Added on Thursday, June 16, 2011  Fish Post

Carolina Beach June 16, 2011

Marshall, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the red drum and flounder bite is still solid inshore. Anglers are finding the reds feeding on the grass flats and bays off the Cape Fear River and the ICW. They’ll take an interest in live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and a variety of other lures.

Flounder are feeding in the river, Snow’s Cut, and out at nearshore structure like the Marriott Reef. Live baits or bucktails tipped with Gulps will attract attention from the flatfish.

Sheepshead are making a solid appearance in the area and looking for meals around rocks, bridge and dock pilings, and other hard structure inshore. They’ll bite fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or other crustacean baits.

Off the beaches, boaters are hooking up with plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons just offshore.

Large sharks are also in the area, and they will take an interest in cut baits.

Bottom fishermen have had excellent action with sea bass at structure in 60’ of water and beyond recently. Squid and cut baits on bottom rigs will tempt bites from the bass.

Some gag grouper are feeding in the same areas as the bass, with scamp and red groupers holding further offshore in 90’+. Live and cut baits and vertical jigs are excellent choices for the grouper.

Offshore, the dolphin bite has been good at spots from the 25 mile range on out, and some sailfish have been mixed in with the ‘phins. They’ll both take an interest in ballyhoo rigged behind skirted trolling lures.

Ryan, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that sheepshead and some red and black drum are feeding around docks and other inshore structure in the area. Live baits like fiddler crabs, shrimp, and mud minnows will get their attention.

Flounder are feeding around structure and along the shorelines of the ICW, Cape Fear River, and Snow’s Cut. Live baits are also top choices for the flatfish, but Gulps and other artificials will get their attention, too.

Anglers are also catching some flounder in the surf, but most have been undersized.

There’s been a decent bite of some slot-sized red drum in the surf, especially around the north end of the island. Cut mullet are producing most of the action with the reds.

The rocky structure around Fort Fisher and The Riggings is producing some action with sheepshead and flounder, but plenty of snags come along with the fish.

Decent numbers of pompano (with some 2+ lb. citations), some sea mullet, and a variety of other bottom feeders are rounding out the surf and pier catch. Small sand fleas are top baits for the pomps, and shrimp and bloodworms will produce action with the other bottomfish.

Spanish mackerel fishing is still solid along the beachfront and in the inlet, but most of the fish are on the small side. Trolling a bit further offshore will generally produce action with some larger fish.

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still finding consistent action with red drum in the backwaters off Masonboro Sound and the Cape Fear River. The fish are falling for topwater plugs, D.O.A. and other soft plastics, and live baits.

Plenty of smaller bluefish are feeding in the same areas and attacking the baits that anglers are casting for the reds.

Flounder are also feeding alongside the reds and in slightly deeper spots, and Gulp baits have been producing solid numbers of keeper flatfish over the past week.

Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear. Live fiddler crabs are tough for the sheeps to turn down.

Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers continue to hook up with good numbers of red drum while fishing the bays, creeks, and other backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. Live baits, topwater plugs, and soft plastics will all attract attention from the reds.

The speckled trout bite continues to improve in the Cape Fear, just in time for the season to open on June 16. D.O.A. shrimp will produce plenty of action with the specks when anglers can find them.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still providing plenty of action for boats trolling Clarkspoons and casting small metal lures in the inlet and off the beaches.

Keeper black sea bass are feeding at structure 10-20 miles offshore, where they’ll pounce on squid or cut baits.

Connie, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp.

Small live baits on the bottom are producing some action with flounder.

Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.

Live baiters caught a 28 lb. king mackerel and several large spanish over the past week.

Ronnie, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that some bluefish are falling for bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are hooking up with some croaker during the day and a few sea mullet at night.

A few flounder are taking an interest in live baits.