Carolina Beach July 27, 2006
Jamie, at Reel Bait and Tackle, reports the flounder bite at Yaupon Reef is on fire. As usual, a Carolina-rigged peanut pogy or finger mullet is the best bait. Double-digit numbers of flounder (up to 4 lbs.) are not uncommon right now. Spadefish from 5-7 lbs. are eating strips of jelly ball fished over the reef as well.
Flounder fishing has also been good in the Cape Fear River, Carolina Beach Inlet, the Masonboro jetties, and at John’s Creek. Surf casters are also catching some flounder on the north end of Carolina Beach.
Red drum have been plentiful in Carolina Beach Inlet and other inshore areas. Most of the drum are over-the-slot. The same baits and rigs used for the flounder will entice bites from the big reds.
Spanish fishing has slowed somewhat, but there are still some fish being caught early and late in the day trolling the beach.
The kings are spread out between inshore and offshore spots, but the 30/30 is a good place to find a consistent bite. Most of the kings are weighing in the teens. Live baits and cigar minnows are both good choices.
Dolphin can be found anywhere over 10 miles offshore where there is a weed line. Once one is located, pulling a blue/white skirted ballyhoo is an excellent way to hook up.
The gag grouper bite is slow, but red and scamp grouper are biting well 35+ miles off the beach in around 90 feet of water. Spanish sardines and Boston mackerel are the prime baits for these tasty bottom dwellers.
Anglers making the journey to the gulf stream are finding some wahoo.
Dave, at Fryingpantower.com, reports that the dolphin and the billfish are the big story in the gulf stream now. South of the Same Ole seems to be the spot. Pink/white for the dolphin and rigged ballyhoo or spanish for the bills.
Big kings are everywhere offshore, with 20+ pound fish being caught regularly. There are also still plenty of dolphin, both good sized and peanuts. Rigged squid seems to be the trick here. Big weed lines are holding these fish in the 30 mile range, but the peanut dolphin are everywhere from 10 miles on out.
The spanish bite has been hit or miss around the area inlets. Look for clean water within 5 miles, and you should find them. There are a bunch of undersized kings mixed in, so be sure of what you are catching.
Gags are getting close now (15-30 miles). Reds are 25 miles on out, and scamps are from 30 miles on out.
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the flounder are biting well, with fish ranging up to 6 lbs. this week. Mullet and pogies are everywhere, so live bait has not been a problem.
Redfish and trout have been few and far between from the Cape Fear River up to Wrightsville Beach.
Bluefish are plentiful around the inlet and the cut, and spanish have been lingering on structure around 5 miles off Carolina Beach.
The water is around 83 degrees, so fish hard very early and late in the evenings for best results.
Anthony, at Kure Beach Pier, reports a few croaker, spots, and whiting hitting a variety of baits on bottom rigs. Squid, shrimp, and bloodworms have all been effective.
Flounder are biting live finger mullet and peanut pogies. About half the fish are keepers.
Bluefish are biting plugs, but no spanish were caught this week.
A tarpon around 100 lbs. was caught on a live bait and released, but no kings have been caught.
The water at the pier is around 81 degrees.
