Carolina Beach – October 2024
Lewis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers in the river have been doing well catching red drum, and they are also starting to see the speckled trout bite pick up.
Anglers fishing the deeper structure in Snow’s Cut have been catching quality sheepshead, black drum, and the occasional red drum.
Surf anglers are doing okay while bottom fishing, with catches including croakers, pinfish, and some small pompano. Some red drum are being caught at night.
Anglers getting a chance to run out of the inlet are seeing better numbers of spanish mackerel show up alongside plenty of bluefish.
King mackerel should start making a showing any day as they push in for their fall run.
Offshore, look for wahoo to continue to be the main action.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of red drum on both live baits and soft plastics. Most of these fish are in the 19-22” range, with scattered upper and over-slots (to 30”) mixed in. Target grass edges and shell-covered bottoms for the best chances of success.
A few smaller black drum are starting to show up in the creeks and around hard structure in the river. Fresh or frozen shrimp works best, but live shrimp are better (if you can get them). Anglers fishing mud crabs and fiddlers should also have success.
Some speckled trout are being caught on live finger mullet while targeting red drum. For the most part, the trout are good-sized fish (in the 15-17” range), and a few are touching 20”. Finding current is key when targeting trout, and focus on creek mouths or grassy points.
Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that most of the river activity has been south towards Southport and the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Bait is all over the place, with schools of mullet staging up before they make their fall run.
Isaac Fix, from Virginia, with a 31″ red drum that fell for a live finger mullet. He was fishing a creek behind Bald Head Island with Capt. Drew Tyndall of Strike Charters.
Flounder fishing has been phenomenal. Live mullet on the bottom are attracting strikes, and just about any deeper channel will be holding fish.
Red drum are being found using the same tactic. Schools are still spread out, but the majority of red drum have been more focused in the creeks.
Speckled trout action is starting to pick up. Most of the trout are out towards the main river and its outer islands. Anglers fishing topwater plugs in the morning are having a lot of success, after the morning, it’s a live bait bite.
Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that moving into October, tactics start to change for red drum. Anglers can start targeting the reds in shallow (1-2’) depth ranges along grass edges, and using live finger mullet or menhaden will be the most productive.
Early fall anglers can start targeting speckled trout by casting artificial soft plastics, topwater plugs, or shrimp imitation lures (such as D.O.A.) around the sides of oyster bars, current seam lines, or current breaks. Look for slightly deeper (4-8’) depth ranges, and moving water is key.
Black drum action picks back up for anglers fishing fresh dead shrimp in deeper holes around docks, hard structures, or rock piles.
Mason, of Grand Slam Fishing Charters, reports that red drum have been the top target, with anglers having a lot of success fishing live mullet on Carolina rigs or under popping corks. Focus on deeper creek channels on lower tides, and then work deeper flats (with 3-4’ of water) on higher tides. The reds are starting to school up, so if you’re in the right spot, the bites usually come quick.
Speckled trout are striking at live shrimp fished under corks. Be sure to focus on areas with structure and current.
These same live shrimp setups will also produce some black drum.
A better class of sheepshead are starting to present around inshore rocks and docks, with fiddler or mud crabs as the primary tactic.
Tony, of Reel Teal Charters, reports that anglers continue to do well targeting red drum along ICW docks with live mullet.
Speckled trout are starting to get more active, and live shrimp under a slip cork has been the top producing bait. Anglers fishing artificials will find popping corks with soft plastics also producing strikes. Target areas closer to the inlet with current.
Back in the river, sheepshead remain a quality target. Fish hard structures with live shrimp or live crabs.
Drew Flynn, of Carolina Beach, caught this false albacore fishing offshore of Carolina Beach trolling a cedar plug.
Rod, of OnMyWay Guide Service, reports that we are starting to see signs of the fall spanish mackerel run picking up in the area
The king action has been off over the last month or so, but in the next few weeks, anglers should find better success by focusing on the 8-20 mile range and looking for bait staged up around rocks, ledges, and hard bottoms. Some quality kings will also be caught along the beaches, though these fish are typically more scattered.
Black sea bass is one of those species that really picks up as temperatures cool down.
Anglers getting a chance to run out to the break are finding some wahoo, with a sailfish or two mixed in.
Mahi are another scattered option out there, and the fall also brings some nice-sized blackfin tuna into the area.
Jeremiah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are having some successes with spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Water temperatures on the beach are cooling down, and pier anglers on the end hope to see king mackerel catches improving.
