Carolina Beach – August 28, 2014
Ryan and Andy Zelaski, of VA and NY, with citation 5.2, 5.4, and 6.13 lb. flounder they hooked on live finger mullet while fishing near Carolina Beach with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Weston, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are seeing some solid flounder action in the area right now, with particularly good fishing around nearshore structure in the ocean. Anglers dropping live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs around spots in 30-60’ of water are connecting with good numbers of the flatfish (and some 5+ lb. citation fish). Some healthy gray trout have also been in the same areas and biting jigs and live baits as well.
Anglers are also hooking flatfish in the Cape Fear River, ICW, and Carolina Beach Inlet, with live baits and Gulps productive inshore as well.
There’s been some good red drum action in the lower Cape Fear River, where the fish are looking for meals in the creeks and bays. Anglers are hooking the reds on topwater plugs early in the day, with D.O.A. soft plastics and live baits producing results when the sun’s high.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the lower river, and anglers are finding them along the rock wall at Fort Fisher and around grass islands and oyster points from Snows Cut south. The new Live Target shrimp have been particularly effective on the specks lately, but anglers can hook up on a wide variety of artificials and live baits like shrimp.
Desmond Starling with his first king mackerel, a 28.5 lb. fish that bit a live bait off Carolina Beach Pier.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront and biting trolled Clarkspoons and other flashy lures.
There’s also been a good king mackerel bite within a few miles of the shoreline lately. Most of the kings are falling for live baits like menhaden.
Bottom fishermen are reporting plenty of gag grouper action at spots 20-30 miles out. A variety of live, dead, and cut baits will fool the gags, and anglers have also had success while fishing Blue Water Candy and Barefoot jigs lately.
Gulf Stream trollers are reporting some excellent wahoo action right now. The ‘hoos will take an interest in skirted ballyhoo or baitless high-speed lures, and anglers have also been hooking solid numbers on cedar plugs recently. Good numbers of dolphin are also still looking for meals in the blue water and pouncing on skirted ballyhoo in boats’ wakes.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent flounder action while fishing nearshore reefs and live bottoms off Carolina Beach Inlet. Most of the flatfish are falling for live finger mullet on Carolina rigs fished next to the structure. Anglers are also landing decent numbers of over-slot red drum around the same spots.
The spanish mackerel bite remains strong in the ocean as well, and anglers are hooking big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy lures. Casting metal jigs can also be effective when the fish are schooled up and chasing bait on the surface.
Turner Perkerson with a citation sheepshead that bit a live fiddler crab under Snows Cut bridge.
Large sharks are feeding within a few miles of the beachfront, and they’re eagerly biting cut and dead baits.
Inshore, the red drum action remains hot in the marshes and bays off the lower Cape Fear River. Anglers are hooking the reds on topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet. There have also been good numbers of upper and over-slot fish feeding in Carolina Beach Inlet and biting live baits.
Speckled trout are feeding around grass islands and hard structure in the river, and anglers have put together some decent catches recently. Most are falling for topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits fished under floats.
The flounder bite has been good inshore as well, where anglers are finding fish in the inlet, the ICW, and the river. Live finger mullet and menhaden are tough to beat for the flatfish, but anglers are also hooking up while working soft plastics for the reds and trout.
Brenda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot and black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Jeff Arita, of Leland, NC, with a 32″ striped bass that struck a custom weedless jig while he was fishing the Cape Fear River with Bob Rainey.
A few bluefish are biting bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs.
Mike, of Kure Pier, reports that a live-baiter landed a 17 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the planks.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder (many short but some to 3 lbs. in the mix).
