Southport/Ocean Isle Beach BFT ????????

[swell rider]

Heard some talk on the radio today that it was going off down south, I've heard these reports before and since I live in Hampstead I wanted to check to see how true it was. Made a call down to OIB at 1530 was told there was only 1 fish landed over 73" and it was outside of Southport. If anyone knows anything diffrent it would be great to know. I like it up here in MHC better anyway. Capt Ken Mullen

Swell Rider SPortfishing
Topsail Island, NC
www.swellriderfishing.com
910-233-1714
910-200-2502

[wtaylor]

Sounds like typical southport bluefin bs, which i have come to expect every year. Yes, I'm sure there are some fish in the area, but some people down there like to talk it up for business purposes. That is just my opinion, and if any one heads down there I wish them the best of luck.

[swell rider]

My thoughts exactly. It's all business....

[clt_capt]

I know there were a couple of good days/weeks last year around Southport. At least enough to get the fish companies setup to handle them - and at least a few fish made the long free trip to Japan, but I've not heard enough to say there is a consistent fishery there.

[mrfishy]

A guy came in to west marine the other day and he said he hooked 3 one day last week, and somehow lost 2 planers Thats all Ive heard recently besides that 80 incher 2 weeks ago

[hotrodmarlin]

My boat is at Ocean Isle ready to go but I'm going to take it to Morehead later this week. I was going to wait until the fish showed up down there but something tells me to go north...

[swell rider]

The fish come here for a reason. Even on a bad year theres still fish to be caught. It gets too hyped up down there for all the wrong reasons. I live in hampstead and would love to fish in my back yard, but this is were it's at. Capt. Ken

[T-Bone123]

I have no reason to believe that these tuna would not travel just a bit farther south around Topsail Island where like you Swell Rider, I have my boat and would love to fish out of my backyard too,but we just don't have the number of boats looking for them in the area that there are in Morehead. It would be neat if boats would start fishing for them out of topsail but it seems as if though know one reallly wants too.

[tunatamer4]

On another site it said there was only one sellable fish boated and one other short caught. Also a "number" of fish lost. Take it for what it's worth.

[Highflier]

When the gbt were discovered in North Carolina originally it started mostly off Hatteras. After a few years the fish seemed to congregate better from Drum to Ocracoke. Another few years and the east side gets hot- 30 minute, 1700, Tanker ect. Yet again after another few years the fish move to the west side of the cape and take up residence around the knuck, the shad, and trawler for the most part. More recently the majority of the fish are being hooked at the 10's reef, and northwest places. In the last year the fish have continued on the same pattern with more fish being taken at places like west rock and even south of there. Sure there are exceptions to these general statements but for the most part they hold true. It's undeniable that over the years more fish are being caught further and further south. Who knows if the trend will continue or why it has occurred? Are the fish changing their migration pattern? Is the bait changing it's pattern? Or, is this just a result of more effort to the south now? I'm not sure why you guys are downing the effort down south (especially someone claiming to be a local), at very least it's helping to spread the fleet out so there's not as much pressure on your hallowed grounds. If and I say IF the southern migration continues everyone may have to face the unthinkable reality that southport/ocean isle could become a bft destination. Hopefully the locals will keep the bandwagon open despite the criticism for trying to develop a fishery.