Southport September 26, 2013
Sara Smith, of Southport, with her first citation flounder, a 7 lb., 15 oz. fish that bit a live finger mullet near Walden’s Creek.
Tommy, of The Tackle Box, reports that the fall speckled trout bite is turning on around Southport, where anglers are finding the fish in the creeks, around structure off the Cape Fear River and ICW, and in the marshes. Live shrimp are producing most of the specks, but anglers are also hooking up on topwater plugs, soft plastics, and a variety of other lures.
Red drum are also feeding in the many of the same areas and falling for the same baits.
Some larger reds (to 40”+) are feeding within a few miles of the beachfront in the ocean, and anglers can tempt them to bite live, dead, or cut baits.
Flounder fishing has been solid at nearshore structure in the ocean and all over the inshore waters. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden are fooling most of the flatfish, but anglers are also hooking some on Gulp baits.
Large spanish mackerel are looking for meals at nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef. Anglers can fool the big spanish (some 6+ lbs.) on the same live baits they’d use for flounder fished on light wire leaders on the surface.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are reporting solid grouper action around structure in the 100’ range and deeper. Live baits are fooling the larger groupers.
Shea Rushing with a citation red drum that she hooked near Southport while fishing with her husband, Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Big numbers of black sea bass are feeding at structure a bit closer in, and they will pounce on squid or cut baits.
Gulf Stream trollers are reporting an excellent wahoo bite around local spots like the Steeples and Blackjack Hole. Ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the ‘hoos.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are hooking spanish mackerel from the piers and in boats just off the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons is putting the fish in the boats, while Gotcha plugs are producing results for pier anglers.
Spot are starting to show up for fall, and pier anglers have been hooking decent numbers on shrimp and bloodworms.
Inshore, anglers are finding action with red drum and flounder while casting Gulps and live baits in the creeks and marshes.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that blue water trolling has been producing action with wahoo and blackfin tuna in recent days. Both are falling for ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishing slowed a bit around the full moon last week, but anglers still put some grouper on boat decks. The action should be full tilt as the moon wanes. Dropping live baits to bottom structure in 100’ of water and deeper is the way to fool the larger groupers.
Closer to the beaches, anglers are connecting with some large spanish mackerel around structure like Yaupon Reef. Live baits fished on scaled-down king mackerel rigs are tempting bites from the big spaniards.
Violet Harris (age 5), of Wilmington, with a trio of flounder she and her father Matthew caught in the lower Cape Fear River on live finger mullet.
Inshore, the red drum and flounder action remains solid around Bald Head Island. Live finger mullet and shrimp are hard for both fish to turn down.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder on live baits fished under the pier.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with sea mullet and spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
The water is in the low-80’s.
Vance, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel on live baits and Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
Some spot are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Anglers fishing live baits under the pier are hooking a few flounder.
