Southport area anglers catching lots of fish

Southport area
Anglers in the Southport area are catching redfish, and numerous other species.

The springlike weather has been good for Southport fishing

With a week of February behind us, it’s feeling more like spring than winter, and the fishing out of the Southport area has been just as great as the weather. Capt. Chris Foster of Yeah Right Charters said anglers are keeping busy catching multiple species. And that goes for inshore and offshore anglers

Inshore, the water temperatures have been staying in the mid 40s, keeping the speckled trout and drum bite really consistent. Anglers are catching some really nice specks around current breaks and drop-offs. Fishing during the moving tide is always better than fishing when it’s slack. But the fish are biting somewhat better on the falling tides than the rising tides.

Sometimes, using small pieces of cut shrimp are better than using whole shrimp. That’s been the case lately in the Southport area. Anglers using cut shrimp on the bottom in creek channels continue to catch black drum and redfish. A basic Carolina rig is always a good choice, but putting the shrimp on jigheads is also a good bet.

Offshore anglers catching plenty of fish too

Anglers venturing offshore are getting into some quality-sized black sea bass. Plenty of undersized ones are also biting. But anglers who don’t mind weeding through those are hooking into some really big ones. Those same anglers are also catching vermilion and gray snapper in the process.

Speckled trout are always a big hit in the Southport area.

The king mackerel are also biting for offshore anglers. If you can find the 68 degree water with bait and structure present, slow troll dead cigar minnows. Anglers using this tactic are catching their share of these fish. Slow trolling is the trick this time of year.

As the weather continues to trend warmer, the fishing should stay hot throughout the winter months. And spring is just around the corner. This is shaping up to be one of those years that anglers shouldn’t miss a beat.

About Brian Cope 2858 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@carolinasportsman.com.

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