Carolina Beach August 20, 2009
Elbert Helton, of Wilmington, with a 9 lb. sheepshead that fell for a clam bait at a dock near Carolina Beach.
Wes, of Island Tackle, reports that offshore anglers are finding a solid wahoo bite in the Gulf Stream. The action’s been good up and down the break lately, with most fish coming in 120-220’ of water. Some smaller gaffer dolphin, sailfish, and white marlin have been mixed in with the ‘hoo. Ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted lures are the top baits for all the bluewater fish.
Some sailfish are also feeding inshore of the Stream, and anglers scored releases as close as 12 miles from the inlet last week.
The king mackerel bite has slowed down along the beaches, but it’s steady in the 10-15 mile areas (with some fish into the 30’s). Most anglers are hooking up with the kings while trolling live pogies.
Lewis, of Island Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been up and down inshore over the past week. Anglers are finding some action with the flatties in Snow’s Cut, Carolina Beach Inlet, and the Cape Fear River, but the action’s been sporadic. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies are fooling most of the flatfish.
Flounder fishing had been much more consistent at the nearshore reefs, rocks, and wrecks lately, and anglers are hooking the fish on Carolina-rigged live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails.
Red drum are feeding throughout the area’s inshore waters, and anglers found some action with them behind Topsail and Wrightsville, and around the Cape Fear in Snow’s Marsh and the Elizabeth River. The reds are keyed in on finger mullet, so fishing with live mullet or mullet imitating lures like topwater plugs, gold spoons, and spinnerbaits are producing the most action.
With the hot weather, speckled trout fishing’s been much better at night lately, and anglers are hooking the specks on subsurface twitch baits like MR 17, 22, and 27 MirrOlures and Billy Bay and D.O.A. shrimp imitations.
There are still plenty of sheepshead feeding around the docks, bridges, and other inshore structure, with particularly good action around the Southport waterfront. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs will get the sheepsheads’ attention.
Oyster rocks and ledges adjacent to deep water (6-20’) in the area are holding schooling black drum, and they’ll fall for fresh shrimp or the same crustacean baits as the sheepshead.
John Hatfield and James Bullock with a sailfish hooked 20 miles off Carolina Beach while they were fishing on the "Cut-N-Close."
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been hot at the nearshore reefs and wrecks lately (with fish to 6+ lbs.). Live finger mullet and peanut pogies on Carolina rigs are the ticket to strikes from the flatfish. The inshore flounder fishing has been tough lately.
A few gray trout have moved into the same areas, and they should only become more plentiful as summer progresses towards fall.
Plenty of king mackerel are also feeding at structure within 10 miles of the beaches, and they’ll fall for live pogies slow-trolled or free-lined on the surface.
Some sailfish are still feeding in the same areas (including one that fell for a flounder bait on the drop last week). Live baits will get attention from the sails as well.
The dolphin bite within 10 miles has slowed down.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that the red drum bite in the shallow creeks and backwaters of the lower Cape Fear remains excellent, with the best action still in the early mornings. Topwater plugs and soft plastics will fool the reds. A few flounder are feeding in the same areas, and they’re falling for the soft plastic baits as well.
Later in the day, the fish are feeding in slightly deeper water around the creek mouths and channels.
A few speckled trout are mixed in with the reds and flounder.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the grouper bite’s been a little tough lately, but anglers fishing hard are still picking up a few red grouper (with some solid fish in the teens) at structure in the 30-40 mile range. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will fool the grouper.
Some pinkies, grunts, and beeliners are feeding at the same structure the grouper are, and anglers can hook them on squid or small cut baits.
Brooke McIntyre (age 6), of Wilmington, with her first flounder, a 2.5 lb. fish she hooked on a live pogy while fishing from her dock at Inlet Point.
Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that anglers are finding some solid flounder action at nearshore structure like the Marriott Rocks and Johns Creek. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies on Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with soft plastic baits are fooling most of the flounder.
Some large black drum (15+ lbs.) and good numbers of sheepshead are on the feed around structure in Snows Cut. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and fresh shrimp baits will attract attention from these crustacean lovers.
Surf anglers have been hooking a mixed bag of pompano, whiting, croaker, and other bottom feeders while baiting up with shrimp.
Kiera, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been decking some pompano on shrimp.
Anglers caught a few spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs over the week.
Live baiters landed one king mackerel last week.
