Carolina Beach June 29, 2006
Dave, at FryingPanTower.com, reports that in the gulf stream the dolphin remain the dominate catch, with the occasional wahoo and yellowfin. There has been a nice weedline to the north and just inshore of the Same Ole that has held a lot of fish in the last week.
The recent weather is sure to have broken the weedline up, but keep an eye out for these large mats of weeds. They are sure to hold all the dolphin you can handle. Rigged ballyhoo with pink or pink/white skirts seem to the colors of choice.
Offshore, the dolphin and king mackerel are scattered throughout the offshore waters. WR-4 north to 23 mile ledge seem to be holding lots of schoolie kings. Rigged cigar minnows and rigged ballyhoo are the baits of choice, although live baits will always work.
Inshore, the spanish mackerel bite has slowed but is still active around the area inlets. Small silver or gold Clark spoons down deep will get these fish to bite. This is an early morning or late evening bite.
Kings have started to make a good showing inshore as well. Most of these are schoolie sized fish, but there are some big ones mixed in.
The offshore bottom fishing bite is seeing grouper everywhere. Find a ledge or wreck, drop some bait, and get busy. Gags are in the 20 to 30 mile range, reds are in the 25 to 35 mile range, and scamps are 30 miles and out. Try to find a spot that the fish can get out of the current. This will be where the fish hold up.
Closer to shore, bottom fishing is seeing lots of flounder. The inlets, rocks, and inshore bottom are all producing keeper flounder.
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports some good 5 pound class flounders showing up.
The big 4 inch mullet are scattered, but they will make great flounder baits if you can find some.
There are plenty of menhaden around, so live bait hasn’t been a problem.
The Cape Fear River has been productive for trout, reds, and bluefish. With the hot weather, the best times to fish have been early and late in the day when the fish are more aggressive.
The surf has been fairly slow, but there are some Virginia mullet to be caught.
Anthony, at the Kure Beach Pier, reports solid bottom fishing with spot, croaker, whiting, bluefish, and ladyfish all biting on the usual shrimp and bloodworms.
Several undersize cobia have also been caught on bottom rigs.
Some keeper flounder are eating live mullet and mud minnows.
