Carolina Beach August 12, 2010
Tom Britt, from Wilmington, with an African pompano he hooked at the Schoolhouse on a live pogie while fishing out of Carolina Beach on the "Musicman" with Capt. David Marshall.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder bite is improving, but it is still a bit up-and-down, with a day of good fishing followed by a tough bite. Most of the fish have been coming from the inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River (they’re averaging 1.5-3 lbs. with fish up to nearly 10 lbs. weighed in last week).
As usual, red drum are feeding in the bays off the lower river, and there’ve been some schools in the main river as well (with good numbers of over-slot fish). Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits will attract attention from the reds.
Speckled trout (most 2-3 lbs.) are feeding around the grass islands in the river. Live shrimp and D.O.A. imitations fished under popping corks are the way to go for the trout.
The spanish mackerel bite has been on-and-off lately (with fish ranging from 6” to several pounds). Plenty of bluefish are in the mix, especially around the inlet in under 10’ of water, so trolling a little deeper will help anglers key in on the spanish.
King mackerel are scattered throughout the area from the beaches to spots in 100’ of water. Live-baiting with pogies is the way to target the biggest kings, but anglers can also hook up while trolling dead cigar minnows.
There are still good numbers of dolphin in the area, particularly when anglers can find some floating debris to fish around. Trolling ballyhoo will fool the bigger fish, and anglers can hook the smaller peanuts on pieces of squid or other small baits.
Anglers reported several sailfish from the 30/30 area last week.
Bottom fishermen are finding solid action with pinkies, grunts, and gag and red grouper at structure 30+ miles out. Live and dead baits will fool the grouper, while squid will appeal to the smaller bottom dwellers.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that there’s still solid red drum fishing on the flats of the lower Cape Fear River. Several large schools are working the shallows looking for food, and topwater plugs and soft plastics will get their attention.
Smaller groups of fish are feeding in deeper water in the area, and they will take an interest in live baits.
Good numbers of flounder (some to nearly 5 lbs.) are mixed in with the reds and falling for live baits and soft plastics.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure like rocks and docks inshore, and anglers can tempt them to bite live fiddler crabs.
Tanya Wilson, from Wilmington, with a 9.8 lb. flounder she hooked on a live pogy during a Got-Em-On club flounder tournament. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers are finding solid action with red drum and flounder in the bays off the lower Cape Fear. They’re fooling them with live baits and soft plastics. Some of the reds are also falling for topwater plugs.
The flounder fishing in the main river has been decent, with most of the fish taking an interest in live finger mullet and peanut pogies.
Out in the ocean, there’s been a good spanish mackerel bite for anglers casting metal lures to the breaking schools of fish.
Large sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats, and they will take an interest in cut and dead baits.
Fishing live baits at nearshore structure (like the Marriott Reef) is producing some action with gray trout and flounder.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that anglers are finding a decent dolphin bite in the 20 mile range lately. Live pogies are attracting their attention. Plenty of sharks and barracudas are in the mix as well.
Red, scamp, and gag grouper are feeding at ledges, reefs, and other bottom structure in the 30-40 mile range. Anglers can hook the grouper on live, dead, and cut baits, and smaller bottom feeders like sea bass, beeliners, grunts, and triggerfish on squid and smaller cut baits.
Margaret Pennstrom, of Carolina Beach, with a sailfish she hooked on a live pogie 18 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while fishing with Austin Eubank on the "Clearly Hooked."
Danielle, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are catching some flounder on small live baits.
A few bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Live-baiters fishing from the end of the pier landed a 21 lb. king mackerel last week.
Jacob, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and some bluefish on Gotchas.
Pinfish and pompano are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
Anglers dropping small live baits to the bottom are catching good numbers of flounder.
