Carolina Beach April 2006
Barry, at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, reports a few flounder are showing up in the inlet and waterway. Most are small, but there have been a few caught weighing up to 3 lbs. Drum and trout are picking up along the beaches, creeks, and in the shallow bays.
Bluefish are showing up on the beach, and the bonito should be thick any day now. Kings have been reported as close as 15 miles, but the best bite has been around the Tower.
Gulf stream fishing has been good for wahoo and a few tuna.
Dave, at Fryingpantower.com, reports that in the gulf stream the wahoo and yellowfin tuna are burning it up in and around the Same Ole. If you can catch a pretty day (hard to do this time of year), the fish are chewing. Skirted ballyhoo on heavy mono does the trick. If the wahoos are thick, be prepared with short wire leaders. The bite has been early, so be sure to get a wee hour of the morning start.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite has been strong in and around Frying Pan Tower. Drone spoons on planers get it done. These school-sized fish will hit just about anything that swims this time of year, so if you plan on pulling ballyhoo be sure to bring plenty. Limits are pretty easy to catch in only a couple of hours.
Inshore, the bonitos are the big name in inshore action right now. Early in the morning look for the birds working around the local wrecks and ledges. If you are trolling, then large Clark spoons will do it, but the real fun with these fish are with Hopkins lures on light spinning rigs. Approach them from downwind, idle up, and cast away.
As for bottom fishing offshore, big red grouper are chewing around the 40 mile area (125-130 feet deep). One boat had a 40 lber last week, with many over 20 lbs. Cigar minnows, spanish sardines, and whole squid will drive them crazy. A little closer in, the gags are still around, but you will have to work to catch them. The sea bass are big and plentiful this year in the 15-25 mile range. The trick is to keep moving until you find an area that has not been trap-fished during the winter. If you stop and catch nothing but barely legals, then keep moving and keep looking.
Karen, at Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports the big whiting are in the surf along Kure Beach. Many are citation-sized. Cut shrimp and bloodworms should be the best baits to try.
Other than the whiting, the black drum are showing up regularly, along with a few speckled trout, puppy drum, and bluefish.
Flounder should begin to show up anytime with the rising water temps.
Kure Beach Fishing Pier reports that Virginia mullet are around the surf in good numbers. Fresh cut shrimp has been the best bait, with artificial bloodworms a distant second. Small black drum are being caught occasionally, as well as a few small spots and puffers. The usual skates and sharks are still harassing anglers, too.
