Southport/Oak Island – March 2022
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers looking to take advantage of nice weather days are having success while bottom fishing areas out near Frying Pan Tower. Large black sea bass have made up the majority of the catch.
Anglers look forward to more consistent and stable weather patterns for getting out on the water.
Rowan Knox, of Roanoke, VA, with a speckled trout that was caught on live bait near Southport. She was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that most speckled trout action has been from anglers fishing holes up the Lockwood Folly River with soft plastics or D.O.A. shrimp under corks.
Anglers look forward to water temperatures coming up to bring the drum and bait back into the inlets from off the beach.
The arrival of bait inshore will also see the larger speckled trout move into holes along the ICW.
Surf and pier anglers are reporting scattered sea mullet and black drum action. These target species remain the same over the coming weeks, with numbers just getting better as waters warm.
Mark, of Marine Services Pro/The Tackle Box, reports that speckled trout fishing is starting to kick back off, with the slight uptick in water temperatures in the area bringing these schools out of their winter slump.
Red drum action will also be getting better all month, as the schools will more actively feed with bait moving into the inlets.
Off the beach, bottom fishing has been on fire. Large black sea bass, grunts, and good numbers of vermilion snapper are holding over structures in the 7-15+ mile range.
Runs out to the break will be producing some blackfin tuna, large wahoo, and hopefully another run of yellowfin tuna similar to years past.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that inshore anglers have found the schools of red drum to be feeding very well. This 18-27” class of reds are mostly found in the creeks on the falling to low tide cycles. Anglers are also having success while targeting the deeper holes in feeder creeks and docks with deep ledges. Carolina-rigged live shrimp has been producing most of the strikes, with cut shrimp and artificial soft plastics also having success.
Black drum fishing has been consistent this winter. Look for these 14-20” fish to be staged around docks and deep holes up against rocky structure. Live or dead bait shrimp is the best option for the black drum.
Speckled trout has been a bit slower than normal for many local anglers. There are a few mixed in for those fishing live shrimp under corks. With temperatures working their way up, the trout bite should only get more consistent.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that specked trout fishing is starting to pick up with inshore water temperatures on the rise. Anglers are finding most of these schools still in their winter holdover areas and hitting slowly fished natural baits.
Red and black drum fishing has remained steady in these cooler months. Black drum are staged up around structure and docks, with the redfish traveling in large schools on flats off the ICW.
Natural bait options are best for this early season inshore action. A variety of live/dead shrimp or mud minnows have all produced action when targeting the trout and drum.
Flounder will start moving into their nearshore haunts throughout the month of March.
Blaine Mastin, of La Plata, MD, caught this 28″ striped bass on a Heddon Zara Spook while fishing near the Isabel Holmes Bridge.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that structure in the 5-10 mile range is holding good numbers of big black sea bass.
Inshore anglers have been reporting some good trout action from up in the mainland channels.
Going into the later part of March, anglers will be scouting nearshore areas for the first signs of Atlantic bonito moving into the area. They tend to move in with the larger bait schools and are a great kick off to spring fishing.
King mackerel also start to move in from out in the Gulf Stream around this same time. Until nearshore water temperatures rise in late spring, this first push of kings will be staged up around the tower.
James, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers looking to get out on nice weather days are catching scattered sea mullet using bottom rigs tipped with shrimp or Fish Bites. Cold water temperatures are still being seen along the beaches, but anglers look forward to springtime fishing conditions becoming more favorable over the next few weeks.
Jay, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers have been catching a few croakers when getting out on the planks to take advantage of the mild weather days.
Going into March, the fishing action in the early season is very water temperature dependent in the area. There is always the possibility of speckled trout and scattered red drum once more bait moves in along the beach.
