King Mackerel
Fishing Southport for king mackerel is one of my favorite past times. Here are a few tips to help the beginning anglers.
Locating Bait
Menhaden is one of the preferred baits for slow trolling, they are really shiny fish, oil content is high, kings detect them in the water easily. Locating them is fairly easy most days down at Southport, they can be found in the surf zone or even out in a little deeper water. Look for the pelicans diving on them that’s a sure sign where they are. On days where you don’t see the birds diving, ride along the surf looking for a single flip or just listen sometimes you can here the big schools making a popping sound. A big school of bait can make the water look purple. Watch your depth finder they can be spotted on your fishfinder with practice.
Catching Menhaden
A Large cast net from 8′ to 12′ in diameter works best, I prefer a 10′ Bett’s Net this net seems to sink fast does not easily tangle. These large nets may seem overwhelming for a novice angler, with proper instruction you can master throwing them in just a few minutes. Tip do not overfill your baitwell, too many baits will not survive in an over crowed well.
Places to Start Fishing
They are a number of favorite spots to fish for Kings in the Southport area, here are just a few up-close places for the small boater, the Cape Fear River channel is an excellent starting point. These are just a few of the artificial reefs, Ar-425, Ar-430, Ar-425, Ar-420. Fishing begins in early Spring, Yaupon Reef is a favorite of mine, for I am running a 20′ Pathfinder Bay. Fishing Southport in the fall of the year for King Mackerel can be spectacular I have had many seasons where I have boated over three hundred pounds of fish right by myself, this was prior to N.C. fishing regulations of the three fish per angler.
King Tournament
Southport holds an annual King Mackerel tournament every year in the fall. This a large tournament drawing fishermen from many states.
My YOUTUBE video link https://youtube.com/user/CBCapt
Cape Fear Guide – Capt.Mike Dennis- 910-619-0928
210 Peninsula Drive Carolina Beach, N.C. 28428