Carolina Beach August 27, 2009
Carla McCullough with a pair of dolphin that fell for cedar plugs near Frying Pan Tower while she was fishing on the "Hard Days Off."
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that there’s still a flounder bite on the nearshore reefs, but it’s been a bit more hit or miss than over the past few weeks. Anglers are catching most of the flatfish on Carolina-rigged live baits.
Some citation-class red drum are also feeding on the reefs (up to 46”), and they’re surprising anglers fishing for flounder with finger mullet and other live baits.
Gray trout are also looking for meals at nearshore structure, and anglers caught good numbers last week around the Marriott reef.
The spanish mackerel bite has been a little slow right on the beaches and at the inlet, but boats venturing out 3-4 miles found good fishing last week. Trolled Clark and Drone spoons are fooling most of the fish.
Pier anglers caught a few kings on live baits last week, so there are some kings feeding on the beaches. Live baits will fool the kings either from boats or on the planks.
Surf fishermen reported a decent whiting bite with a few pompano mixed in last week. Shrimp on bottom rigs are producing for both species.
Inshore, anglers are catching some solid flounder (up to 7-8 lbs.), but the bite’s either hot or cold, without much middle ground. Live baits on Carolina rigs are fooling the flatties inshore as well.
Boats making it to the Gulf Stream lately reported good wahoo fishing, with most of the fish falling for lures like Black Barts instead of ballyhoo.
Maxwell, Ben, and Whit Taylor, of Winston-Salem, NC, with 3.5, 3.75, and 4 lb. flounder they hooked at some nearshore structure off Carolina Beach on live finger mullet. They were fishing with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the flounder bite is still on at nearshore structure like the wrecks and reefs. The action’s been best at the structure to the south, where anglers are hooking up with good numbers of the flatfish on Carolina-rigged live baits like finger mullet.
Some gray trout are mixed in with the flatties at the nearshore structure, and the bite will get better as the water starts to cool down over the next month. Live baits or jigging lures like Stingsilvers will fool the grays.
Some king mackerel are still feeding at structure 15-20 miles off the beaches, and they will attack slow-trolled pogies or other live baits.
Not many sailfish have been reported inshore lately, but anglers have released a few at the 30/30 and the Trailer Park over the past week.
The few cooler nights the area has seen lately should be improving the speckled trout bite in the river and the ICW. Anglers can hook the specks by fishing live shrimp under floats around structure with some current flow.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of red drum in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River, and sight fishing for the reds on the flats has improved over the last week. Anglers can hook the drum on topwater plugs or soft plastic baits like the Redfish Magic Glass Minnow.
Some speckled trout and flounder are feeding in the same areas as the reds, and they’ll fall for the same baits as well.
Sheepshead are feeding around rocks, docks, and other hard structure in the Cape Fear area, and anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure.
Hunter Kinlaw (age 13), from Alpharetta, GA, with an 8 lb., 8 oz. flounder he hooked in Carolina Beach Inlet on a live pogy while fishing with his father Jay.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that grouper and other bottom fish like triggerfish, grunts, pinkies, sea bass, and vermillion snapper are feeding at structure 30-40 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits are all excellent choices for the red, scamp, and gag groupers prowling the area, and anglers can hook the smaller bottom feeders on squid or smaller cut baits.
Some king mackerel and dolphin are feeding in the same areas, and anglers can hook them on weightless light-lines baited with cigar minnows or live baits while anchored up and bottom fishing.
Colby, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a decent number of flounder (up to 3 lbs.) over the past week, with most falling for mud minnows.
Bottom fishermen are picking up some whiting on shrimp.
Live-baiters landed a 23 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
