Southport/Oak Island – April 2023
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have started to see some big whiting showing up as they move into the area. As weather stabilizes, this action should pick up and the different target species will start moving into the surf zone, such as blowtoads and whiting.
Backwater anglers have mostly been working the speckled trout bite as these fish are starting to more actively feed.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf fishing is starting to pick up. Bottom fishing with either shrimp or artificial bait strips is best and will produce catches of black drum, blowtoads, and whiting.
Inshore anglers have mostly focused on targeting red and black drum around deeper docks and oyster beds.
Nearshore action is yet to really kick off, with recent cool weather holding things back.
King mackerel remain further offshore (20-30 miles) as they await water temperatures to tick up.
Bottom fishing has been the best choice for anglers looking at a favorable weather window. Black sea bass make a great early spring target for loading up on some meat.
Dick Cournoyer, of St. James Fishing Club, hooked this 58″ wahoo while trolling a pink Nomad in 150′ of water. He was fishing near the Steeples with Capt. Jim McCarthy aboard the “Commando.”
Garret, of Mad KingZ Tackle, reports that a bunch of whiting have started to stage up in the deeper river channels (18-22’+ depth range) as they follow their spring migration into the region.
Surf anglers are also seeing a bit of this whiting action alongside scattered black drum.
Inshore anglers are catching red drum and speckled trout. Both species haven’t quite left their wintering creeks.
Black drum are back in these creeks and out on the waterway, and they’re mostly staged up around docks.
Nearshore anglers have been finding some gray trout and sheepshead while fishing the local ARs.
Those getting the chance to make the long runs offshore are catching wahoo, blackfin tuna, and scattered false albacore.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that black drum fishing has been really dependable, with anglers having a lot of success fishing whole dead shrimp on the bottom. Structure is key in this fishery, with docks, oyster beds, and deeper holes all being the top places to target.
The trout have yet to fully transition out of the creeks, but look for stable weather patterns to really bring this fish out to the creek mouths and ICW where they will stage up on the deeper, shell-lined banks.
Red drum will start to break out of their larger winter schools and become easier to target as they spread out.
Nearshore anglers are still looking for water temperatures to bump up after weather patterns settle down. Atlantic bonito and possibly some earliy spanish mackerel should start showing up.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action remains steady, with anglers still having the opportunity to target these fish in their larger winter schools. Anglers will do best while sight-casting soft plastics with lighter weights and smaller profiles to keep from spooking the reds in the skinny waters.
Black drum and scattered reds are also being caught with shrimp fished around deeper hard structures in the creeks and out to the ICW.
Speckled trout are beginning to see some changes, as the slightest uptick in water temperatures have these fish more active. The trout will be staged up along deeper ledges and current seams from the creek mouths and out to the waterway.
Kirk, of Take Up The Slack Fishing Charters, reports that anglers getting out on the water are still finding trout back in the deeper holes of mainland creeks. Water temperatures haven’t changed much, but look for a little warmth to really fire up these trout and push them out into the waterway.
Red drum are holding in their winter patterns as they await water temperatures to bring in bait (which gets these schools to break up).
Black drum make for great targets on unfavorable weather days. Finding hard structures in the creeks and creek mouths and soaking shrimp is all you need to find some action.
Joe Mastropietro (left), Dick Cournoyer, and Kenny Miller, of the St. James Fishing Club, caught these black sea bass on squid and cut bait in 60′ of water near Frying Pan Tower. They were fishing with Capt. Craig Thompson aboard “Blue Waters.”
Mark, of Angry Pelican Charters, reports that nearshore anglers are finding the bottom fishing action still strong,. There are plenty of keeper black sea bass around alongside scattered black drum on the shallower reefs.
Whiting fishing has been picking up, and more stable conditions should allow for cleaner water conditions in the coming weeks that will bring in better numbers. Anglers will have the best success fishing ledges with dead shrimp as the tide starts to bottom out in its cycle.
Offshore fishing hasn’t seen much change outside the strong bottom action. Kings remain further out until the nearshore water temperatures work their way up.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that there are plenty of large black sea bass staged up around the structures out near Frying Pan Tower.
Trolling action out a bit further (30+ miles) is producing some king mackerel. These schools will be moving further nearshore in the coming weeks as conditions stabilize and water temperatures warm closer to the beach.
Spanish mackerel are also likely to be popping up around the same time things warm up.
Offshore trolling trips are producing blackfin tuna and scattered large wahoo.
Greg, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishing action has been pretty good, only to pick up as warmer springtime conditions become more common.
Good-sized whiting have made up a majority of the catch for anglers fishing shrimp or bottom rigs tipped with artificial bait strips.
Mixed in the action are croakers, pufferfish, a few speckled trout, and scattered black drum.
With water temperatures warming, anglers hope the occasional bluefish catches become more common as schools push onto the beachfronts.
Caroline, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing is picking back up after this month’s run of cooler weather. Anglers are catching a mixed bag of whiting, croakers, and blowfish.
