Carolina Beach August 22, 2013
Phillip Flowers with a 43 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish off the end of Carolina Beach Pier.
Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that there’s been a solid speckled trout bite in the lower Cape Fear River recently. Anglers are connecting with the specks around the grass islands in the river and creekmouths along the banks. Most are falling for live shrimp, but anglers are also hooking a few on artificials. Some sheepshead are also looking for meals in the same areas and biting live shrimp.
Anglers are also hooking the sheeps around dock and bridge pilings and other heavy inshore structure on live fiddler crabs.
The red drum bite has been strong recently in the lower river, with most of the fish feeding in the bays between Bald Head Island and Fort Fisher. Live baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs are all tempting bites from the reds. There’s also been some solid action with reds in Carolina Beach Inlet for anglers soaking live baits.
Flounder are feeding in all the same places as the reds and specks inshore, with more around ICW docks and other inshore structure. Anglers are also connecting with the flatfish at nearshore structure like Johns Creek and the Marriott Reef. Live finger mullet and mud minnows, along with scented soft baits like Gulps, are fooling the flatfish.
Tyler Matthews, of Wilmington, NC, with a 22.5″ flounder that bit a live finger mullet in Carolina Beach Inlet.
The spanish mackerel bite has been up-and-down lately, with some days producing good fishing and some slow. It seems the fish are feeding off Southport when they’re not biting around Carolina Beach, so anglers willing to make the run should be able to find some biting fish. Trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures in clean water within a few miles of the beaches is the way to fool the spaniards.
A few king mackerel have also been feeding close to the beaches, with more fish scattered on out to offshore structure like Frying Pan Tower. Slow-trolling live baits like menhaden or dead cigar minnows is the way to get attention from the kings.
Anglers are reporting dolphin action starting around the 30 mile mark, with fish scattered from there to the Gulf Stream. The ‘phins will bite live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Some sailfish and white marlin are feeding alongside the dolphin in the ‘Stream and will also pounce on rigged ballyhoo.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some healthy over-slot red drum around nearshore structure like Johns Creek and the Marriott Reef. Live finger mullet and menhaden are fooling most of the fish.
Good numbers of flounder and some gray trout are feeding around the same areas and biting finger mullet and menhaden as well.
Emma James with her first flounder, hooked on a Gulp shrimp in a creek behind Masonboro Island.
The inshore red drum bite remains steady in the bays off the lower Cape Fear River, with a few fish in Snows Cut and the ICW, too. Live finger mullet are producing results on the reds inshore as well, but anglers can also fool them with topwater plugs and soft plastic baits when they’re feeding in the shallows.
A few flounder and speckled trout have been feeding alongside the reds inshore and biting live finger mullet, shrimp, and soft plastic baits.
Robin, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some spot, sea mullet, and pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that live baiters landed a 21 lb. cobia from the end of the pier last week.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet and bluefish on shrimp and other baits.
