Carolina Beach July 21, 2011
Ken Pearson, of Greenville, NC, with a pair of flounder (the larger a citation 5.9 pounder) that fell for live menhaden in the Cape Fear River. Weighed in at Tex's Tackle.
Marshall, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are finding solid flounder fishing inshore and nearshore from Wrightsville Beach to Fort Fisher. The nearshore reefs, ICW docks, inlets, Snow’s Cut, and Cape Fear River have all been productive lately, and live finger mullet and mud minnows, soft plastics like Gulps and D.O.A’s (particularly in chartreuse hues), and spinnerbaits are all fooling the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas, with especially good action in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear. Live finger mullet and root beer-hued artificials are fooling the reds.
Sheepshead are holding tight to inshore structure like docks and rocks, and anglers can tempt them to bite sand fleas or fiddler crabs.
Surf fishermen have been reporting solid pompano action lately, with sand fleas and clam baits doing most of the damage.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just off the beaches and inlets. Trolled Clarkspoons will attract plenty of attention from the spaniards.
Large sharks are patrolling the same areas and will have a tough time turning down a big cut bait.
King mackerel fishing is improving, and anglers are finding the fish around the AR’s, rocks, and wrecks offshore of the area, with the most consistent fishing down south around the Shark Hole recently. Live menhaden are the best baits for the kings.
Dolphin fishing has slowed down inshore of the break, but anglers are still finding some ‘phins—along with wahoo, sailfish, and white marlin—at local Gulf Stream spots like the Steeples and Same Ol’. Rigged ballyhoo will fool all the blue water predators.
Kristie Kane, of Wilmington, caught and released this sailfish 30 miles off Carolina Beach after it struck a trolled cigar minnow.
Ryan, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are connecting with good numbers of pompano up and down the island. Plenty of sea mullet are feeding in the breakers as well, and both are falling for sand fleas on bottom rigs.
Flounder are also feeding in the surf (most smaller, but a few big fish mixed in). Small live baits will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Large sharks are looking for meals just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking some impressive specimens while paddling and casting big cut baits off the south end.
The flounder bite is also going strong inshore, where live finger mullet are drawing plenty of strikes.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around hard structure like docks and bridges inshore, and both will bite sand fleas or fiddler crabs.
Red drum are scattered throughout the inshore waters (with some fish to 20 lbs.). They’ll strike Gulp baits or a variety of live baits.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the action slowed down a bit last week due to the front over the area, but everything is back on track now. Anglers are connecting with good numbers of red drum (slot and over-slot fish) in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. The best action has been around oyster rocks in the marshes, and live mud minnows and Gulp baits are the way to go for the reds.
Good numbers of flounder are feeding in the same areas as the drum and at deeper structure in the river and ICW. They’ll bite Gulps or live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Lane Mize, from Oxford, NC, with a 10.5 lb. sheepshead that bit a live fiddler crab around some structure in the lower Cape Fear River while he was fishing with Capt. Jeff Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite continues to be solid in the lower Cape Fear River, and there have been some schools of fish working the flats this past week. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live finger mullet or mud minnows are the ways to tempt bites from the reds.
Good numbers of flounder are mixed in with the reds, and they’ll bite the live baits or soft plastics.
Bluefish and ladyfish are chasing bait on the surface around structure in the lower river, and topwater plugs will produce exciting fishing for both.
Sheepshead fishing has slowed a bit, but there are sheepshead and black drum feeding around pilings, rocks, and other inshore structure. Fiddler crabs are tough for both of the striped fish to pass up.
Cheyenne, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action with spot, croaker, and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp.
Some flounder are falling for live baits under the pier.
Plug casters are connecting with bluefish while working Gotchas.
