Carolina Beach July 2, 2009
Chad Burchette, of Wilmington, with a 40 lb. dolphin that fell for a ballyhoo under a blue/orange JAG near the Same Ol'. He was fishing with Joe Currie aboard the "LeverDrag."
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are still finding good numbers of dolphin at spots starting around 8 miles off Carolina Beach, where a weed line was present last week. All the wrecks and rocks from 10 miles on out are likely places to encounter the fish.
Plenty of schoolie king mackerel are mixed in with the dolphin, and trolling live pogies or dead cigar minnows will get attention from both fish.
Some grouper are feeding close to the beaches as well, as a 15 lb. gag landed 7 miles offshore last week proved.
Amberjacks are holding on wrecks and other high-relief structure in the area, and live baits will tempt them to bite.
The wrecks in the 20+ mile range are holding good numbers of keeper sea bass, and anglers are hooking them on vertical jigs and bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits.
The flounder bite’s been good in the surf and at the mouth of the inlet, with a few fish coming from the nearshore wrecks and other structure as well. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs will produce action with the flatfish.
The flounder bite’s been good in the river, too, and anglers caught several fish from 5-10+ lbs. last week.
Surprisingly, there are still good numbers of speckled trout (some to 4 lbs.) feeding in the river, too, and fishing live shrimp beneath floats near grass islands and rocky structure in the lower river will attract the attention of any trout in the neighborhood.
Sheepshead fishing has been solid around oyster rocks, pilings, and other hard structure in Snow’s Cut and the river (with fish pushing 10 lbs. weighed in last week). Live fiddler crabs are top baits for the sheepshead.
Ladyfish have begun to show up in the river, too, and anglers can chase them after dark with live baits or a variety of lures.
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Lonnie Crawford, of Kure Beach, NC, with a 3 lb. speckled trout and a 4 lb. flounder that fell for live peanut pogies on Carolina rigs. He was fishing with his son Curtis in Carolina Beach Inlet.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the nearshore (within 10 miles) dolphin and king mackerel bite has been on fire over the past week, often to the point where anglers can’t manage to get a full spread of baits out without hooking up. Live pogies on naked rigs are drawing plenty of strikes from both fish.
A few sailfish are mixed in with the dolphin and kings as well, so anglers may have an opportunity to release a billfish within sight of land.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been a little hit-or-miss lately. Anglers are still catching some nice flatfish around Carolina Beach Inlet, Snow’s Cut, and nearby docks. Carolina-rigged finger mullet and peanut pogies are the best baits for the flounder.
The speckled trout bite has been good lately despite the hot weather. Anglers are catching specks (some in the 2-4 lb. class) on float-rigged live shrimp around structure like oyster rocks in the lower Cape Fear River.
Hard structure throughout the area is holding good numbers of sheepshead, and anglers can hook them on fiddler crabs, rock crabs, or other crustacean baits.
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David Graham, of Whiteville, NC, with his first dolphin and king mackerel. He hooked the pelagics 15 miles offshore of Carolina Beach while slow-trolling live pogies with Capt. Josh Dewberry of Atta Buoy Charters.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing, reports that the sheepshead bite has been good lately, with anglers boxing up big numbers of fish (up to 4+ lbs.) while fishing fiddler crabs under floats near rocks, oyster bars, and other structure.
The speckled trout bite is improving, and live shrimp under floats are getting attention from the specks. Anglers looking for trout should target grass islands and rocky structure with plenty of current for the best results, and float-rigged live shrimp are drawing attention from the specks.
There are still some red drum schooling in the backwaters of the lower river, but anglers need a slick-calm, early morning in order to find the fish. Later in the day, anglers can find the feeding reds scattered throughout the marshes. Spinnerbaits and a variety of soft plastics will get attention from the drum.
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Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the grouper bite has been excellent lately. Anglers are catching plenty of legal red groupers and some stout gags (15+ lbs.) on bottom structure 30-40 miles off Carolina Beach and around the Frying Pan Tower. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will draw strikes from the grouper.
Plenty of smaller bottomfish like sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and others are feeding on the same structure as the groupers, and squid or cut baits will get attention from them.
Dolphin and some small king mackerel are feeding on the surface in the same areas where anglers are bottomfishing, and a cigar minnow or sardine fished on a weightless light line will attract their attention.
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Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that anglers are hooking up with king mackerel, dolphin, and barracuda while live and dead baiting at spots 10-25 miles off the beach.
A few cobia have been reported from the Dredge Wreck lately.
Bottom fishermen found some solid action with gag grouper and some American red snapper at spots around 35 miles off the inlet last week. Live baits, cut baits, and cigar minnows will produce action with these bottom feeders.
In the surf, anglers have been hooking a mixed bag of pompano, red drum, black drum, spot, whiting, and flounder around Fort Fisher.
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Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are decking some bluefish, whiting, pompano, and spadefish on cut shrimp.
Flounder are falling for live mud minnows and finger mullet fished on the bottom.
