Carolina Beach – May 26, 2016
Cody, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder fishing around Snow’s Cut and in the river has been heating up with many fish up to 5 lbs. being caught. Schools of pogies have been thick in these areas and have been the bait of choice for the flatfish.
Red drum are being caught in the river using live pogies as well.
Surf fishing has been producing catches of bluefish, pompano, and black drum. A few whiting are still being caught, but those numbers are diminishing as the water temperature continues to rise.
Off the local piers, Gotcha plugs are catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Nearshore, gray trout are being caught with jigs, and the king mackerel are about 10 miles off the beach.
Gulf Stream action has been solid, with mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna reported.
Nathan Vosler, of Archdale, with a mahi he caught while trolling near the Sale Ol with a blue/white skirted ballyhoo. He was fishing aboard the Sarahs Worry Too.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there has been good action with black drum around drop-offs of oyster points at lower stages of the tide as well as around marsh edges where there are oyster bars at higher tides. Using Carolina rigs and float rigs baited with small whole shrimp has been the best tactic for the black drum, and a few reds have been caught using the same methods.
Red drum have been schooled up on the flats, and the sight fishing has been good when the winds are light. Topwater plugs, gold spoons, Gulp shrimp, and other soft plastics have been effective for the reds.
Speckled trout have been providing action around eddies on falling tides and the first part of the rising tide. DOA jerk shad and Gulp shrimp have been a good way to hook up with the trout.
Flounder have been showing up and taking interest in live mud minnows and peanut pogies.
Sheepshead are around structure and will fall for fiddler crabs pinned to a Carolina rig dangled around pilings.
Team Debbie Ann, with Capt. Harry Ireland, won the CCA NC Cobia Challenge Fishing Tournament on May 22, 2016, with a fish that weighed in at 61 lbs., 6 oz.
Luke, of TopWater Guide Company, reports that there has been great action with large spanish mackerel off the beaches the past couple of weeks. Casting Shore lures to where the fish are feeding is a good way to hook up.
Red drum have also been providing action along several areas off the ICW. Down South Red Shad plastics on 1/8 oz. jigheads have been very effective for hooking up with the reds.
Barry Coleman, of Wilmington, with a black sea bass he caught from the pier during the 18th Annual Cape Fear Disabled Sportsmans Fishing Tournament. The Got-Em-On Live Bait Club, along with Kure Beach Fishing Pier, sponsored the event for over 400 anglers and helpers.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been very good around the AR reefs, with a few cobia being caught close to shore as well. Jigging a Spro 2 oz. glow or white bucktail tipped with 4” Gulp shrimp has been the best bait for the flounder.
The spanish are starting to show up in large numbers, with plenty of bait fish 2-5 miles off the beach front. Trolling from Wrightsville Beach to Carolina Beach has been filling limits. Clarkspoons fished behind planers has been the most productive, and the fish are also taking an interest in casting jigs when feeding around bait balls near the surface.
Offshore, the yellowfin and blackfin tuna, mahi, and wahoo bite has been solid. Medium to small ballyhoo skirted with Sea Witches or Blue Water Candy Tweeners and mini Jags have all been working well. Look for water between 72-77 degrees and start in 110-150’ of water, but the best fishing has been around 65 miles offshore from the Same Ol’ north to Yellowfin trolling in 250-350’ of water along the ledge.
Michelle Barnes with a 32 red drum that she caught and released near the Snows Cut Bridge.
Rod, of On My Way Charters, reports that the fishing around Carolina Beach has been great.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel are biting with bag limits of fish being caught. Many of these spring run fish are on the large size (between 2-5 lbs.). Look for birds and bait pods to locate the fish, and troll Clarkspoons behind #1 planers and 2-4 oz. trolling sinkers to hook up with the spanish. Trolling small Yo-Zuri Deep Diver plugs has been successful as well.
There has also been a nice run of cobia along the beach. Look for bait pods of pogies with sea turtles and rays around, and the cobia are often tagging along. Live baits and casting bucktails have been the best way to hook up with the cobes.
A bit further offshore, king mackerel are in the 5-20 mile range, with the best bite currently being at the 10 mile 10 fathom curve line. Work the live bottom and ledges along that depth from Frying Pan shoals to the north end of Topsail and you will find the fish.
Bottom fishing has been great with black and gag grouper caught, and a bit further out at 30+ miles, the red and scamp grouper can be found as well.
Gulf Stream trolling continues to be good with plenty of mahi, tuna (mainly blackfin), and wahoo. There have also been a few billfish released as well.
Sunny Radcliffe caught this false albacore off Carolina Beach with Capt. Jeremy Vines of Fillet and Release Charters.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are landing some flounder, red drum, whiting, and croaker.
Steve, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are finding some Virginia mullet and red drum.
