Carolina Beach July 26, 2007
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has finally gotten consistent throughout the area waters. Anglers are landing nice flounder in the river, Snow’s Cut, the ICW, Carolina Beach Inlet, and the tidal creeks. The nearshore reefs are also giving up plenty of flatfish. The time tested Carolina-rigged finger mullet or peanut pogy is still the best bait for anglers in search of a flounder dinner.
The red drum bite is picking up in the river, with most fish in the upper end of the slot limit or larger. The best action has been around the islands near the river channel and in the bays, and anglers are hooking up with the reds on live baits and Gulp Alive.
Speckled trout fishing has slowed down, but anglers are still hooking a few trout while fishing for drum and flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding close to bridge and dock pilings, and they will fall for fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits.
Tarpon have shown up on the river shoals. Fish live pogies, crabs, large mullet, or chunk baits on the bottom for the best chance of hooking up.
Spanish mackerel are feeding in large schools all the way from Topsail to Southport. Anglers can target spanish by trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Clarkspoons while keeping an eye out for breaking fish. The spanish busting bait on the surface will attack Maria Jigs.
Boats are catching kings from the beaches out to the 30 mile spots. Most are typical summertime snakes and teenagers, but there are a few larger fish (20-30+ lbs.) mixed in.
Nearly everyone is trolling live pogies for the kings now, but cigar minnows and ballyhoo will also tempt the kings to strike.
Sailfish are chasing bait from a short distance off the beach out to the Gulf Stream. Live baits and ballyhoo are top choices for anglers looking for sailfish action.
Dolphin fishing is best 10+ miles offshore. The dolphin will eagerly take the same baits anglers are trolling for kings.
Grouper fishing remains solid. Many of the gags have moved inshore, and they are holding on bottom structure around 20 miles from the beach. Reds and scamps are still 30+ miles offshore.
Wahoo, dolphin, and some billfish are feeding from 45 miles offshore out to the Gulf Stream. The key to finding the bluewater fish is locating concentrations of bait.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been red hot over the past week. Anglers are catching excellent numbers of flounder (up to 7 lbs.) while fishing Carolina Beach Inlet. The flounder bite in Snow’s Cut has finally materialized as well, with anglers landing plenty of 2-3 lb. fish and a few larger. The river flounder bite has been off and on, with some good days mixed with bad ones.
At the Yaupon and McGlammery Reefs, anglers are hooking up with lots of flounder (mostly 16-18”).
No matter where they’re feeding, flounder will have a difficult time resisting a Carolina-rigged peanut pogy or finger mullet.
Finger mullet have shown up in full force, so anglers shouldn’t have much difficulty catching bait.
Speckled trout are still feeding in the river, and some have been caught in Carolina Beach Inlet as well. The trout will bite live baits or DOA and Gulp Shrimp fished beneath popping corks.
Anglers are hooking up with some red drum in the bays and the main river. A Gulp crab fished under a popping cork is more temptation than most drum can stand. Reds are also feeding in the surf zone around the shoals on the Masonboro side of Carolina Beach Inlet.
Sheepshead are feeding close to bridges and docks throughout the area, and they are particularly plentiful around the Pfizer dock. One-armed bandits (fiddler crabs) are the best sheepshead baits, and anglers can gather them in the marshes at low tide.
The Pfizer dock is also hosting good numbers of black drum (from 6-10 lbs.).
Chopper bluefish are still hunting for meals around Snow’s Cut Bridge. The blues will strike nearly anything, but anglers should use wire leaders in order to land the toothy fish.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers fishing live baits on the bottom are catching decent numbers of flounder (up to 3 lbs.).
Sheepshead (up to 7 lbs.) are holding tight to the pier’s pilings. Fiddler crabs and barnacles will tempt the fish to strike, and barnacles seem to be attracting the bigger fish.
Bottom fishermen are catching spot and whiting on shrimp.
No kings were landed over the week, but live baiters did catch some big spanish mackerel.
