Carolina Beach May 25, 2006
Dave, at Fryingpantower.com, reports that the gulf stream is a mixed bag of yellowfin tuna and dolphin, with a few wahoos mixed in. As the water continues to warm, you will see the yellowfin slack off and dolphin take over and then move closer to shore. Overall it has been an early morning bite on rigged ballyhoo.
Offshore, the king mackerel are on the move now. Schoolies can be had from the Dredge Wreck on out. There have been reports of limits caught in an hour or two in the 20-mile range. Rigged ballyhoo on small skirts, rigged cigar minnows, and trolled Pirate plugs will all get the job done.
Inshore, the spanish are here. Starting at the area inlets, look for clean water and diving birds, and go with 00 Clark spoons on small planers.
Offshore on the bottom, the red grouper and scamps are in the 35-mile range, and they’re hungry. Gags are kind of scattered, yet they’re starting in the low to mid 20-mile range. As the water warms up, they will move closer to shore in numbers. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut bait are always a great mix for these fish.
Black sea bass are still biting real well anywhere from 5 miles on out. Just find a small bump or rock.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that inshore fishing is improving with the warming water temperatures. Most of the recent water temps have been 67-68 degrees.
Lots of big blues have been caught recently. They’re ranging from 8-15 pounds, with most of the larger ones coming from the Cape Fear River near Southport.
Lots of flounder are being caught, but most are still small. They’re scattered with average sizes ranging from 14-17 inches.
There’s plenty of menhaden in the area, but the finger mullet still haven’t shown up.
For speckled trout, look to pick up a fish or two in the river.
And for reds try the wrecks located about one mile off the beach.
Mike, at Kure Beach Pier, reports big bluefish hitting off the pier with fish ranging up to 7 pounds. Spanish are mixed in with the blues when the water clears up.
On the bottom, flounder are biting live baits and ranging up to 2.5 lbs.
And cut shrimp has been good for Virginia mullet and pompano.
