Carolina Beach – May 2021
Lewis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf anglers have been having a lot of success with whiting while fishing bottom-rigged baits. Black drum and scattered blowtoads are mixed in with the bottom fishing action.
Only a few bluefish have begun to push within casting range, but this fishery gets much better with warmer water temperatures.
Inshore anglers have been catching both black and red drum around structured areas with cut baits. The first push of smaller flounder are starting to be mixed in. Though catch and release, they are striking live baits and soft plastics fished on the bottom.
Large schools of whiting are being caught around the Cape Fear River mouth and some of the deeper, nearby channels.
Good-sized spanish mackerel have started to show up around bait balls in the area. Schools of both bonito and bluefish are feeding on these same bait schools along the beaches and around the inlets.
King mackerel have slowly started to push closer to the beach, but most of the schoolie-sized fish are holding in the 10+ mile range.
Anglers fishing deep offshore structure in the 20+ mile range are catching amberjacks.
Garner Wainwright with a 25″ red snapper caught (and released) on a Seigler SGN. He was fishing out of Carolina Beach.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action on black drum while bottom fishing. Both Carolina and jig head-rigged shrimp have been the top producing setups, and target areas with current and oyster shell bottoms. Most of the drum have been in the 2-3 lb. range, but a few larger ones are mixed in.
Red drum have been mixed in with the black drum action. There has been a good variety of slot and just under-slot fish. Most of the redfish are being caught with the same tactics used in targeting black drum. Anglers looking to fish artificial baits are having success with Gulp baits, or (of course) live mullet should produce bites. Most of the redfish are feeding during the low water cycles when oyster shell banks and beds are exposed.
Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that red drum have started breaking out of the large schools they hold in over the cooler months and they’re spreading out in the river. Look for some of the best action to be had in the main river channel with bottom-rigged live bait.
Live bait has shown up in the area and is being found just about anywhere from Snow’s Cut to Bald Head Island. Going forward, the use of this bait is key in targeting local fish.
Speckled trout action has been hit or miss, with MirrOlure MR-17s producing most strikes.
A couple scattered flounder are being caught, with bottom-rigged live baits being the top tactic. Anglers expect to see plenty more action over the coming weeks.
Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito, false albacore, and spanish mackerel are along the beachfronts and into the inlets. Anglers have had a lot of success while sight-casting to surface-feeding fish with Big Nic jigs.
With inshore water temperatures now in the mid-60s, the red drum action really starts ramping up. Topwater plugs have been working great when targeting oyster bars. For fishing deeper holes and grassy edges, it’s a good idea to switch over to soft plastics.
Recent trips are starting to see a good push of black drum moving around deep holes and structure. Using the freshest possible shrimp has been key to getting strikes.
The speckled trout bite is starting to show signs of life now that water temperatures are on the rise. Both topwater baits and hard plastic jerk plugs fished in a nice current have been producing most of the action. Look for these schools to be staged up around the mainland creek mouths.
David Rowland caught (and released) this over-slot red drum on a piece of cut shrimp while fishing the Kure Beach surf.
Rod, of OnMyWay Fishing Charters, reports that ever since spanish mackerel arrived in the area, the bite has been wide open. It has been a great class of fish so far, with large fish (up to 7+ lbs.) pushing onto the beaches. The classic #0 sized Clarkspoon behind a #1 planer has been the most productive setup for both numbers and size.
Atlantic bonito are in the area, though they have thinned out after the first main wave. Over the next few weeks, anglers will see more of these scattered schools as they migrate north.
Schoolie-sized king mackerel are moving onto the beaches and are mixed in with the spanish.
Larger kings have still been more offshore in 65-67 degree water around the Tower and Schoolhouse areas.
Bottom fishing continues to be on fire, with larger (18-20”) black sea bass being found around mid-range structures. Grunts, pinkies, and American red snapper are all mixed in thick around these same rocks and ledges.
Gulf Stream trips have been very productive with yellowfin and blackfin tuna. Smaller Sea Witch skirts in the black/orange, blue/white, and Green Lantern color patterns have all been working well.
It has been a good idea to run a bait or two deep with a wire for the wahoo that are in the area.
With May moving in, anglers will see the large push of mahi into the area.
Jeremiah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that whiting has been the top target going into May, with consistent numbers of fish just beginning to arrive.
Bluefish are mixed in the daily action, with fish coming from both bottom-rigged baits and casting jigs.
Spanish mackerel fishing is picking up now that water temperatures are rising along the beach. As more schools of bait push by the pier, the action will get better for anglers casting Gotcha plugs.
