Carolina Beach June 10, 2004
Steve, at Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder catches continue in the inlet and the waterway. There have been a few bigger ones (over 5 lbs.) weighed in. While there have been more weighed in than the previous week, there still aren’t many. Blues and spanish are being caught on the piers. The bite for the blues and spanish continues out for about 3 miles offshore. From the surf, guys are catching small flounder, croaker, and whiting. Puppy drum and trout are being picked up in the river. The speckled trout bite has been stronger than usual for this time of year. Nobody seems to know why it is lasting so long this year. As for baitfish in the area, there are plenty of menhaden swimming around.
Kelly, at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle reports that when the weather and wind cooperate the fishing offshore is excellent. Tuna reports have been closer in, now as close as 55 to 60 miles. Dolphin are being picked up everywhere from 15 miles out and beyond. Cobia reports have been scattered, with multiple reports from the Liberty Ship area. Kings are still hard to find. Mostly snake kings have been reported. Spanish mackerel have started to slow off the beach, but there are still quite a few small bluefish. Flounder fishing has been picking up as usual in the month of June, with the big “doormats” coming from Snow’s Cut and Carolina Beach Inlet. The red drum are still around the docks and obstructions in the waterway and small marsh islands in the river. Also of note, there have been kings reported coming from Kure Beach Pier.
Capt. Freddie, of Musicman Charters, reports that the gulf stream has been producing plenty of dolphin this past week. There is also the occasional yellowfin and the sporadic wahoo, but finding these species has definitely been more of a challenge than the dolphin. The dolphin bite has also improved in closer to shore. You can find them in as close as 15 miles. Just about all of them are gaffer size. You’re not going to load up in the 15-mile range, but they can be found. The area from 15 miles out to the break has been loaded with flying fish, and everything is feeding on them.
Capt. Dave, of Wild Rover II Charters, reports that the bite in the gulf stream this week has been excellent with lots of dolphin, a few large yellowfin, and the occasional wahoo caught in and around the Same Ole. Offshore, the king mackerel action has heated up around the 30-mile range with limits often being caught before noon. The grouper action has taken off with gags, reds and scamps being caught in numbers. The scamps that were caught before this week were mostly too small. It is nice seeing them improve in size and numbers. Nearshore, the kings have found their way onto the beach with piers reporting kings up and down the coast. The spanish mackerel bite has also picked up around Carolina Beach after a slump in numbers for a week or so, and the blues have shown some size increase.
