Southport June 29, 2006
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports improved action with spanish mackerel on the beach. The bite has finally improved, but not to the point where catching your limit is guaranteed.
The big kings could show up at any time, and they will probably appear first on the beach.
A variety of sizes of king mackerel and dolphin are biting at the Frying Pan Tower. The kings range from snakes to an occasional 20 to 30 pounder. The dolphin are running in similar sizes, with peanuts to 30 pound fish greeting anglers. Ballyhoo is the bait of choice.
There has also been the occasional cobia thrown in.
The bottom bite is excellent near the 350’s, at the Tower, and to the southwest of the Tower. Grouper, snapper, beeliners, and triggerfish are all biting well. For bait, it’s hard to beat squid right now.
Jimmy, of Wreck Hunter Guide Service, reports excellent flounder and trout fishing.
Flounder are biting at a wide variety of local inshore spots, including the Southport waterfront, Oak Island Bridge, Lockwood Folly River, and Brunswick River. Drifiting the Cape Fear River Inlet and Lockwood Folly Inlet is producing quality fish, as is fishing around the Yaupon Reef. Live minnows on Carolina rigs are the ticket for the flatfish.
The trout are also biting very well in the inside waters, with fish being caught in Dutchman’s Creek, Wildlife Creek, the Elizabeth River, and the rock piles near the Oak Island Bridge. The trout are biting Carolina rigged minnows like the flounder, as well as soft plastics on jigs and live shrimp suspended beneath floats.
Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports the strong speckled trout bite continues for anglers with live shrimp.
King mackerel are occasionally showing, with fish averaging 8 to 16 pounds.
No cobia this week, but tarpon could roll through any day now.
Spadefish are being caught around the pilings using cut shrimp, and there are plenty of sheepshead too (if anglers will target them).
Spanish have made appearances in the evenings on Gotcha plugs.
Flounder fishing has been slow for some reason, but live baits will entice the ones that are around.
And bottom fishing has been decent for pompano, big whiting, and good numbers of spots.
Val, at Yaupon Pier, reports a good week of fishing. Trout fishing has been excellent, with fish biting live shrimp. Flounder are biting well, with most fish coming on mullet minnows.
The live bait fishermen on the Tee have been busy this week, catching 5 keeper kings and a 4.7 pound spanish (caught on a live ribbonfish). In addition, the end saw a 32 pound jack crevalle.
The water temperature at the pier is 80 degrees.
