Carolina Beach – April 14, 2016
Red, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports solid action with trout up in the river and in the bays. Live shrimp and mud minnows have been good ways to fool the fish.
Red and black drum are in the same areas, and artificial baits such as Gulps, Z-Man Trout Tricks, and other types of paddle and curly tails fished on 1/4-3/8 oz. jig heads have been successful.
Anglers fishing around Snow’s Cut and under the bridge have started to report some early season sheepshead, caught on fiddler crabs and sand fleas.
Surf anglers have been catching whiting and black drum on cut shrimp and bottom rigs.
Offshore there have been reports of black sea bass as well as wahoo and blackfin tuna in the Gulf Stream. Trolling dead baits with black/purple and black/pink color combinations has been a good tactic in hooking up with the wahoo and tuna.
Although the weather has been rather uncooperative as of late, there have been reports that the Atlantic bonito have begun to make their annual appearance around nearshore areas such as the Liberty Ship and the Boxcars. As soon as the winds calm and the temperatures warm back up, expect the bonito bite to heat up quickly.
Victoria Cranmer from Wilmington landed this black drum in Buzzard’s Bay on fresh shrimp.
Luke, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that there has been some good red drum fishing around the Cape Fear River lately. Areas around the Snow’s Cut region and up toward the middle sections have been producing plenty of action. Look for some of the shallower transition areas and creek mouths with about 4-8’ of water to be holding fish. Spinnerbaits tipped with Down South Lures soft plastics has been a great way to connect with the drum.
Small flounder have also been caught in creek mouths and other areas along the ICW, with a few keeper fish mixed in.
Daniel Lantz, of “Chadwick and Sons Fishing Team,” with a pair of slot red drum he caught in the lower Cape Fear River. The fish fell for Betters Halo shrimp.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Charters, reports good numbers of wahoo, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and dolphin in areas with water temperatures between 68-72 degrees. Areas such as the Same Ol’, the Steeples, and Blackjack have been producing fish. Trolling skirted ballyhoo with Ilanders and Blue Water Candy Seawitches and Jags have been productive for the wahoo. For the blackfin and dolphin, Rapala X-Rap 10” Magnums and skirted rigs have been effective.
There has been a good king mackerel bite in the 30-40 mile range, as well as some smaller kings in the 20-30 mile range in warmer pockets of water between 68-72 degrees. Trolling ECO spoons under #2 planers, as well as dead cigar minnows slow trolled using 16 oz. trolling weights, have been very effective for the kings.
Bottom fishing has been good on structure 5-10 miles east of Masonboro Inlet. Good numbers of black sea bass have been caught using squid or cut bait on the bottom, as well as vertical jigs such as the Shimano Butterfly Flat-Side jigs and silver diamond jigs.
In the 10-20 mile range where the water clarity is good, there have been large schools of false albacore feeding on the surface. Look for the birds working and the bait fish breaking the surface. Casting Hogy Lure SI Epoxy Jigs into the school will catch fish regardless of what color you have.
Steve Neil, of Wilmington, with a black drum he caught with fresh shrimp on a sliding fish finder rig in the surf at Fort Fisher.
Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports offshore hook ups with blackfin tuna, wahoo, and even a few mahi mixed in. King mackerel have made their way in to the 23 Mile Rock and WR4 areas with 68 degree water temperatures being found.
The first Atlantic bonito of the season have showed up at nearshore spots like the Liberty Ship and 5 Mile Boxcar reef. The fish are not in too thick yet, but several have been landed. Trolling Clarkspoons and 3” Yo-Zuri lures have been effective for the bonito, and as the sizes of the schools increase, sight casting Stingsilvers and Gotcha lures will be effective on these great eating fish. A few spanish mackerel have also been caught in the same areas, but the recent cold snap could delay the arrival of the spanish in big numbers.
Bottom fishing ledges and live bottom in the 20 mile range is producing jumbo sea bass, snappers, and grunts.
Chris Aydlett, from Wilmington, with a 19″ striper he caught in Buzzard’s Bay on a Z-Man scented shrimp and jighead.
Chris, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been catching whiting and croaker on cut shrimp.
Linda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been landing decent numbers of whiting on cut shrimp.
The water temperature is currently 63 degrees.
