Added on Thursday, September 3, 2009  Fish Post

Carolina Beach September 3, 2009

Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the nearshore flounder bite is still decent but a bit slower than in recent weeks. Anglers are still pulling a few flounder off nearshore structure like the Marriott Reef and the wrecks.

Some large red drum and gray trout are feeding in the same areas, and anglers can hook them on the same baits they’re using for flounder—Carolina-rigged finger mullet or peanut pogies.

The flounder bite has been hit-or-miss inshore as well, but anglers weighed in some solid flatties (up to 5-6 lbs.) they hooked in Snows Cut this week. Live baits are top choices for the inshore flounder as well.

Sheepshead are still feeding around hard inshore structure like rocks and bridge and dock pilings. Live fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure will fool the sheeps.

Before the big swells last week, surf fishermen were finding a decent whiting bite, so the fishing should again be good when the weather’s calm.

Not many boats made it offshore last week due to the swells.

 

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still finding action with red drum in the backwaters off the Lower Cape Fear River. Soft plastic baits like Redfish Magic Glass Minnows and topwater plugs will fool the reds when they’re feeding actively, but anglers may be forced to use live finger mullet, mud minnows, or shrimp when the fish are a bit more reluctant to bite.

Some speckled trout, ladyfish, and flounder are feeding alongside the reds, and they will all strike the same baits.

Schools of reds are working some of the flats in the area, but they’ve been skittish lately, so anglers must be stealthy when approaching them in order to get bites.

Sheepshead are feeding around oyster rocks and other hard structure in the area, and anglers can hook them on fiddler crabs or other baits fished tight to the structure.

Tripletails are in the river. Anglers may find them hanging around crab pot buoys on the surface. When the tripletails are sighted, casting a live shrimp to them will often tempt them to bite.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that sheepshead are still feeding around inshore structure, and anglers are hooking them on fiddler crabs, mud crabs, and other crustacean baits.

Speckled trout fishing is heating up in the Cape Fear River, and anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp, D.O.A.’s and other lures. The week of cooler weather coming up should kick the trout fishing up another notch, and it will only get better as fall progresses.

The flounder bite has been hit-or-miss inshore, but anglers are catching a few in Snows Cut and the Cape Fear River on live finger mullet.

The flounder bite is still happening on the nearshore structure in the ocean, with the best action at spots to the south like Sheepshead Rock and the Peterhoff Wreck. Live baits on Carolina rigs are the go-to’s for the ocean flounder as well.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that grouper and other bottomfish are feeding on ledges, live bottoms, and other structure 30-40 miles off Carolina Beach.

When the weather lets boats get out, anglers can hook the gag, red, and scamp grouper as well as bottomfish like grunts, pinkies, sea bass, triggerfish, and more by dropping squid, cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits to the structure.

Some king mackerel should be feeding in the same areas, and anglers keeping a light-line out while bottom fishing give themselves an opportunity to hook any kings that happen by.

 

Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking flounder on live finger mullet from the pier (with many 2-3 lbs.).

Fishing barnacles tight to the pilings is producing action with some sheepshead.

Bottom fishermen are decking some croaker, spot, and bluefish on shrimp.

Plug casters are also picking up a few blues on Gotchas.