Carolina Beach August 16, 2012
Chris McDougald, of Wilmington, with a 25", 7.6 lb. flounder that bit a live mullet inshore of Carolina Beach. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are catching some fat flounder throughout the area right now, with good reports coming from the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, the ICW, and Carolina Beach Inlet. Most of the fish are falling for live finger mullet, mud minnows, and menhaden, but Gulp baits will also get attention from the flatties.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas, with good action in the bays off the lower Cape Fear for anglers casting topwater plugs and soft plastics.
Some larger drum are looking for meals at nearshore structure like John’s Creek, where a live bait is tough for them to turn down.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridges and docks throughout the area (with many over 8 lbs. weighed in). Dangling live fiddler crabs or sand fleas close to the pilings is the way to tempt the sheeps to bite.
Speckled trout are a bit hit-or-miss, but anglers are connecting with some in the Cape Fear River on live baits and soft plastics.
The spanish mackerel bite is still hot around the Carolina Beach Inlet tideline on out to nearshore structure like the Marriott Reef. Most of the spanish are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights.
Aaron Weinberg with an 8 lb. sheepshead that bit a live fiddler crab in Bald Head Marina while he was fishing with Capt. Charles Gladden of Riverside Adventures.
King mackerel are feeding fairly well at spots 15-20 miles off the beach (like the 30/30), where good numbers were caught last week. Live baits are producing most of the action with the kings, but anglers can also hook up while pulling dead cigar minnows.
The gag grouper bite is also solid at spots around the 20 mile range. Live baits, dead cigar minnows, and cut baits will all tempt bites from the grouper.
Further offshore, boats making the run to the Gulf Stream reported an improved wahoo bite last week.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are catching red drum and flounder in the inlets, with live finger mullet on Carolina rigs producing most of the action.
The red bite has also been good in the bays off the lower Cape Fear River, where anglers are hooking up on topwater plugs and Gulp baits, often while sight-casting to schools of fish hunting in the shallows.
Some flounder have also been in the bays and taking an interest in the Gulps.
The spanish mackerel bite remains hot just off the inlet and beachfront. Anglers are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures and while casting metal jigs to fish chasing bait on the surface.
Carla Schoonmaker with a 31" red drum she caught and released in Carolina Beach Inlet after it struck a live finger mullet while she was fishing with her husband, Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Large sharks are feeding in the same areas and have a tough time turning down cut baits drifted within a few miles of the beachfront.
Cathy, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sheepshead while dangling sand fleas near the pier’s pilings.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
Croaker are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
And plug casters are picking up an occasional spanish mackerel while working Gotchas.
Brandon, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that some croaker and sea mullet are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
A few flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel.
