Added on Thursday, April 28, 2011  Fish Post

Carolina Beach April 28, 2011

Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the spanish mackerel have shown up around Carolina Beach Inlet. Boats can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers or casting small metal jigs at fish feeding on the surface.

Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spanish and also feeding along the beaches and at the nearshore reefs. They’ll take an interest in just about any lure that anglers can troll or cast.

The red drum bite has slowed a bit inshore, but anglers are still finding a few on the flats and around docks in the ICW. Live mud minnows, cut baits, and Gulps will attract attention from the reds.

Flounder fishing is improving, with anglers reporting catches from all over the inshore waters, but most of the fish are still on the small side. They’ll become larger and more numerous as spring wears on. The flounder will take an interest in live baits like mud minnows or Gulp baits.

Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream have been hooking decent numbers of wahoo (with some 40+ lb. citations) and blackfin tuna while trolling skirted ballyhoo and other lures.

Grouper season opens on May 1, and anglers would do well to target the 30-40 mile range for shots at gags, scamps, and reds. Live baits, large cut baits, and vertical jigs will all attract attention from the groupers.

Ryan, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters are finding action with some whiting and plenty of small bluefish. Increasing numbers of black drum (some to 5 lbs.) and some slot red drum are also falling for shrimp, mullet, and clam baits in the breakers.

Some small flounder (with a few keepers mixed in) are also feeding in the surf and will take an interest in shrimp or small live baits.

Inshore, there’s been an excellent red drum bite in the backwaters at Fort Fisher, with most of the fish falling for live mud minnows.

Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains solid in the bays off the lower Cape Fear River. The best action lately has been for anglers casting Gulp baits around oyster rocks in the bays. A few reds are feeding on the nearby flats, and they’re falling for topwater plugs as well.

Fishing fresh shrimp on bottom rigs near the oyster rocks has been attracting attention from some black drum (3-5 lbs.).

A few flounder are falling for the shrimp and Gulp baits (with some 15-17” keepers).

Off the beaches, bluefish and black sea bass are feeding around nearshore structure, and anglers are hooking big numbers on Sea Striker Jigfish lures (though the bass must be released). A few spanish are starting to intermingle with the blues, and they should only get more numerous over the coming weeks.

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking up with good numbers of red drum around the oyster rocks in the backwaters off the lower river. The fish are entering a more active summer pattern, and they’ve been responding to topwater plugs and spinnerbaits as well as scented soft plastics recently.

Some flounder are mixed in with the reds (but most are still small).

Black drum and sea mullet are taking an interest in fresh shrimp on bottom rigs at deeper holes near the mouth of the river.

Some red and black drum are also feeding around ICW docks near Carolina Beach, and anglers can connect with them while baiting Carolina rigs with live mud minnows and fresh shrimp.

Ray, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are catching plenty of smaller bluefish.

Bottom fishermen are also landing plenty of blues, along with sea mullet and some spot. Shrimp are attracting attention on the bottom rigs.

Mike, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the planks when the water’s clear. Some spanish mackerel should be joining the bluefish any day now.

Sea mullet, croaker, spot, and some small flounder are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.