Southport May 11, 2006
Dave Cooper, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports bluefish dominating the catches at the pier. They are ranging from small snappers up to 9.5 pounds. All sizes are hitting Gotcha plugs, and the bigger chopper size are also hitting the live bait rigs.
Spanish are also hitting Gotchas, and they are ranging up to 2.5 pounds.
Water temps have climbed up to 73 degrees, and the menhaden are heavy along the beach. There have been both king mackerel and cobia sightings among them, so the first of either species could be caught any day.
As for bottom fishing, the flounder are eating live baits, but most are of a smaller variety. There are a few keepers, though, with one weighing 4 lbs. 4 oz.
Good sized pompano of 1 pound or better are also showing up. The whiting are beginning to move out.
Jimmy Price, at Wreck Hunter Guide Fishing, reports that the flounder are starting to bite better. They’re coming from the piers, around Caswell and Bald Head Island entry, and drifting Lockwood Folly. There was a 5 lb. flounder caught at the Southport waterfront. Guys are using peanut pogies, mullet minnows, and/or bucktails.
Speckled trout are being caught at Striker’s Island, Cedar Creek, and Buzzard’s Bay.
The red drum bite has been at Dutchman’s and Walden’s Creek. Go with artificials and cut bait on the bottom.
There have also been plenty of bluefish at Jay Bird Shoals and up and down the beach. The spanish are just showing up on the piers and beachfront.
Butch Foster, at Yeah Right Charters, reports that the pogies have been thick on the beach. With the ever-warming temperatures, the king mackerel can’t be far away. The magic water temperature is typically 68 degrees.
Also, the last of May or somewhere in this time period, we will see some sailfish start showing up closer to shore. Every year there are several usually caught at the same places where you are fishing for king mackerel.
The gulf stream, when you can get out there, has been producing some good catches of yellowfin tuna, dolphin, blackfin tuna, and wahoos. The Blackjack would be a good place to start your hunt. If flying fish are present, pull your standard ballyhoo rigs. If you don’t see any flying fish, use the faster paced cedar plugs.
The blues are on Jay Bird Shoals at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Just watch for diving birds. The white terns and seagulls will be a better locator than pelicans.
Bottom fishing is good in the 30-35 mile range. The black bass, snappers, triggerfish, and various other bottom dwellers that feed offshore all winter long will still be there hungry and ready. And the grouper will be making their way back from the spawning grounds way offshore this month.
Valerie, at Yaupon Pier, reports excellent catches of bluefish on Gotcha plugs and cut bait. Some have been running up to 8 pounds.
The spanish are beginning to mix in, with the biggest so far weighing in at 2 lb. 7 oz.
Also, out on the end of the pier the first cobia of the year was landed. It weighed 31 lbs. 2 oz.
Flounder are beginning to show, and they will continue to get bigger as more bait begins to appear around the pier.
Billie, at Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports the inshore fishing hasn’t caught fire yet, with just a few flounder, whiting, and croakers being caught.
The wind has kept most from offshore fishing, but those that get out are doing well on bottom fish such as grouper and black sea bass. And the king fishing has been going off at the Tower.
