Carolina Beach August 30, 2012
Loletta House, of Wilmington, with a 28.5" red drum she caught and released in the backwaters of Fort Fisher while fishing with Rick House.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are seeing a steady flounder bite in the area, with fish coming from the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, the ICW, the inlets, and nearshore structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet and menhaden on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the fish, but anglers are also hooking good numbers on Gulp baits.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and around the flats and creeks off the lower Cape Fear River. They’ll strike the same baits as the flatfish and also take an interest in topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, spoons, and a variety of other artificial lures.
The speckled trout bite is picking up for fall, with good reports coming in from the river over the past week. MirrOlures have been the most productive artificials for the specks lately, with both the TT and MR series lures producing solid results.
In addition to flounder and over-slot reds, anglers are starting to see some action with gray trout around the nearshore reefs and other structure. Live baits on Carolina rigs are tough to beat for all three, but anglers can also work jigging spoons or bucktails with success.
The spanish mackerel action has been a bit hit-or-miss recently, but anglers are finding a few while trolling Clarkspoons off Carolina Beach Inlet.
Evan Crawford (age 10), of Indiana, with a 4.7 lb. flounder he hooked on a live menhaden in the Carolina Beach surf while fishing with his grandfather Lonnie Crawford.
Some king mackerel were caught from the piers over the past week, and anglers have reported a few scattered between there and the 10 mile range, with a more consistent bite 10-30 miles off the beaches. Live baits are the best bet for the kings, but they’ll also take an interest in dead cigar minnows.
Boaters running a bit further have been encountering some good wahoo action while trolling skirted ballyhoo in 100’ and deeper. A few dolphin and sailfish are in the same areas and will also take an interest in the ballyhoo.
Gag grouper and black sea bass are feeding on bottom structure starting around the 10 mile range. Live baits and dead cigar minnows, sardines, or mackerel are top choices for the grouper, and cut baits, squid, or small jigs will get plenty of attention from the bass.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the fishing got a bit tougher last week with all the recent rain, but some encouraging signs of the fall bite just around the corner are showing up as well. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding just off the inlet and beaches, and they’ll take a hearty interest in trolled Clarkspoons and other small lures. Anglers may also be able to cast metal jigs with success to fish they spot feeding on the surface or around bait pods and working birds.
Some flounder are feeding in the inlet, around nearshore structure in the ocean, and in the ICW, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River. Live finger mullet and menhaden are the best bets for the flatfish.
There are still some red drum looking for meals in Carolina Beach Inlet and on the flats off the lower Cape Fear River, where anglers can tempt them to bite topwater plugs, Gulp baits and other soft plastics, or live baits.
Stephen Miller, of Garner, NC, with a hogfish that bit a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig 45 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while he was fishing on the "Jay Bird."
The speckled trout bite is getting started in the Cape Fear River, and it should only get better as summer turns to fall. Live baits and a variety of soft plastics are good choices for the trout.
Ron, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some flounder on small live baits under the pier.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, and they will take an interest in baits like sand fleas and barnacles dangled next to them.
Some spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Live baiters also landed a king mackerel from the planks last week.
Katie, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up some sea mullet and croaker while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting smaller live baits like mud minnows and finger mullet.
