Southport June 30, 2011
Michael Harbin, from Hedgeville, WV, with an over-slot red drum he caught and released near Bald Head Island after it fell for a live menhaden.
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the wind has made getting out the inlet a little tough lately, but boats have been rewarded with some decent fishing when they make it offshore.
Spanish mackerel are feeding within a few miles of the beaches wherever boats can find clean water, and trolling #00 Clarkspoons in gold and silver behind #1 planers is putting them in the boat.
Flounder fishing on the nearshore artificial reefs and other structure has been excellent in recent days. Live finger mullet fished on a Carolina rig will attract plenty of attention from the flatfish and other bottom feeders in the same area.
Large sharks (many exceeding 100 lbs.) are feeding nearshore, and anglers should have little trouble hooking them on fresh cut baits. Heavy tackle with cable leaders and big hooks will give anglers the best chance of landing the larger sharks.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been spotty, with fish chewing one day and not the next. Spots further off the beach have been producing better than those close in, and live menhaden or dead cigar minnows pinned to South Chatham Pirate Plugs will fool the kings and a few dolphin that are feeding in the same areas.
Bottom fishing has been excellent lately at structure in 100’ and deeper. Squid and cut baits pinned to bottom rigs are attracting attention from black sea bass, grunts, beeliners, triggerfish, and other tasty bottom dwellers.
Grouper are feeding in the same areas, but they’re a little tougher to find than the smaller fish. Live baits are the best bet for the larger groupers.
Sherman Fairrington, of Winston-Salem, NC, with a 2.1 lb. pompano he fooled with a live shrimp from Oak Island Pier.
Angie, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout, black drum, and large pompano from Oak Island’s piers on live shrimp.
The flounder bite is decent in the backwaters and from the piers. Live finger mullet and mud minnows will tempt bites from the flounder.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks and backwaters. They’ve been a bit tough to dial in lately, but anglers willing to put in effort have been catching some. Live baits, topwater plugs, and Gulps will fool the reds.
The spanish mackerel action has slowed a bit from the piers with all the recent wind, but boats are still hooking some while trolling Clarkspoons in any clean water they can find. Plenty of bluefish are around as well.
Offshore, anglers have reported some king mackerel action at spots around 15 miles out and some fish from the southwest of Frying Pan Tower, but the king bite’s been a little off.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the flounder and red drum action is still solid inshore, but speckled trout are few and far between. Live shrimp, finger mullet, and peanut menhaden will attract attention from the reds and flounder.
Phil Cline, of Greensboro, NC, with a 22" speckled trout he hooked on a live menhaden in Walden's Creek.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are still catching big numbers of pompano from the pier on live and cut shrimp (with a few citation fish still in the mix).
Some speckled trout have been falling for live shrimp in the early mornings.
Flounder fishing remains solid, and anglers dropping live baits near the pier’s pilings are doing the best with the flatfish.
Plug casters are picking up a few spanish mackerel when clean water is around the pier, as well as a few bluefish.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some pompano from the planks on shrimp.
Some spanish mackerel have been falling for Gotcha plugs and live baits.
