Carolina Beach – July 21, 2016
Cody, of Island Tackle, reports that inshore the red drum have been hanging out around the rock wall in Fort Fisher, as well as in the waterway. Anglers can target these fish (the majority of them 27” and up) with finger mullet or soft plastics.
Flounder are also around the same rocks along the river side and further down. Bucktails tipped with strips of mullet are working well to tempt these fish to bite. Anglers have had success with landing bigger flatfish using Gulp and Pro-Cure together, and they’re finding fish up to 5-7 lbs.
Under Snow’s Cut Bridge, anglers have been hooking up with sheepshead and large black drum. The sheeps are falling for sand fleas, barnacles, and fiddler crabs, and anglers shouldn’t be surprised if they also hook up with a big red on a sand flea, too.
Big pompano and whiting are in the surf, and fresh shrimp on a two hook bottom rig has been working well. Sharks have also been landed from the surf, mostly during the evening and nighttime hours, and they’re taking baits like pinfish, croaker, and bluefish.
Fishermen have been connecting with large spanish off the pier, and the spaniards are hitting live bait (like mullet and pinfish). A few small cobia have been reported, and many tarpon have been spotted and a few landed.
Nearshore, boats are trolling for spanish with success. They’re also hooking up with small kings, and both the spanish and small kings are responding to Clarkspoons behind #1 planers. Larger kings have moved into the 5-10 mile range where the water is cooler. Tarpon are also in the area, and the best baits for these large sportfish are live menhaden or pinfish.
The mahi bite has been plentiful from the 20 mile mark and out, and wahoo will be mixed in around 73 miles out. Sailfish are being reported, as well as a few African pompano.
Cole Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, and Jacob Johnson with a 34 red drum they caught while fishing in Snows Cut. The fish fell for a finger mullet on a Carolina rig.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum fishing has picked up a bit. The fish tend to hold up in deeper water in the heat of the day, but anglers can find them schooled up on the flats when conditions are right. The fish are favoring artificials and live finger mullet and menhaden, and anglers can expect a variety of sizes to the reds, from under to over slot.
Flounder seem to be favoring artificial baits, and anglers have had the most success with scented paddletails. Live menhaden or mullet on a Carolina rig will also work to fool the fish.
There are a few black drum and sheepshead inshore, and anglers can target them with fresh shrimp and fiddler crabs, respectively.
Tarpon are being reported around the beach, and anglers can find them cruising the beaches and around bait pods.
The spanish are just off the beach and hanging around the bait. Early morning is the best time to target the spanish.
Tyler Nelson, of Catawba, with a speckled trout he caught in Snows Cut on a live mullet.
Luke, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that redfish have been schooled up on the flats. Topwater lures have been the most popular with the reds, but on days where the fish are being picky, use live bait under a float rig. Anglers can expect fish from 23-30”.
The flounder bite has been consistent, and the best way to catch the flatfish is a 1/2 oz. jighead topped with a live mullet or pogie. Gulp shrimp or jerk shad work well on the flounder, too.
The speckled trout bite is hit or miss, but those caught have been 15-22” fish. The bite is best during the first couple of hours of the day when the weather is cooler, and the fish are falling for topwaters as well as Down South plastic lures.
Anglers are still catching some spanish, and the fish (ranging in size from 12-20”) can be caught by casting to them with Shore Lures.
Rod, of On My Way Charters, reports that nearshore the spanish mackerel bite continues to be strong, with anglers catching fish up to 3 lbs. Troll clarkspoons behind #1 planers or trolling sinkers in 20-35’ of water, and look for birds working the bait balls.
Offshore the mahi bite continues to be good in the 15-25 mile range, and boats should either slow troll live or dead bait, or fast troll ballyhoo. Work the structure areas, ledges, rocks, live bottom, or any floating debris you can find.
Bottom fishing in the 20-40 mile range has proven successful with fishermen connecting with black sea bass, snapper, and grouper.
Fishing the break, anglers have caught blackfin tuna and mahi.
Camille Clark with a 4.5 lb. flounder that she caught while fishing near Carolina Beach with her father, Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore the spanish mackerel and bluefish are right off the beach in about 40’ of water, and early morning is the best time to target them. Troll from 7-9 knots using #1 planers and Clarkspoons, with silver/pink and silver/chartreuse being the best colors. Troll the spreads on the outside of a school for best results.
King mackerel have been caught 10-14 miles off the beach. Fishermen should look for suspended bait marks to find the fish. Running Drone spoons off the down riggers, or live cigar minnow rigs slow, has been working on the fish. Hank Brown rigs have also worked to fool the kings.
Anglers in the Gulf Stream have connected with mahi and blackfin tuna, along with the occasional wahoo and sailfish. Rigged ballyhoo and baitless lures have been producing the bites, with mahi being the most abundant from the Steeples to the Same Ol’ Hole.
Jill Bradner, of Garner, and Paul White, of Danville, VA, with two red drum they in the lower Cape Fear River on live mud minnows. The pair was fishing with Capt. Jeff Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that sheepshead and flounder are being pulled over the rails. Anglers looking to target the flounder should use live minnows, and the sheepshead can be fooled using barnacles.
Bottom rigs with shrimp are catching whiting and croaker, and a few blues and spanish are still being landed.
One tarpon was reported, but recent sightings of the migratory fish have been scarce.
Freddie, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs. Flounder are falling for live bait, and black drum are biting on shrimp.
Anglers looking to connect with Virginia mullet have had luck in the evenings and nighttime using shrimp.
