Carolina Beach March 29, 2012
Lynn Campbell, of Wilmington, with her first red drum, a 23" fish she hooked on a live mud minnow in Mott's Channel while fishing with her brother.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are seeing some incredible sea mullet fishing in the lower Cape Fear River from the ferry channel on down, and anglers are filling up coolers (with some healthy 1-2 lb. fish). Double-hook bottom rigs baited with shrimp are producing most of the action.
Surf fishermen are connecting with some smaller sea mullet, bluefish, and even a few early pompano, also primarily on fresh shrimp.
The flounder bite inshore is turning on, and it should only continue to get better as the water warms up. Live finger mullet or scented soft plastics like Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish. Anglers have also weighed in some impressive flounder caught in the ocean in recent weeks, so the spring flounder season is looking good.
Commercial fishermen have been finding a solid king mackerel bite to the northeast of Frying Pan Tower, and with upper-60’s water moving in towards the beaches, anglers could well see a beach king mackerel bite develop over the next few weeks.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream have found an excellent wahoo bite in recent weeks. Solid numbers of blackfin tuna have been in the mix, and the first gaffer dolphin of the year have also been making an early appearance. All the blue water gamefish are taking an interest in skirted ballyhoo and artificial trolling lures.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that there’s been a decent red drum bite in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River recently. Anglers are connecting with the reds while casting Gulp and Strike King soft baits and on fresh shrimp. Some black drum have also been taking an interest in the shrimp.
Speckled trout and flounder (including some keepers) are feeding in many of the same areas as the reds and providing a nice bonus catch when anglers are working the soft baits.
The sea mullet bite is on at the mouth of the Cape Fear River (with some days approaching double digit catches). Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are fooling most of the mullet, and there have been some gray trout in the same areas falling for shrimp as well.
Blake Leigh, of Wilmington, with a blackfin tuna that bit a Fathom Lure chugger while he was trolling near the Steeples with Capt. Rick Croson of Living Waters Guide Service.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been excellent over the past few weeks (with some stout 30-35” fish in the mix). The reds are schooled up on the flats and in the creeks off the lower Cape Fear River. Gulp and D.O.A. soft plastics are producing most of the action.
Good numbers of small speckled trout and a few larger specks are feeding in the same areas and will also take an interest in the soft baits.
Deeper holes off the lower river are producing some fairly consistent flounder action. The flatfish are falling for live mud minnows and Gulp baits.
Sea mullet and some small black drum are feeding in deeper holes off the lower river, and both have a tough time resisting fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
Some red drum are also still holding under docks in the ICW between Wrightsville and Carolina Beaches. Live mud minnows and fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs are the tickets to bites from the dock reds.
Jim, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that the pier will reopen for the year this weekend. Some pufferfish, sea mullet, and skates are waiting for anglers when it does, and the other springtime fish shouldn’t be far behind them. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are the baits of choice.
