Added on Thursday, November 12, 2015  Fish Post

Carolina Beach – November 12, 2015

Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are connecting with some healthy speckled trout in the Cape Fear River at present (some to 5+ lbs.). Most are falling for live shrimp, but anglers are also hooking up while working a variety of artificial lures.

Surf casters are reporting action with some fat sea mullet and smaller trout while soaking baits from the Pleasure Island beachfront. Shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the action in the breakers.

Some large red drum have been feeding just offshore, and anglers are hooking them on cut baits cast from the ends of the island’s oceanfront piers.

Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been excellent 10-22 miles from the inlet. Anglers are hooking the kings on spoons, dead cigar minnows, and live baits.

Bottom fishing around structure in the 20-25 mile range has been producing solid gag grouper action along with black sea bass and plenty of other smaller bottomfish. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will all attract attention from the bottomfish.

Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent fishing within a short run from the local inlets at present. There’s been a stellar king mackerel bite around structure in the 10 mile range from New River Inlet all the way to Frying Pan Shoals. Anglers are hooking plenty of fish on dead cigar minnows and Drone spoons, but the largest fish have been falling for live menhaden (many 20-30+ lbs.). There have been plenty of menhaden along the beachfront for anglers searching for live baits as well.

Bottom fishing has also been hot lately, with gag grouper feeding around structure from the 12 mile range on out. Black sea bass, snappers, and a variety of other bottom feeders are looking for meals at spots 18-30 miles offshore. All will bite cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits.

Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting some slower fishing than a few weeks ago, but decent numbers of large wahoo and blackfin tuna are still being landed. The bite has been starting in the 150’ depths with good fishing from there to the break. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are fooling the majority of the wahoo and tuna.

Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers have been hooking good numbers of bluefish and false albacore while fishing just off of Carolina Beach lately. Both will pounce on trolled spoons or casting lures like Stingsilvers.

Inshore, there’s been a good bite of red and black drum and speckled trout in the lower Cape Fear River. All three are falling for live shrimp, and anglers are also hooking the specks and reds on soft plastics and other artificials.

Striped bass have begun to turn on a bit further up the river. Anglers can tempt the stripers to bite soft plastics fished around structure and current breaks.

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have found some solid speckled trout action in the Cape Fear River recently. The specks are biting soft plastics like Betts halo shrimp, Gulp baits, Trout Tricks, and D.O.A. lures.

Some large schools of red drum are working the flats off the lower river. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite topwater plugs or Gulp shrimp.

Smaller groups of reds and some black drum are feeding in the creeks off the river. Live shrimp and mud minnows fished on Carolina or float rigs are fooling the drum.

Brenda of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have ben hooking some black drum and sea mullet while baiting bottom rigs with shrimp.

Loren, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.

Some large red drum are biting cut baits fished off the end of the pier.