Added on Thursday, August 21, 2008  Gary Hurley

Carolina Beach August 21, 2008

Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing is still good in the inlets and especially on the nearshore reefs (where anglers hooked several fish in the 5-7 lb. class last week). Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flounder both inshore and off.

Hard structure like oyster rocks and bridge and dock pilings are producing some sheepshead (including a 13 lb. fish weighed in last week). Fiddler crabs or other crustaceans will fool the sheepshead into biting.

Red drum are feeding around docks in the ICW, in the creeks, and in the bays of the lower Cape Fear. Live finger mullet will draw strikes from the drum, and they’ll also fall for Gulp baits, topwaters, and other artificials. Big reds (20-40+ lbs.) are beginning to show up on structure off the beaches, and anglers hooked a number while trolling live baits for king mackerel last week.

Spadefish are schooling on nearshore structure. Anglers can hook up with the spades by drawing them to the boat with several jelly balls attached to a rope, then baiting up with pieces of the jelly.

Boats are hooking good numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons, and some large fish (up to 5 lbs.) have been mixed with the schoolies.

Kings are feeding from the beaches out to spots in the 40 mile range (where a 41 lb. king was caught last Saturday). Live baits like pogies and cigar minnows will attract attention from the kings.

Some sailfish have been mixed in with the kings 10-30 miles off the beaches, and they’ll take the live baits, too. Dolphin are scattered in the same areas, with boats reporting decent action around 23 Mile Rock and WR4 last week.

The full moon slowed the grouper bite down a bit last week, but anglers still found some good action 30+ miles offshore, mostly with reds. Frozen cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will get attention from the larger groupers.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that anglers are finding a decent flounder bite in Carolina Beach Inlet and at nearshore structure, but the flatfish bite has been a little slower than it was a few weeks ago. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are top choices for the flounder.

Gray trout (most 2-3.5 lbs.) are starting to school up on the nearshore structure as well, with the best bite around Sheepshead Rock and further south lately. They’ll fall for finger mullet, too, and anglers can also work jigging lures like Stingsilvers just off the bottom to hook up.

The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down a bit lately, but there are still some fish running along the beaches. Trolled Clarkspoons will get attention from the spanish when anglers can find the fish.

Inshore, the red drum bite has been good in the river bays, where anglers are hooking the fish on live finger mullet and shrimp along with topwater lures and X-Raps.

Speckled trout are feeding around oyster beds and other structure in the river now that the weather has cooled off a bit. Live shrimp fished under floats are top producers with the specks.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that anglers are catching red grouper, beeliners, grunts, and other bottomfish at structure 35 miles and further offshore. Some big gags are mixed into the catch further offshore. Frozen cigar minnows and squid will get plenty of attention from the bottom feeders, and anglers can target the larger grouper with cut and live baits.

Anglers putting out a cigar minnow or other bait on a weightless light-line stand a good chance of picking up a few king mackerel or dolphin while they’re bottom fishing.

 

Kelsey, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some pompano, whiting, and pinfish on cut shrimp fished on bottom rigs.

The water is 81 degrees.