps are fooling some as well. They’re feeding in the creeks and marshes, around structure like docks in the river, and out at Yaupon Reef and other nearshore structure in the ocean.
Red drum are also looking for meals in the marshes and creeks, and anglers are fooling them on the same baits as the flounder. They’re also falling for topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and other artificials. In addition, there are some larger reds falling for live baits at the nearshore reefs.
Anglers hooked and released several tarpon in the lower Cape Fear over the past week, and the fish are likely still following schools of menhaden within a few miles of the river mouth.
Some large spanish mackerel and a few kings are also looking for meals at the reefs. Live menhaden are tough for both fish to turn down, with smaller baits, hooks, and leader wire the best bets for the spanish.
More kings have been around intermediate and offshore structure as well, and live baits or dead cigar minnows will get their attention offshore.
Bottom fishermen are still reporting a good grouper bite at bottom structure in 90’ and deeper. Live baits are the way to go for the larger grouper.
Camden Phelps, of Oak Island, with a 26″ spanish mackerel he hooked at Yaupon Reef.
Annette, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing a good spanish mackerel bite off the mouth of the Cape Fear River and along the beachfront. Most are falling for trolled Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures.
Some king mackerel have been looking for meals around the nearshore reefs and at structure further offshore. Live baits like menhaden and dead cigar minnows will both tempt bites from the kings.
Flounder fishing remains solid in the backwaters off the Cape Fear River and ICW, and anglers are hooking solid numbers of keepers right now. A few are also coming out of the surf and over the rails of the piers. Live finger mullet and mud minnows or scented soft baits like Gulps are fooling the flatfish.
Some speckled trout are still feeding inshore and around the ocean piers, and they’re taking an interest in live shrimp.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of spanish mackerel off Oak Island while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights along the beachfront and out to a few miles offshore.
The red drum bite remains steady in the marshes and creeks around Southport and Bald Head Island, and anglers are fooling the reds with live shrimp and finger mullet.
Courtney Landis, of Columbia, SC, with a 5 lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet off a Southport dock.
Flounder fishing has also been excellent lately, with good action all over the inshore waters, Yaupon Reef, and around other structure in the ocean. Most are falling for live finger mullet right now.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking flounder underneath the pier on live finger mullet.
Some speckled trout are biting live shrimp and Gotcha plugs in the early morning hours.
The Gotchas are also fooling some spanish mackerel.
Sea mullet, bluefish, and black drum are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that there’s been a decent spanish mackerel bite for anglers working Gotcha plugs recently.
Some spot and sea mullet are biting shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
A few flounder are coming over the rails for anglers fishing small live baits under the pier.
