Carolina Beach – August 15, 2019
Red, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are finding their typical summer catches. Flounder of all sizes are coming from the river, with throwbacks and citation-sized fish equally as common. Bigger redfish are staging up in the inlet, while sheepshead and black drum can be found around bridges, docks, and structure.
The main story in the surf has been big pompano. A good red drum bite has also been enjoyed by those fishing the beach.
Decent catches of flounder can be found on nearshore structure. Live bait has been bringing in the most fish.
Bigger kings have been found here and there in the nearshore and offshore waters, but the catch has been spotty.
The mahi bite has been pretty good lately from 24-29 miles, with areas like 23 Mile Rock and the waters to the southwest producing lots of nice fish. The key to finding mahi is to first find clean blue water.
Offshore bottom fishing has been on fire, with reports of grouper, scamps, gags, porgies, pinkies, grunts, beeliners, and triggers. Live bait has been the best option for bringing in these fish.
Michael Fraser, of Raleigh, NC, with a 5.3 lb. speckled trout caught on a live mullet in the lower Cape Fear River.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that decent numbers of slot red drum are biting. Most fish are lower- to mid-slot fish. Mullet minnows have been easier to find lately, and fishing on the bottom with a Carolina rig has produced the majority of the fish.
Flounder are chewing live baits and artificials around creek mouths and shallow drop-offs. Scented plastics will work, but mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig will work best. Most fish are small, but some keeper fish in the 16-20” range are being brought in.
The area’s starting to see a few trout in the mix whenever fishing with live baits. It’s not uncommon now to catch a few specks while fishing for reds. Most of the trout have been in the 16-18” range, but fish up to 25” have been caught.
David Coefield, of Carolina Beach, NC, with a 32″ red drum caught and released while fishing docks in the ICW near Carolina Beach.
Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that it hasn’t been hard to find a dozen reds and a dozen flounder in a given day, with almost all of the reds being upper- to over-slot and the flatties staying above the 20” mark. Carolina-rigged pogies and mullet have been getting the job done, while calm waters have been making topwater fishing easy for the reds in the morning. A few speckled trout have been mixed in with the topwater reds.
Flounder have been aggressive and easy to find on the nearshore wrecks, with 20 fish days not out of the realm of possibility. Very few of these fish have been undersized, and while some have been as big as 6 lbs., most of them are averaging in the 2-3 lb. range. Pogies and mullets will both work on a Carolina rig, but mullet are preferable, as they’re a heartier bait.
Luke, of Coastline Charters, reports that ocean fishing has been on fire, as the red drum have really turned on. Focus on areas with structure, and drop down live or cut baits.
Over-slot and slot-sized redfish are feeding up and down the ICW. Topwater baits early are working well, but Carolina-rigged finger mullet or cut bait is generating better numbers of fish (and producing throughout the day). Fishing docks and deep holes will produce fish.
The flounder fishing in the ocean is still strong. Carolina-rigged finger mullet, as well as bucktails, are producing limits of flatfish. The nearshore wrecks, live bottoms, and ledges will all have flounder on them this time of year.
Flounder fishing inshore is going very well, too. Boat docks, deep holes, and creek mouths are all holding fish. Finger mullet and Z-Man products on a Blue Water Candy jig are the go-to options, and it seems the last little bit of rising tide and the first bit of the falling tide is producing the best bites.
Rod, of OnMyWay Fishing Charters, reports that there have been some big spanish caught along the beach.
King fishing with live bait in the 20-28 mile range has been producing plenty of fish, and quite a few mahi have fallen for the trolled live baits as well. A handful of cobia have been hooked in the 20 mile range, too.
The ledges offshore of the Schoolhouse and south of WR4 (as well as 23 Mile Rock) have been holding plenty of fish. The key to finding them is to focus on the bluest water you can find.
The American red snapper bite has been productive in the 20-30 mile range in depths of 80-100’. A good mix of other bottom fish have been caught in the same stretch of water, with plenty of black sea bass, pinkies, and triggerfish all coming in.
Woody, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that blues and spanish have been the biggest catch. The best bait has been shrimp, with most of the fish coming in during the morning.
The water has been clear.
