Carolina Beach August 2, 2012
Cory Fejardo and Phil Dakin, from Raleigh, with a 27" red drum and a 5 lb. flounder that bit live finger mullet in Snow's Cut while they were fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are starting to see some more speckled trout biting in the Cape Fear River (including a 6 lb. fish caught last week). Most of the fish are feeding around the grass islands and oyster points. Gulp baits and other soft plastics will tempt them to bite, and live shrimp are even better baits (although pinfish and other undesirables also love them).
Sheepshead fishing has been excellent around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure in the ICW, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other crustaceans are the go-to baits for the sheeps, and fishing them tight to the structure offers anglers the best odds of hooking up.
The red drum bite has been strong in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River, where anglers are hooking the fish on topwater plugs, Gulp baits and other soft plastics, and live baits.
Flounder are feeding in the river, the ICW, the inlets, and out at nearshore structure in the ocean. Live baits and Gulps on jigheads or bucktails are the best bets for the flatfish, with heavier jigs and sinkers the way to go in the ocean.
Spanish mackerel fishing is red hot off Carolina Beach Inlet, with boats catching quick limits many days last week. Clarkspoons dragged behind planers and trolling sinkers are the best bets for the spaniards. Anglers have also been casting diamond jigs and other small metal lures to fish feeding actively on the surface with success.
Bottom fishermen are reporting gag grouper action at spots within 10 miles of the beaches, with more fish on out to the 20 mile range. Live baits are top choices for the gags, but anglers can also hook up on cigar minnows, cut baits, and more.
Lavonne and Joy Donat with over-slot red drum they caught and released in the lower Cape Fear River while fishing with Luke Donat.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the spanish mackerel bite remains solid off Carolina Beach Inlet, with the best fishing in 30-40’ of water over the past week. Both trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal jigs to the fish has been effective lately.
Sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats in the area, and a large cut bait fished in their vicinity shouldn’t last long.
Dropping live finger mullet to the AR’s and other structure just off Carolina Beach is producing plenty of action with gray trout and flounder.
Good numbers of flounder (some to 5+ lbs.) and some upper and over-slot red drum are feeding in Carolina Beach Inlet and Snow’s Cut. Live finger mullet are tempting bites from both.
Red drum are also on the feed in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River, where Gulp and D.O.A. soft baits are producing plenty of action.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are schooled up on the flats of the Lower Cape Fear River, and anglers are finding some exciting sight fishing opportunities on calmer days. Topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic baits will tempt bites from the reds.
Parker Lovett, of Lexington, SC with his first flounder, a 6 lb., 2 oz. fish that he hooked on a live finger mullet near a grass island in the Cape Fear River while fishing with Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker.
When it’s windy, anglers are still hooking some reds along with speckled trout and flounder in the creeks behind Bald Head Island. Both live baits on Carolina rigs and soft plastics or topwaters will produce results in the creeks as well.
The reds and flounder are also feeding along marsh points in the bays off the river, where live baits and soft plastics are also effective.
Ron, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that some sheepshead are falling for barnacles dangled close to the pier’s pilings.
Some flounder and red drum are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
Brandon, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that some sea mullet, croaker, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
A few sheepshead are falling for sand fleas and fiddler crabs fished along the pilings.
Plug casters are connecting with bluefish while working Gotchas from the pier. An occasional spanish mackerel is in the mix as well.
