Added on Thursday, July 31, 2008  Gary Hurley

Carolina Beach July 31, 2008

Trey, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing is still solid in the inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the ICW, with the best bite lately centered around the inlet. Anglers fishing Carolina-rigged finger mullet landed flounder exceeding 8 lbs. last week.

Anglers are also catching some flounder at nearshore structure like John’s Creek, Yaupon Reef, and the Marriott Rocks. Carolina rigs will draw bites at the oceanic structure, too.

Spadefish are also schooled up on the Marriott Rocks and Yaupon, and anglers can target them by chumming with jelly balls, then using strips of the jellies as hooked baits.

Anglers are also catching some speckled trout, red drum, and flounder in the deep holes of Buzzards Bay on live baits and Gulps.

Anglers are finding a few large sheepshead at hard, rocky structure, and they’ll fall for fiddler crab baits.

There’s been a good spanish mackerel bite the past few days a little further off the beach than normal, with the best action starting in around 45′. Boats dragging Clarkspoons are finding fast action with the spaniards once they locate the schools.

The king mackerel bite has been good from just off the beaches out to spots in the 30 mile range lately, and live baits are the best king producers right now.

Some dolphin are still feeding 10+ miles offshore, and they’re eating baits that anglers are trolling for the kings.

Sailfish are also becoming fairly common around spots 10 or more miles off the beach, and trolling live pogies or dead ballyhoo with dredge teasers is the best way to raise one of the inshore billfish.

Bottom fishing has still been solid at structure 35 miles out and further. Live, dead, and cut baits will all fool red, gag, and scamp grouper along with other bottomfish.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the flounder bite is still fairly strong in the inlet, and anglers are also hooking up with some flatfish in the ICW. Many of the fish are 5+ lb. doormats, especially in the inlet. Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties.

Anglers fishing around rocky structure in the Cape Fear are hooking up with some black drum while fishing dead shrimp on bottom rigs.

Docks between Williams Landing and Carolina Beach are producing action with black drum, sheepshead, and red drum. Fiddler crabs are drawing bites from all three.

Gray trout have begun to show up at Sheepshead Rock, and they should be feeding at other nearshore structure soon. They’ll bite Stingsilvers and other jigging lures or live and dead baits on the bottom.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that bottom fishing remains good at structure 35-40 miles off Carolina Beach. While anglers may have to search a few spots to find the productive bottom, they’ve been picking up good numbers of red grouper (some 15 lbs.) when they do. Some scamps, big beeliners, and other bottomfish are also falling for the squid, cut baits, and live baits that are fooling the groupers.

Anglers light-lining dead cigar minnows while bottom fishing are finding action with king mackerel and some dolphin (a few to 12 lbs.).

 

Kelsey, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that that anglers are catching some bluefish on shrimp.