Southport June 15, 2006
Jimmy, at Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports that the flounder bite has been good around the Southport waterfront. There have been lots of fish in the 2 to 4 lb. range caught this past week. You can also hook some flounder on the inside under the Oak Island Bridge and around the ADM Pier.
Off the beach, there has been a flounder bite at Yaupon Reef. The fish here have been running 2 to 5 lbs.
The speckled trout bite has still being doing well in the regular spots: Battery Island, Elizabeth River, and Striker’s Island. They’re running 1 to 4 lbs., with an occasional 5 pounder.
Yaupon Reef and the beachfront have been doing well with the spanish. They’ve been running 3 to 5 lbs.
A cobia bite has been present, with the main action at Yaupon Reef, McGlammery Reef, and the river channel. A good bet for cobia has been putting a spot, croaker, or pinfish about 6 to 8’ deep under a float.
The jellyballs have showed up on the AR’s, and subsequently the spadefish bite has really started to turn on.
Butch, at Yeah Right Charters, reports that the spanish bite has recently shut down off of Oak Island. The bite will come back soon, though.
King fishing has been hit or miss. One day they’re at the Shark Hole, the next day they’re at the 90/90, and then the next day they’re nowhere to be found. It’s getting to be time for the big kings, but no one is finding them yet.
As for bottom fishing, expect to go off at least 20-30 miles for the assorted catch of snappers and black sea bass. For grouper, the distance starts at 30+ miles off. A good method is to head to the king fishing areas. These areas have structure, so they will also be holding bait and bottom fish.
The dolphin bite continues to be phenomenal this year. The sizes depend on what school you find. Some schools are small and some are gaffers.
The best bait has been live peanut pogies, but cigar minnows should also produce well. The dolphin are at the gulf stream, but you can also find them at the Tower, the Shark Hole, and 18 Mile Rock.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports that the cobia are still hanging around the pier, with a 41 pounder caught this past week. The kings should be hitting the beach any day now.
A few puppy drum have made their arrival in the surf, and live shrimp or cut bait should entice them.
A strange catch for the pier this week was a tripletail weighing in at 4 lbs. Tripletails usually are caught off Georgia’s coast.
Speckled trout in the 1 to 2 lb. range are hitting live shrimp in the mornings.
Flounder in the 1 to 3 lb. range are hitting live baits on the bottom.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting Gotchas out past the breakers pretty consistently when the water is clean.
Val, at Yaupon Pier, reports warm waters of 78-79 degrees. Whiting and trout are biting, as well as flounder. The trout and flounder are weighing in anywhere from 2 to 6 lbs. Live shrimp and mud minnows are working the best.
