Carolina Beach – September 11, 2014
Donna Gurganus relased this blue marlin while trolling out of Carolina Beach with Bruce Martin near the Same Ol’ Hole. The blue fell for a Lil’ Stubby chugger and was battled on a Penn 6/0.
Weston, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder bite has been a bit up-and-down lately, but anglers have had some excellent days between the slow ones. The fresh water from recent rains seems to have moved the fish down the Cape Fear River, and the best action has been to the south of Snows Cut lately. Live finger mullet are fooling most of the flatfish, but anglers are hooking up on other live baits and soft plastics as well.
There’s also been a decent speckled trout bite recently, with the best action early and late in the day. Most of the fish are coming from the Cape Fear River, where they’re feeding around grass islands and oyster bars. Topwater plugs and soft plastic baits have been fooling the majority of the specks.
Red drum are looking for meals along the bays and flats of the lower river and, like the specks, they’ve been biting best early and late in the day. Topwater plugs like MirrOlure She Pups and Rapala Skitterwalks have been fooling good numbers of the reds, but they’ll bite a variety of subsurface artificials and natural baits as well.
Sheepshead fishing has been a bit slow, but anglers have weighed in some nice fish from Snows Cut in the past week. Live fiddler crabs fished tight to structure like rocks and bridge pilings are the way to fool the sheeps.
Out in the ocean, there’s been a solid spanish mackerel bite within a few miles of the beachfront lately. Most of the fish are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and trolling weights, but anglers who find schools of spanish chasing bait on the surface can hook up while casting metal jigs on lighter tackle.
Not many king mackerel reports have been coming in, but some fat fish were landed at Lighthouse Rocks early last week. Live menhaden are the best bet for anglers looking to hook up with the kings.
Jessica Dean, of Mount Pleasant, NC, with a red drum that struck a live finger mullet at some nearshore structure off Carolina Beach.
Warm water inshore of the break has dolphin feeding 25-30 miles offshore (some gaffers to 20 lbs.). Anglers can fool the ‘phins with live baits or while trolling dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows.
Those making the run to the Gulf Stream are finding some excellent wahoo action (with both big numbers and big fish). Most are biting ballyhoo behind skirted lures, but anglers are also hooking up while pulling baitless artificials at higher speeds.
Bottom fishermen are reporting a somewhat slow grouper bite within 25 miles of land, but they are putting together some solid catches around deeper structure in 100’+. Live, dead, and cut baits will all fool the grouper and smaller bottomfish like sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, and more.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are connecting with solid numbers of red drum while fishing around Carolina Beach Inlet and in the lower Cape Fear River. Topwater plugs are fooling many of the fish in the shallows of the river, with soft plastics and live finger mullet getting the job done in deeper water and when the fish don’t want to bite on top.
Flounder fishing has also been solid inshore, with good numbers of fish falling for live finger mullet and soft plastics in the same areas that anglers are chasing the reds.
A few speckled trout are joining the catch on many days, and anglers can expect the speck bite to turn on further as the water begins to cool with the start of fall. Topwaters, soft plastics, and live baits are the best bets for the specks.
Anglers fishing nearshore structure in the ocean are hooking good numbers of flounder and gray trout while soaking live finger mullet on the bottom. Some cobia are in the same areas and surfacing to check out boats and other items on the surface.
Hannah Winchell, of Iowa, with a 31″ red drum she caught and released after it bit a live finger mullet in Snows Cut while she was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Spanish mackerel action has been good around Carolina Beach Inlet and just off the beachfront as well. Anglers are hooking the fish while trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal lures like Stingsilvers at schools of fish chasing bait on the surface.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent red drum action in the lower Cape Fear River right now. The fish are feeding in the bays and creeks off the main river and offering anglers some exciting sight-casting opportunities on many days. Topwater plugs have been effective on the reds lately, and anglers are also hooking up while working soft plastics and casting live finger mullet, mud minnows, and shrimp on Carolina rigs.
Some flounder and speckled trout are feeding in the same areas and falling for baits that anglers are working for the reds.
Brenda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some spot and sea mullet are biting shrimp and bloodworms at night.
Anglers are hooking some flounder on live baits in the early morning hours.
Fred, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that some sea mullet and puppy drum are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas.
