Carolina Beach July 19, 2007
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that area flounder fishing is as hot as the daytime temperatures right now. Anglers are hooking up with flounder in the ICW, the Cape Fear River, and on the nearshore reefs.
The Yaupon Reef has hosted an excellent flounder bite over the past week, but the biggest fish (up to 11 lbs.) are coming from the river. No matter where they’re feeding, Carolina-rigged live baits such as peanut pogies and finger mullet will get a flounder’s attention.
The red drum bite is still best up north around ICW docks, but a few drum are coming from the river bays as well. Live pogies or mullet and Gulp Alive baits on jigheads are the best ways to draw drum bites.
Speckled trout are feeding in the river. Most of the trout are on the small side, but anglers can still hook up with a few big sow trout.
Sheepshead are plentiful on ICW structure and around the Snow’s Cut Bridge. One-armed bandits (fiddler crabs) fished close to the structure are too much for the sheepshead to resist.
In the ocean, spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and hitting Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
Boats are hooking up with king mackerel from the inlets to spots in the 30 mile area. Live pogies are the top king baits, but anglers trolling ballyhoo are also catching fish.
At structure 10+ miles offshore, boats are finding some dolphin and sailfish mixed in with the kings, and they’re all willing to strike the same baits.
Grouper fishing remains good, with gags feeding as close as 20 miles off the beach. The red and scamp grouper are concentrated 30+ miles offshore. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will all tempt grouper bites.
The Gulf Stream dolphin bite has slowed up, but boats are landing decent numbers of wahoo in the blue water, as well as releasing blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish. Trolled ballyhoo will draw strikes from all the Gulf Stream predators, but anglers may wish to include a larger bait or lure, such as a chugger or rigged spanish mackerel, to tempt the big blues.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that flounder fishing has improved greatly over the past few weeks. The fish are around in larger numbers and sizes than they were a few weeks ago, and anglers landed plenty in the 4-6 lb. range over the week. The flatfish are biting in the river, the ICW, Carolina Beach Inlet, and are finally on the feed in Snow’s Cut.
Chopper bluefish (8-12 lbs.) are also running the Cut searching for meals. Anglers who make up some miniature king mackerel rigs with treble hooks and wire leader will stand a much better chance of landing the big blues.
Speckled trout are still feeding in the river. The trout are running from smaller sizes up to nearly 5 lbs., and they’re falling for live baits fished under floats and Rapala Skitter Walks and X-Raps. Anglers can fish the live baits until they locate concentrations of actively feeding trout, then switch to the plugs.
A few red drum are still holding in the river, but anglers must be in the right place at the right time to stand a chance of hooking a drum.
The pilings of the Pfizer Dock and Snow’s Cut Bridge are holding black drum and sheepshead, and both will fall for one-armed bandit baits.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been good over the week, but the spanish aren’t feeding right on the beach. The best action has been off Wrightsville Beach between the Liberty Ship and the 5 mile area.
Fisher, of Capt. Fisher’s Guide Service, reports that speckled trout fishing in the Cape Fear River has been excellent. Jerk baits fished on weighted hooks and DOA Shrimp beneath popping corks will produce plenty of trout bites, and the fish will also hit topwaters when the wind lies down.
The nearshore reefs are producing solid catches of flounder (from 3-6 lbs.). Carolina-rigged live baits should entice the flounder to bite, and anglers must fish tight to the structure for best results. Losing a few rigs will let anglers know they’re fishing in the right place.
Black drum and sheepshead are on the feed at the ADM/Pfizer dock. Crustacean baits will tempt both fish, and anglers must use plenty of weight to get their rigs down in the swift current.
Tarpon have shown up around the river mouth, but it has been too rough to fish for them this week.
Bait is plentiful in the river, and king-sized pogies are moving along the beachfront. Smaller pogies are abundant in the Dredge Pond and upriver, and finger mullet are finally cruising along the grass edges.
Susan, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching whiting, croakers, and a few pompano. Shrimp are producing the most action on the bottom rigs, and the best fishing has been early and late in day, when the heat isn’t as bad.
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel.
Flounder are feeding well around the pier’s pilings, and anglers landed several over 3 lbs. last week. Live mud minnows have been the most effective baits for the flatfish.
Live baiters landed several king mackerel over the week, with the largest weighing 29 lbs.
The water is 80 degrees.
