Added on Thursday, August 8, 2013  Fish Post

Carolina Beach August 8, 2013

Ron, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action inshore right now, especially in the lower Cape Fear River.

Red drum are feeding in the bays and backwaters off the river and taking an interest in live baits and soft plastics. The red bite has also been on in Carolina Beach Inlet (with many over-slot fish). Live baits are the ticket in the inlet.

Anglers are connecting with solid numbers of speckled trout in the lower river around grass islands, oyster rocks, and in the creeks. They’ve been rather willing to bite topwater plugs recently, and anglers are also tempting the trout with white soft plastics and live baits.

Flounder fishing has been good in the river, Snows Cut, and Carolina Beach Inlet. Anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on live finger mullet and menhaden, but some are falling for Gulp baits and other soft plastics as well.

The flounder bite is also happening at nearshore structure (like Johns Creek and the Marriott Reef), where live baits on heavier rigs are getting the job done. Some over-slot red drum, black sea bass, and gray trout are also looking for meals at the ocean structure.

Spanish mackerel action has been hit-or-miss, with more consistent fishing down to the south instead of right in front of the inlet. Most of the spaniards are taking an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.

King mackerel have been feeding around the Dredge Wreck, 23 Mile Rock, and other spots a decent distance off the beaches. Live baits like menhaden are producing most of the action with the kings. Anglers have also seen a decent king bite from the local piers, but not much action between the beach and the offshore spots.

Bottom fishermen are connecting with gag grouper, sea bass, and amberjacks at structure starting around 10 miles out. Live, dead and cut baits, and vertical jigs are fooling the bottom dwellers.

There’s still a surprisingly good summer wahoo bite going on for boats making the run to the Gulf Stream. Most of the fish are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.

Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are seeing some solid red drum action in the lower Cape Fear River right now. Most of the fish are feeding in the bays and creeks off the main river, and live finger mullet and mud minnows have been outproducing artificials with the reds lately. Anglers who want to cast lures should be able to fool some fish with topwater plugs and soft plastics, however. Some reds are also feeding on the flats, where topwater plugs have been tempting bites early in the day, with live shrimp and mud minnows effective when the sun is higher.

Flounder and some speckled trout are feeding alongside the reds and falling for the live baits as well.

Anglers are also catching all three fish while working banks and drop-offs in the area with Gulp shrimp on jigheads.

Spanish mackerel action has been slow, but anglers have been catching some large king mackerel from the piers, so it may not be a bad time to slow-troll some live baits just off the beaches.

Betty, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers landed a number of king mackerel (the largest 43+ lbs.) while live-baiting from the end of the pier last week.

Bluefish and some spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.

Bottom fishermen are hooking flounder, pompano, croaker, spot, and more, primarily on shrimp.

Anthony, of Kure Pier, reports that live baiters caught several king mackerel from the end of the pier last week (to 30+ lbs.).

Plug casters are hooking bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel.

Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished on the bottom under the pier.

Croaker, sea mullet, and other bottomfish are biting shrimp and bloodworms.