Carolina Beach August 29, 2013
Lauran Skipper, of Wilmington, with a 29″ flounder that she hooked on a live finger mullet in the Cape Fear River near Snows Cut.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that there’s been a solid flounder bite all around Carolina Beach recently (with a lot of 4+ lb. fish). Anglers are hooking the flatfish in the Cape Fear River, Snows Cut, the ICW, Carolina Beach Inlet, and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Most are falling for live finger mullet and menhaden, but anglers are also hooking up while casting Gulps and other artificials.
The speckled trout action in the river has also been solid, with fish coming from the grass islands, oysters and other hard structure, and the creeks. Live shrimp are fooling big numbers of the specks, with soft plastics and suspending hard baits also drawing some bites.
Anglers are also reporting red drum action in a variety of spots, from the bays down south in the river to Carolina Beach Inlet and nearshore structure like the Marriott Reef. As with the flatfish and trout, many are falling for live baits, but anglers are also hooking reds on topwater plugs, soft plastics, and other lures.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure in the ICW and Cape Fear River like docks, bridges, and rocks. Live fiddler crabs and sand fleas fished tight to the structure are the best bets for the sheeps.
Spanish mackerel have been here one day, gone the next off Carolina Beach, but the bite’s been good when anglers find them. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the spaniards.
Scattered king mackerel have been hooked near shore, but the best action has been 15+ miles out lately. Live baits like menhaden and dead baits like cigar minnows will both attract attention from the kings.
Howard Ruscetti, of Wilmington, with a 25.1 lb. scamp grouper that bit an Andrus Fluke Dart jig at some structure in 80′ of water 40 miles offshore of Carolina Beach Inlet.
Some dolphin are mixed in with the kings, especially further offshore, and they will attack the same baits.
The wahoo bite in the Gulf Stream has been excellent when anglers get the weather to make the run. Most are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Bottom fishermen report consistent grouper action at spots 15 miles and further from the beaches. Squid, cigar minnows, and live and cut baits will all attract attention from the groupers.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are seeing some good flounder action around nearshore structure in the ocean right now. Most are falling for live finger mullet and menhaden, which are also getting attention from some gray trout and over-slot red drum at the same structure.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also on the feed a short distance from the sand. Both are taking an interest in trolled Clarkspoons and metal casting jigs
Inshore, there’s still red drum action going on in the bays and marshes off the lower Cape Fear River, where anglers are fooling the fish with live baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs.
Some flounder are feeding in the same areas and biting the live baits and plastics as well.
Sheepshead and black drum are looking for meals around inshore structure like bridges, docks, and rocks, and they will pounce on live fiddler crabs or shrimp.
A few speckled trout have been mixed in with the other inshore targets, and anglers are hooking more in Carolina Beach Inlet and around grass and rock islands in the river.
Logan, Heath, and Mason Hewett, of Castle Hayne, NC, with a 38 lb. king mackerel that bit a live menhaden a few miles off Carolina Beach Inlet.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of red drum while casting live finger mullet and soft plastic baits in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. A few are also falling for topwater plugs. Some flounder are in the same spots as the reds and also biting live baits and soft plastics.
Tripletail are holding around crab pot floats and other surface structure in the river. Anglers who spot one can often tempt it to bite a live finger mullet or shrimp cast nearby.
Anglers are also hooking some black drum in the river while fishing fresh shrimp around rocks and other hard structure.
Betty, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Good numbers of keeper flounder (some to 4 lbs.) have been coming over the rails recently. Small live baits are fooling the flatfish.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs are hooking some bluefish from the pier.
Savannah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish from the pier while working casting lures like Gotcha plugs.
Some flounder are falling for live baits on the bottom.
Sheepshead are feeding near the pier and biting barnacles and sand fleas.
Bottom fishermen are hooking croaker and spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
