Carolina Beach June 2, 2011
Bill Letendre with an 11.5 lb. bluefish he hooked on a live menhaden while flounder fishing in the second bay at Fort Fisher. Weighed in at Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that nearshore flounder fishing has been solid lately at the Marriott Reef and other structure within a few miles of the beaches. Live menhaden are producing most of the flounder.
Some scattered cobia have been in the same areas, so anglers should be prepared in case one swims up to investigate the boat.
Black sea bass are feeding in the same areas, with larger keeper-sized fish feeding at spots in the 15 mile and further range offshore. Their season opened June 1, so anglers can now take some bass home with them. Squid and cut baits on bottom rigs and small jigging lures will entice the bass to bite.
The Gulf Stream bite has slowed down somewhat, but some decent catches of dolphin were landed in around 160’ last week. Finding grasslines and mats is key to finding the dolphin, and rigged ballyhoo will tempt them to bite.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches (though many of the spanish have been small). Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is the way to put some of the spaniards in the boat.
Surf anglers have been connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, and a few pompano on rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been decent around the grass islands in the Cape Fear River. Live menhaden are also top baits for the inshore flatties right now.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around hard structure like dock and bridge pilings and oyster rocks inshore. Fiddler crabs and other shellfish baits are the way to go for these striped crustacean-lovers.
Ryan, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishermen have been catching good numbers of flounder up and down the island, with some of the best action at hotspots like Atlantic Towers, the Pipe, and the Fort Fisher rocks. Live mud minnows will tempt bites from the flatties.
Anglers are catching more sea mullet and some pompano on shrimp and sand fleas in the surf and from Kure Beach Pier.
There are still some large chopper bluefish feeding in the surf, and cut baits or finger mullet will get their attention.
Surf casters are also connecting with a few puppy drum around Fort Fisher.
Large sharks are feeding along the beaches now as well, and anglers paddling and drifting large cut baits out from shore are hooking decent numbers, particularly in the evenings.
Terry Robinson, of Gastonia, NC, with an 8 lb., 28" bluefish he hooked from the surf at Fort Fisher. Weighed in at the Bait Barge.
Inshore, there was a good flounder and red drum bite in Snow’s Cut last week. Live menhaden or tiger-side minnows are fooling both.
Plenty of small menhaden are schooled up in the Dredge Pond for anglers looking for live baits.
Sheepshead are feeding around the dock and bridge pilings and other hard structure in the area, and they will take an interest in fiddler crab baits.
Black drum are schooling around the Pfizer dock and other large structure in the Cape Fear River. Soft and hard shell crabs and clams will get their attention.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been a little slower over the past week. Anglers are still catching decent numbers of fish in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River, but live baits are fooling most of the fish, as it’s been tough to get them to eat artificials lately.
Some schools of reds have also been working the bays off Masonboro Sound, where they’ve been striking topwater plugs in the mornings. Some chopper bluefish are also mixed in and attacking the topwaters.
Flounder are feeding in the same areas as the reds, and anglers have hooked decent numbers (mostly keepers) while casting soft plastic baits lately.
Sheepshead are feeding at hard structure inshore, and they will take a healthy interest in fiddler crabs dangled next to rocks and dock and bridge pilings.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that the red drum bite in the lower Cape Fear River is a little hit-or-miss right now, but anglers are still catching some fish on Gulp baits, live mud minnows, and dead shrimp when they’re reluctant to hit other baits.
Good numbers of flounder are feeding in the same areas and taking an interest in the same baits as the reds (some undersized, some 20”+). A few small speckled trout are in the mix as well.
Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily just off the beaches. Anglers can hook them while trolling small spoons or, if they’re feeding heavily on the surface, casting metal lures in to the action to hook up.
Some king mackerel and cobia are feeding along the beaches as well, and live baits should tempt both fish to bite if anglers find them.
Rex Sasser, of Castle Hayne, NC, with a 25" red drum that fell for a Gulp bait in the lower Cape Fear River.
Carrie, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are picking up some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and croaker on shrimp.
Victoria, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that live baiters caught several king mackerel (the largest 33 lbs.) and chopper bluefish last week from the end of the pier.
Sea mullet and some croaker are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs.
