Carolina Beach August 11, 2005
Barry, at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, reports incredible nearshore fishing at times this week for king mackerel, dolphin, sailfish, and even tuna. The bigger kings are coming from 5 to 30 miles off, with 10 to 15 lb. dolphin in the same areas. The 20 mile areas have even reported tuna in the 30 lb. class.
Spanish mackerel are still biting well, with bigger fish on the live bottoms and artificial reefs.
Flounder have finally turned aggressive, not only near shore but in the inlets, river, and waterway. Speckled trout are still being caught down river, and pompano are being caught in the surf.
Mark, at Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that the puppy drum and flounder bite in the river continues to do well. The flounder fishing in general picked up over the weekend, with several 5+ lb. fish landed. The largest of the week was a couple in the 9 lb. class. Carolina Beach Inlet and Snow’s Cut have been big producers. The bait for the bigger fish has been all mullet minnows.
The surf has had a few citation size pompano. The south end of the island did well with Virginia mullet. Anglers were bringing in both good numbers of fish and good size fish. Otherwise, the surf has had some spots and croakers.
Capt. Dave Tilley, of FryingPanTower.com, reports that the offshore waters are good and warm now. Dolphin and king mackerel are plentiful, with the occasional wahoo and yellowfin. A yellowfin came from WR-4 earlier in the week, so you know the water is warm.
Inshore, limits of spanish mackerel are fairly easy to catch on 00 Clark spoons down deep. These are nice, big, fat spanish. Lots of kings are mixed in, especially around the inshore wrecks. Look for 5 Mile and 10 Mile boxcars, along with the Dredge Wreck, to be producing regularly.
Groupers, hog snappers, and American reds are chewing just about anything you put down. You’ll want to go 10+ miles for gags, 25+ miles for reds, and 30ish miles for scamps.
The inshore bottom fishing has nice sea bass from all the local rocks. The flounder have showed up as well.
