Added on Thursday, July 3, 2008  Gary Hurley

Carolina Beach July 3, 2008

Trey, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still excellent along the beaches, near the inlets, and just offshore. Boats trolling Clarkspoons are hooking big numbers of the spanish, and some large fish (up to 5 lbs.) have been falling for the spoons lately. Per usual, the bite is best very early and late in the day. On the piers, anglers are hooking the spanish on Gotchas and the new Clark Casters.

Most of the king mackerel are still 10 miles or so offshore. There have been some pogies in the river, but catching them can be hit-or-miss, and dead cigar minnows are producing bites. Anglers can also jig live cigar minnows from the structure where they’re fishing with excellent results.

A few boats are pulling spoons for the kings and catching plenty, although most are smaller fish.

Bottom fishing has been good 25 miles and further out, where anglers are landing some large red grouper. The gag bite closer in has been a little slower, and baits like cigar minnows have been producing better results than jigging lately.

Dolphin are still feeding around 10 miles offshore (though mostly smaller fish). The larger gaffers are still out in the 30 mile range. Anglers have seen flying fish as far in as the Wrightsville Beach jetties, so the dolphin may push in further soon. Most anglers are trolling ballyhoo or live baits for the dolphin in the hopes of hooking up with one of the few sailfish that are also feeding in the 10-30 mile range.

Inshore, the speckled trout fishing has slowed down a little bit, but anglers are still catching some specks in the river on live shrimp and artificials.

Red drum are feeding in the river, the creeks, and around docks on the ICW. Carolina-rigged finger mullet should be hard for them to resist.

Flounder are feeding in many of the same places as the drum, and anglers are catching some of the largest ones (up to 6 lbs.) around Carolina Beach Inlet. Live finger mullet or other baits on Carolina rigs will get attention from the flatfish.

Some big chopper bluefish are still terrorizing baitfish far up the creeks.

Some spadefish have shown up on the Dredge Wreck, and it shouldn’t be long until they’re feeding at Yaupon Reef. Chumming with jelly balls and baiting up with strips of them will produce hookups with the spades.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the trout bite slowed for a little while, but it is getting good again, with most of the fish coming from structure in the river. Live shrimp fished under float rigs will outproduce any other baits with the trout. A few puppy drum are feeding with the trout.

Flounder fishing has been good lately, and the best action this week has been in Carolina Beach Inlet. Drifting the inlet has been producing bites from fish up to 6 lbs. lately, and Carolina-rigged finger mullet and pogies are the hot baits.

Some big flounder are beginning to show up on the nearshore reefs, and the nuisance fish have thinned out somewhat, although small sharks are still taking a lot of the baits.

The majority of the pogies seem to have moved upriver, so anglers can search for them to the north of Snow’s Cut.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are still feeding near Carolina Beach Inlet and close to the adjacent beaches.

Bottom fishing has been solid at ledges and other structure 35-45 miles offshore, where anglers are hooking up with plenty of red grouper along with some gags. The beeliner bite is good in the same areas (some bees weighing up to 2+ lbs.). Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will produce action from the bottom feeders.

While bottom fishing, anglers keeping out a light-line are hooking up with good numbers of dolphin and king mackerel. Most of the dolphin are small, but anglers landed several kings in the 20 lb. class last week. Cigar minnows should produce on the light line.

 

Dylan, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing some croakers on shrimp.

Anglers baiting up with small live baits are landing some flounder.

Spanish mackerel and a few bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs.