Carolina Beach – September 1, 2016
Lewis, of Island Tackle, reports that river fishing has been strong, where anglers can expect to connect with flounder and red drum. Use live bait (such as mullet) on Carolina rigs to target these fish. The reds are slot to over-slot, and larger doormats are starting to be weighed in.
Black drum and sheepshead are biting in Snow’s Cut. Dead or fresh shrimp will target the black drum, and the sheepshead are falling for fiddler crabs and sea urchins.
The inlet is starting to hold big, overslot reds, as well as a few bull reds, and all of the reds can be targeted with live or cut mullet.
Nearshore, there are flounder scattered amongst the wrecks, and dropping down mullet on a Carolina rig or a tipped bucktail will fool the flatfish. Anglers have also caught reds and speckled trout fishing these same areas.
Spanish and kings are being found off the beach, and anglers can target these fish by trolling Clarkspoons in 20-25’ of water. The kings now have some size to them, with fish being caught between 20-40 lbs.
Offshore, anglers are continuing to connect with small blackfin tuna and mahi.
Eddie Croom with a red drum caught in the Cape Fear River on a 7 live menhaden on a Carolina rig.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the redfish bite has picked up recently, and fish are being found in deeper water (around 6’) and on shell bottom. They are also schooling on the flats, and when conditions are right, anglers can catch them sight casting. Live bait like mullet or menhaden is most productive, but the fish will also take topwater plugs and soft plastics such as Gulp or Z-Man.
These baits have been producing flounder and speckled trout in some of the same areas as the reds. Carolina rigs with live baits have worked well for both fish.
The black drum bite has begun to pick up, with dead shrimp on the bottom being the ticket. They can occasionally be enticed by artificials and live minnows. Most fish are on the small side, but there have been 14-16” fish mixed in.
Devan Sinclair, of Benson, with a 30 redfish caught while fishing with Capt. Christian Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters. The fish fell for Carolina rigged finger mullet in the lower Cape Fear River.
Schools of ladyfish, jack crevelle, and bluefish have been reported in the river when conditions are calm. Most are small, but a few fish up to 5 lbs. have been caught. Spoons and metal jigs with flash are working best for these fish.
The bull red drum have started to show up on the nearshore reefs and structure, and using cut mullet or menhaden has been producing the best. Some of these fish have been up to the 40” range, and they should be getting even bigger into the fall season.
Capt. Rob Deanes with a 22 lb. mahi caught thirty miles off Carolina Beach. The fish bit a skirted cigar minnow.
Luke, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that the reds are taking topwaters in the evening hours, right as the sun starts to drop. Red drum are also taking live mullet on float rigs during rising tides near marsh points.
The cooler temperatures and the northwest winds have increased the trout action, with the MR17 being the ticket in the river. Any color that has green or yellow has been key.
Anglers are still catching flounder while drum fishing, either floating or sinking live mullet. Although the flatfish aren’t huge, anglers can expect keeper sized fish in the 16-19” range.
Austin DeBose with his first over-slot red drum. The 31 fish was caught and released in Carolina Beach after falling for a live finger mullet.
Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite continues to be strong on the beach. Watch for birds working the surface, and expect to find the spanish in 20-45’ of water. Troll #1 planers and Clarkspoons with at least a 30’ leader, and the leader should be no more than 20-30 lb. test. Even longer leaders may be necessary (up to 50’).
A little further offshore, there is a nice mahi bite along with a few king mackerel in the 20-30 mile range. Look for ledges, live bottom, and bait pods for best results. Slow troll dead or live bait, or cover more ground fast trolling ballyhoo and Drone spoons.
There are a few weedlines forming in the 38 mile range that have mahi action near them.
In the 23-30 mile range, the bottom fishing is a sure thing when trolling gets slow. Expect grouper, big black sea bass, pink and vermillion snapper, and triggerfish when dropping a line down.
Small blackfin (7-10 lbs.), mahi, and wahoo are out at the break; start in 150’ of water, and work the break from 175’ to 250’.
Caleb Hall, of Carolina Beach, with his first red drum. The fish was 26 and was caught on a live menhaden.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Charters, reports that nearshore the spanish mackerel bite has really turned on with the wind shift from the north. Schools of fish are starting to stack up around Masonboro and Mason’s inlets in preparation for the mullet runs, and the fish will easily fall for trolled Yo-Zuri lures and Clarkspoons. Live finger mullet will tempt bites from the bigger fish, though dead cigar minnows and dead bait rigs are working well, too. Pulling #1 planers or trolling weights will get the lures down deep enough for the fish to see. Bird squid rigs have also been working well since some of the fish are feeding near the top now.
Offshore, wahoo fishing has picked up in the past few weeks, and it’s only expected to get better in September and October. Most of the action has been around the Steeples, Same “Ol” Hole, and along ledges in 20 to 30 fathoms, but the best bite has been seen north along Yellowfin and Swansboro Hole. Using a #12 planer with a Fathom Skirted Ballyhoo has been the ticket for catching stud wahoo (along with mahi). Half pint skirt rigs have worked best in pink/white, green/yellow, and black/purple.
The sailfish bite is strong in the Gulf Stream, and the sails can be caught in the same places as the wahoo and mahi. Naked ballyhoo skipping across the water on outriggers and shotguns will tempt a bite from any billfish in the area.
Steve Haynes with a 24 flounder caught two miles off Carolina Beach. The fish fell for a white Spro bucktail with a 5 Gulp white jerk shad.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that the king bite has finally hit the pier, with three large fish decked last week, the biggest weighing in around 40 lbs. The three fish all hit king rigs, with two hooked on blues and the other on a lizard fish.
There have been a few little runs of bluefish and spanish, and those looking to target the fish should use mackerel trees or Gotcha plugs.
Those using bottom rigs tipped with shrimp have hooked a few flounder, but mostly panfish like croakers and whiting. Spots have not yet been reported.
Chris McDougald with a 30 redfish caught and released near a grass bank in the Cape Fear River. The fish bit a topwater plug.
Bobby, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that the spots have started to run, as anglers have started hooking a few of them. There was also a large king mackerel pulled over the rails the past week.
Flounder and sheepshead are being landed off the pier, using live mullet and fiddler crabs respectively.
Glenn Tranchon with a 20 flounder caught on a Carolina rig and a finger mullet in Buzzards Bay.
