Southport September 30, 2010
Buck Cook, of Bald Head Island, with a slot red drum he hooked on a live finger mullet while fishing near Bald Head on the "Happy Hour's."
Butch, of Yeah Right Charters, reports that anglers are finding some action with flounder on the nearshore reefs while baiting up with live finger mullet. Some citation-class red drum are in the mix, so anglers may want to use beefier tackle than a standard flounder outfit to get the reds to the boat.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, but they’ve been a little tough to fool into biting this past week. Trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs is one of the better ways to tempt them to strike.
The king mackerel bite’s been terrible lately, but it’s likely the fish are holding a little further offshore than usual (in around 100’). Live pogies and dead cigar minnows will fool the kings when anglers can find them.
Bottom fishing remains solid, and anglers are hooking up with grunts, beeliners, triggerfish, sea bass, groupers, and more around structure in the 100’ range. Squid and cut baits will fool the smaller fish, and live baits are anglers’ best bet for the grouper.
The Gulf Stream bite’s been up-and-down, but anglers are reporting decent wahoo action on many days. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will fool the ‘hoos.
Tommy, of Southport Angler Outfitters, reports that the inshore bite in the area is still solid. Red drum and flounder are feeding in the area’s marshes and around inshore structure, and anglers can fool both with live finger mullet or peanut pogies.
Offshore, bottom fishermen are reporting an excellent beeliner bite in around 100’ and deeper, but the grouper bite’s been a little off lately. Squid and cut baits will attract attention from the beeliners.
John, of Dutchman’s Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers caught a few king mackerel around Yaupon Reef on live baits last week.
Bottom fishermen have found solid action with beeliners, sea bass, triggerfish, and grouper in around 95’ lately. A few larger king mackerel have been feeding in the same areas.
The spanish mackerel bite is still on nearshore, and anglers can hook up while trolling Clarkspoons or casting Gotcha plugs and other metal lures.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are hooking up with some whiting, pompano, flounder, and spot.
Spot have also begun to make an appearance in the river, where anglers can hook them on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers are still finding some action with puppy drum and speckled trout in the backwaters.
Cathy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that live-baiters landed a 21 lb. king mackerel from the pier last week.
A few sizeable spanish mackerel are coming over the rails, with most taking an interest in live baits and a few falling for Gotcha plugs.
Flounder, speckled trout, and some red drum have been providing plenty of action for bottom fishermen recently. Most of the flounder are falling for live finger mullet or mud minnows. The trout are taking an interest in live shrimp, and anglers are hooking up with reds on both.
Trey Oliver, from Wilmington, with a 30" red drum he caught and released on a MirrOlure Top Pup while kayak fishing at Fort Fisher.
Dave, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that before last weekend’s storm, anglers were hooking up with some healthy (2-5 lb.) spanish mackerel on live baits fished from the end of the pier.
Anglers fishing smaller live baits on the bottom are finding action with some flounder (to 3+ lbs.) and decent numbers of slot and oversized red drum.
Some black drum are in the mix as well, and they’re more likely to fall for shrimp.
