Carolina Beach July 8, 2010
Kevin Ford, of Rocky Point, NC, with a 26" red drum that fell for a live pogy in the lower Cape Fear River.
Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder bite is getting even better around Carolina Beach (with more and more 5+ lb. citation fish in the mix). The best bite’s been in Carolina Beach Inlet lately, although anglers are hooking good numbers in the ICW, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River as well. Live pogies are producing most of the flatfish.
Some good speckled trout reports have been coming in from anglers fishing the grass islands and other structure in the river. Live shrimp are solid bets for the specks, but anglers are also hooking up on topwater plugs in the early mornings.
Sheepshead are feeding around the bridges, docks, rocks, and other hard structure in the area. Sand fleas and live shrimp are tempting them to bite. Some large black drum (10-20 lbs.) and some puppy drum are mixed in with the sheeps.
Some large reds have been cruising the surf lately, and anglers can hook them on cut baits, finger mullet, or other baits.
The spanish mackerel bite is still going right along the beaches, where anglers are hooking most fish while trolling Clarkspoons.
Some king mackerel are feeding along the beachfront as well, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on live pogies. The king bite remains solid out to structure in the 10-20 mile range.
Decent numbers of sailfish have been reported in the 10-20 mile areas lately. They’ll take an interest in live baits or rigged ballyhoo and lures.
Big numbers of amberjacks are schooled up around high-relief structure from 10 miles on offshore. Live baits are the best ways to fool the AJ’s.
The dolphin bite seems to have slowed a bit with last week’s NE winds, but it should be back on track soon.
Bottom fishermen have been reporting some grouper action as close as 20 miles offshore, mostly with gags. A better bite has been taking place in the 30 mile range, where some reds and scamps are mixed in. Both baited bottom rigs and vertical jigs will appeal to the groupers.
The bite’s been a little slow in the Gulf Stream lately, but boats are still hooking up with decent numbers of dolphin and some sailfish while trolling rigged ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures lately.
Ryan Powell, of Wilmington, with a 9.5 lb. flounder he hooked near Carolina Beach. Photo courtesy of Island Tackle and Hardware.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite is still strong in the lower Cape Fear River. Things have slowed down a bit in the creeks, but anglers are finding solid numbers of fish on the flats (with some fish in decent-sized schools). Live baits like mud minnows, finger mullet, and shrimp are producing most of the fish right now, but anglers can also tempt the fish to bite topwater plugs and soft plastic paddle tail grubs.
Some speckled trout and flounder are mixed in with the reds and will take an interest in the same baits and lures.
Sheepshead are feeding around docks, bridges, rocky areas, and other structure in the Cape Fear and the ICW. Anglers can catch them by dangling fiddler or mud crabs tight to the structure on heavy Carolina rigs.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with decent numbers of speckled trout in the Cape Fear River. D.O.A. shrimp are fooling most of the fish right now.
The flounder bite’s been excellent in the river, Snow’s Cut, Carolina Beach Inlet, and at nearshore structure. Most of the flatties are falling for live pogies, and finger mullet are also drawing some bites nearshore.
Red drum are feeding in the inlet and the bays off the lower river. Anglers are lucking into some while flounder fishing, and they’re picking up more fish while casting artificials.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel bite is still strong, with most of the fish taking an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
Some kings (most 12-15 lbs.) are feeding alongside the spanish and falling for live pogies.
The shark fishing has also been solid just off the beaches, with large cut baits fooling most of the sharks.
Lee Murtagh, of Wilmington, with a 33" red drum he hooked and released in the Masonboro surf. The red fell for a chunk of cut mullet.
Owen, of Cape Fear Coastal Charters, reports that the nearshore king mackerel and dolphin bite slowed down a bit last week, but anglers still caught some fish while live-baiting in the 18 mile range.
Trolling ballyhoo and dredges around 35 miles off the beach has been producing some action with sailfish, some larger gaffer dolphin, and a few big kings (to 30 lbs.).
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that grouper are holding on wrecks, rocks, and other structure 30-40 miles offshore. Along with the red, scamp, and gag grouper in those areas, anglers are finding action with grunts, pinkies, beeliners, and other smaller bottom feeders. Cigar minnows and large cut and live baits are the way to go for the grouper, and squid and smaller cut baits will fool the other bottom feeders.
Spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlet and just off the beaches. Trolled Clarkspoons will get their attention.
Daniele, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have been catching bluefish on Gotcha plugs and bait rigs.
A few flounder are falling for small live baits fished on the bottom.
Greg, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing good numbers of spot while baiting up with bloodworms. Some croaker and whiting are falling for shrimp.
Plug casters have been hooking up with a few spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
Live-baiters landed a 22 lb. king mackerel last week.
