Southport – August 21, 2014
Chris and Chandler Smith with a 24″ flounder that bit a live menahden in Davis creek on Oak Island.
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite keeps getting better, and anglers are hooking big numbers around the Southport waterfront, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, and spots throughout the Cape Fear River and ICW. Live menhaden and finger mullet are fooling most of the fish, but anglers can also hook up while working Gulps and other soft baits.
Big numbers of flatfish are also feeding at nearshore structure like Yaupon and McGlamery reefs, and anglers are putting together some excellent catches on live baits and 1-2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulps.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and around Southport in spots like Battery and Strikers islands. Anglers are catching some fat specks on topwater plugs early and late in the day and hooking good numbers of smaller fish on soft plastics when the sun’s high.
Anglers are encountering red drum in most of the same places where they’re finding the specks and flounder, and the reds are taking an interest in live baits and a wide variety of artificials.
The sheepshead bite also continues to improve, and anglers are finding fast action (and some big fish) with them around the Pfizer dock and other heavy inshore structure. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and barnacles will all appeal to the sheepshead.
The spanish mackerel bite has turned back on, and anglers are hooking big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront and around the inlets. Some larger (to 6+ lbs.) spaniards are looking for meals around the nearshore reefs, and they’re biting light-lined finger mullet on the surface.
Steve Martin with a 30″ red drum he caught and released near Waldens Creek after it struck a live finger mullet.
King mackerel have also shown back up nearshore, and boaters put together some solid catches between the beach and the reefs last week. Live baits like menhaden are top choices for the kings.
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with wahoo, dolphin, king mackerel, and more at spots in the 40 mile range. Both live baits and dead ballyhoo or cigar minnows will fool the pelagic predators.
Bottom fishing in the same areas is producing plenty of fat black sea bass along with other bottom feeders like grunts and porgies. Squid and cut baits are getting attention from the bottom fish.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite has picked back up, and anglers are hooking good numbers on topwater plugs.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks, marshes, and around structure like docks. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite live and cut baits or a wide variety of artificial lures.
Black drum are looking for meals around the same structure and will eagerly bite cut or live shrimp.
The flounder bite remains solid inshore as well, with anglers finding the fish around structure and in the creeks. Live finger mullet and menhaden are fooling the majority of the flatfish, but anglers are also hooking some on Gulps and other soft baits.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the grouper bite has been a bit slow recently, but anglers are hooking a few around bottom structure in the 100’ depths. Plenty of sea bass, triggerfish, and other smaller bottom dwellers are in the same areas and biting squid and cut baits.
King mackerel are feeding nearshore off Oak Island and biting live baits like menhaden.
Jordan Terry, of Wilmington, with her first red drum, a 25″ fish she hooked on a live finger mullet while fishing the Cape Fear River with Chris Aydlett.
Anglers are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront.
Large sharks are cruising just off the sand as well and will pounce on live, dead, and cut baits.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers have seen a decent king mackerel bite pop back up just off the beach at Oak Island over the past week. Most of the kings are biting live menhaden.
More king mackerel and some sailfish are feeding around spots in the 20-30 mile range, and both will strike live baits like menhaden or dead ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing in 90’ of water and deeper is producing fast action with black sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, grunts, and porgies, along with some big grouper. Squid and cut baits are getting the job done on the bottomfish.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers continue to catch some fat speckled trout in the early morning hours. Most are falling for live shrimp.
Flounder are biting live finger mullet under the pier.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms is producing action with sea mullet, spot, croaker, and other panfish.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
