Southport August 25, 2011
Morgan McKinley, of Greensboro, NC, with a 4.5 lb. pompano she hooked in the Caswell Beach surf on shrimp. Weighed in at Oak Island Pier.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the area’s spanish mackerel bite is still excellent. Anglers are catching most of the fish while trolling 00 Clarkspoons behind #1 planers, but the largest fish have been biting bird rigs on top lately.
Shark fishing just off the beaches has been great one day and slow the next. Anglers looking to hook up with one of the big predators should soak large cut baits for the best odds of success.
Flounder are feeding on the nearshore reefs, and boats have been putting together some big catches lately. Live finger mullet and menhaden on Carolina rigs are the way to go for the flatfish, and anglers shouldn’t be shy about using large baits, as the flounder don’t mind and they’ll weed out some of the smaller fish from biting.
Offshore bottom fishing has been excellent. The action’s best around ledges, rocks, and wrecks in 100’ and deeper, where anglers are connecting with black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, snappers, groupers, and more. Squid and cut baits will fool the smaller bottomfish, while live baits are the best choices for the grouper.
Amberjacks are feeding at higher-relief structure in the same depth range, and they’re waiting to test anglers’ tackle and backs. Live baits and vertical jigs prove tough for the pugnacious jacks to resist.
Blue water trollers are finding some action with wahoo and blackfin tuna. Some dolphin are still feeding in the Gulf Stream as well. All will take an interest in skirted or naked ballyhoo or higher-speed artificials like cedar plugs.
Nathan Yow, of Sanford, NC, with a slot red drum he hooked on a live shrimp while fishing near Southport with his father, Jeff Yow of Chatlee Boat and Marine.
Brandon, of The Tackle Box, reports that the area’s inshore fishing is taking off. Anglers are finding an excellent flounder bite in the Cape Fear River, around the Southport waterfront, and at the nearshore reefs. Most of the fish are falling for live finger mullet and menhaden, but Gulp baits are often as productive (and the 5” Crazy Legs Jerkshad has been particularly hot lately).
The speckled trout bite is finally starting to show some signs of life. The action’s been best at night, when anglers are finding the fish feeding around grass islands, docks, and other structure inshore. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but anglers may also be able to tempt them to bite a variety of soft plastics or suspending hard baits.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same places as the flatfish and specks, and there’s also been a good bite in flooded marsh grass at higher tides lately. Live baits, Gulps, and a variety of other lures (and even flies like Clouser Minnows and crab imitations) will attract attention from the reds.
The spanish mackerel fishing just off the beaches turned on last week (with an impressive average size of fish). Trolling Clarkspoons and casting small metal lures at fish feeding on the surface is the best way to tempt bites from the spaniards.
Bubba, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers have been catching some fat spanish mackerel on small live baits over the past week.
A few speckled trout have been falling for live shrimp in the early mornings.
Flounder are taking an interest in live mud minnows and finger mullet fished under the pier.
Plug casters are picking up some bluefish on Gotchas.
Kathleen Kemmerer, from PA, with a speckled trout that bit a live finger mullet in the lower Cape Fear River while she was fishing with Capt. Tommy Rickman of Southport Angler Outfittes.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that large spanish mackerel are taking an interest in live finger mullet fished from the end of the pier.
Some flounder (many in the 18” range) are falling for finger mullet and other live baits fished on the bottom around the pilings.
