Added on Thursday, June 11, 2009  Fish Post

Carolina Beach June 11, 2009

Dennis, of Island Tackle, reports that not many boats made it to the Gulf Stream last week, but that didn’t stop them from finding some action with the blue water predators. Boats fishing the 23 Mile Rock vicinity last week hooked up with good numbers of gaffer dolphin and king mackerel. Dead cigar minnows on Hank Browns or other trolling rigs have been attracting plenty of attention from the kings and dolphin.

Bottom fishermen found a good grouper bite last week starting around the 30 mile mark. Fishing bottom structure in that range with live baits, cut baits, cigar minnows, or vertical jigs should produce some action with gag, red, and scamp groupers along with a variety of other bottomfish.

Closer to the beach, the spanish mackerel bite is still solid just outside the surf zone and at nearshore structure like the Marriott and Sheepshead Rock. Trolling with Clarkspoons or other flashy lures will produce bites from the spanish and bluefish (ranging from snappers to choppers over 10 lbs.).

Inshore, the flounder bite is still excellent in the river. Anglers are hooking flounder around structure and grass islands from the lower river to north of Snow’s Cut. Live pogies on Carolina rigs are top baits for the flatfish, and the river’s been loaded with pogies, too, so getting bait shouldn’t be a problem.

Surf anglers also caught decent numbers of flounder last week on live pogies.

Anglers fishing shrimp and sand fleas in the breakers are finding a pretty good pompano bite (with some big 2+ lb. fish in the mix).

Anglers are finding pretty good red drum action in the ICW and the lower bays of the river. Most of the reds are falling for live pogies and Gulp baits.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the flounder bite is on throughout the area. Anglers are hooking up with the flatfish in the inlet, the ICW, the boat basin, the river, Snows Cut, and on the nearshore wrecks and rocks. Live pogies are the way to go for the flatties, and there are plenty around in the river.

Some puppy drum have been feeding around the bridge at Snows Cut lately, and Carolina-rigged pogies will strike their fancy as well.

Speckled trout fishing in the river has been excellent lately (with fish up to 6 lbs. hitting the landing net). The best action seems to be around the grass islands and oyster rocks, and the fish are falling for live shrimp and D.O.A. shrimp.

Sheepshead are beginning to show up around the Snows Cut Bridge and other similar structure, but the bite isn’t on fire yet.

 

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that red drum fishing in the shallows has been good lately (with a mix of smaller fish and healthy, mid-slot reds). Most of the fish are falling for live mud minnows, live finger mullet, or soft plastic paddle-tail grubs.

The action’s been steady along docks in the ICW, Masonboro Sound, and on the flats of the lower Cape Fear, where the largest schools of reds have been feeding.

Anglers are picking up a decent number of flounder on both artificials and live baits when fishing for the drum.

A few speckled trout are also falling for artificials while anglers are casting for reds in the lower river, especially in the creeks.

Docks in the waterway and rocky structure in the river have been producing some action with sheepshead lately. Fiddler crabs are top bait choices for the crustacean-loving fish.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the dolphin bite was excellent last week just inshore of the Same Ol’, where anglers found solid action with gaffers (up to 20 lbs.) while trolling ballyhoo. Some king mackerel are feeding in the same vicinity.

A few miles inshore, the bottom fishing was excellent in the 37-50 mile range. Anglers dropping cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits found action with red, scamp, and gag groupers, along with a variety of other tasty bottomfish.

 

Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that bottom fishermen are finding solid grouper fishing (along with plenty of beeliners, pinkies, and other bottomfish) from 25 miles on out. Anglers dropping jigs and a variety of baits like squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits are hooking gags, scamps, and reds.

The king mackerel bite has been best 28 miles and further offshore. Anglers can either troll live baits (like pogies and cigar minnows) or dead cigars or ballyhoo with success. Lots of dolphin are mixed in with the kings.

Surf anglers are hooking up with black drum, pompano, whiting, and flounder.

 

Leah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas.

Bottom fishermen are scoring a few whiting.