Carolina Beach July 15, 2010
Ryan, Dave, and Grant Stimmel with red and scamp groupers and a bull dolphin that fell for cigar minnows while they were bottomfishing 35 miles out of Carolina Beach Inlet with Capt. Brad Phillips of Fish Spanker Charters.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the king mackerel bite has been on fire west of the shoals lately (with many 30+ lb. fish), with decent action closer to home. Live pogies and other baits are drawing most of the bites from the kings.
Some big spanish mackerel (3-5+ lbs.) are feeding along Frying Pan Shoals and at structure just to the north. Smaller live baits will tempt bites from the big spanish.
Smaller spanish are feeding around the inlet and along the beaches and will fall for trolled Clarkspoons and other lures.
The dolphin fishing’s been decent around the Schoolhouse and further offshore, and anglers are catching the fish on live and dead baits.
Bottom fishermen found some grouper around offshore structure last week.
Flounder fishing’s been excellent at nearshore structure and in the inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the river. Carolina-rigged finger mullet and peanut pogies are the way to go for the flatfish.
The speckled trout bite is still decent around the grass islands in the river, where anglers are hooking most of the fish on live shrimp.
Some red drum have been mixed in with the flounder and specks throughout the area.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around hard and rocky structure in the river and off the ICW. Live shrimp, fiddler crabs, and other crustacean baits will fool both.
Rex Sasser, of Castle Hayne, NC, with a 30" red drum that fell for a Redfish Magic spinnerbait in a creek off the lower Cape Fear River.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still catching solid numbers of red drum along the bays and flats of the lower Cape Fear River. Anglers have been hooking most of their fish lately on live mud minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp, but they’ll also fall for artificials like topwater plugs and soft plastics.
Anglers are picking up decent numbers of speckled trout and flounder while casting live baits and soft plastics for the reds.
Fishing live finger mullet or pogies around structure and drop-offs in the area has been producing some decent numbers of flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure in the area and will take an interest in fiddler and mud crabs.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that bottom fishing in the 30-40 mile range has been producing plenty of action lately. Anglers are hooking up with gag, red, and scamp groupers and a variety of smaller bottomfish like grunts, pinkies, sea bass, beeliners, and more. Cigar minnows, cut baits, live baits, and more are fooling the groupers, and smaller cut baits and squid will attract attention from the rest of the bottom cast.
Some dolphin are looking for meals in the same areas and will fall for a light-lined cigar minnow while anglers are bottom fishing.
Scott Hearp, of Dry Fork, VA, with a sheepshead he hooked from Kure Beach Pier.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with some flounder in Carolina Beach Inlet and around nearshore structure in the ocean on live pogies and finger mullet.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, and they will take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons or small metal lures that anglers can cast to schools feeding on the surface.
Large sharks are plentiful in the area right now, and anglers can target them behind shrimp boats culling their catch just off the beaches.
In the river, anglers are picking up a few red drum on live mud minnows and topwater plugs. Some speckled trout are falling for D.O.A. shrimp in the river as well.
Cathy, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some whiting and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Mike, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that live-baiters landed several king mackerel last week.
Flounder fishing is improving around the pier’s pilings.
Anglers are catching some spot and smaller whiting on shrimp and bloodworms, and some large whiting in the surf zone on sand fleas.
