Added on Thursday, September 3, 2009  Fish Post

Southport September 3, 2009

Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that the recent tropical systems have limited anglers’ opportunities to get offshore lately, but when boats can get out, the fish are still there.

King mackerel are beginning to move closer to the beaches, and anglers are starting to see some of the larger fall fish. Live pogies or dead baits trolled around areas of bottom structure from the beaches to offshore areas in the 30-40 mile range should produce action with the kings.

Some cobia are feeding in the same areas, and they will also take an interest in live pogies.

Amberjacks are schooled up on the higher relief bottom areas. Live baits or jigging spoons will fool the AJ’s for anglers looking for long, tough battles.

Bottom fishermen anchoring up on offshore structure in 80’ of water or more should be able to find action with some keeper black sea bass, grunts, beeliners, and groupers. Squid and small cut baits will attract attention from the smaller bottom feeders, and anglers can bait up with cigar minnows, cut baits, or live baits to fool the grouper. Jigging lures will also take a toll on the bottomfish.

Cooler weather over the next few weeks should kick in the fall Gulf Stream bite, so when anglers can make it out to the blue water, the wahoo, dolphin, billfish, and perhaps some tuna should be waiting. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures will draw strikes from all the Gulf Stream predators.

Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel are still feeding well. Bottom structure, bait concentrations, and groups of working birds are good places to look for the spanish, and trolled Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs will fool the fish.

Sharks are feeding in the same areas as the spanish, and large cut baits will draw savage strikes from them.

 

Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that offshore the bottom fishermen are reporting excellent action with beeliners and a few grouper right now.

The king mackerel bite’s been spotty, but anglers have caught some king mackerel around Yaupon Reef since the storm swells have passed. Slow-trolling live pogies is the way to hook up with the kings.

Inshore, flounder fishing’s been decent in the Lower Cape Fear River lately, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on live finger mullet and pogies on Carolina rigs.

The cooler week ahead should start kicking off better fall fishing, both inshore and nearshore, and anglers can expect the reds, trout, flounder, and nearshore kings to be on the feed by the third week in September.

 

John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been pretty good inshore lately. Anglers are reporting some double-digit numbers of flatties coming from the creeks while casting Carolina-rigged finger mullet and mud minnows and bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.

Anglers on the piers are reporting decent flounder action as well, mostly on mud minnows and mullet.

Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and whiting on bloodworms.

Some large spanish mackerel (2-4 lb.) are feeding around the piers, and they’re falling for small live baits like pogies and mullet.

 

Bubba, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are picking up decent numbers of flounder on live shrimp and finger mullet.

Live mullet and other baits fished on the surface are attracting attention from some fat spanish mackerel.

 

Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some large spanish mackerel (up to nearly 5 lbs.) on smaller live baits.

Those fishing with live shrimp have been hooking some flounder, speckled trout, and puppy drum.

Flounder (some to almost 5 lbs.) are also falling for live finger mullet and minnows fished on the bottom.

Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are decking some black drum.