Carolina Beach October 1, 2009
Larysa Biloholowskyj with a 21" flounder she hooked on her first trip kayak fishing. The flattie fell for a live finger mullet in the backwaters at Fort Fisher.
Wes, of Island Tackle, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of upper-slot red drum around Carolina Beach Inlet and in Snow’s Cut. Live finger mullet and cut baits are fooling most of the fish.
The flounder bite has been excellent in the river lately (with anglers landing a lot of citation-class fish). Most of the flatfish are falling for live finger mullet and pogies on Carolina rigs.
Speckled trout, the other component of an inshore slam, have been on the feed lately as well. Anglers are finding action with the specks while casting lures and float-rigged live shrimp around the inlet and the dredge pond.
Surf and pier anglers have been finding a good spot and croaker bite just behind the breakers. Shrimp and bloodworms will fool these bottom feeders.
Gray trout are feeding at the nearshore reefs and other structure. Anglers can hook the grays on Carolina-rigged mullet or while jigging Stingsilvers or other metal lures just off the bottom.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are feeding just outside the inlets, and anglers are hooking them while casting metal jigs to the feeding fish.
The king mackerel bite has been decent along the beaches, and anglers are hooking the fish while trolling live baits like pogies.
Bottom fishermen are reporting a good grouper bite around 25 miles offshore. Cigar minnows, live baits, and other baits will fool the groupers.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting good wahoo fishing. Some dolphin and blackfin tuna are in the mix as well, and boats recorded several sailfish and white marlin releases last week, too. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the fish.
Capt. Jamie Rushing, of Seagate Charters, with a 6.25 lb. flounder caught in the ocean off Carolina Beach on a live finger mullet while fishing with Capt. Blair White.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains strong in the lower Cape Fear River. Anglers are hooking the reds (some to 35”) around marsh grass and shell beds on live baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs.
Some flounder are mixed in, and they’re taking an interest in soft plastics and live finger mullet on Carolina rigs or jigheads.
The speckled trout bite is improving in the Cape Fear River and around Carolina Beach Inlet. Anglers are hooking the specks on live shrimp fished beneath floats and soft plastic lures.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure in the Cape Fear and the ICW, and anglers can tempt them to bite fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that strong currents are making bottom fishing tough right now, but anglers are still picking up some grouper around structure in the 30-40 mile range. Cigar minnows and cut baits are fooling the grouper.
Plenty of smaller bottomfish (like beeliners, pinkies, triggerfish, and grunts) are feeding in the same areas, and anglers can tempt them with squid.
Some small dolphin are still feeding in the same depth range, and a weightless light-line baited with a cigar minnow will produce strikes from the ‘phins.
Rose McConville with a 26" red drum she caught on a live finger mullet while surf fishing in Carolina Beach Inlet.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that there’s been a decent speckled trout bite at the inlet recently. Most of the specks are falling for live shrimp or finger mullet.
Sheepshead are feeding around docks, bridges, and other hard structure in the area, and anglers are hooking them (up to 6-7 lbs.) on fiddler crabs, rock crabs, and other crustacean baits.
Kiera, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that there’s been a solid spot run lately, with anglers picking up the fish on bloodworms and shrimp.
When the water’s been clear lately, plug casters have been hooking up with decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
