Carolina Beach – June 12, 2014
Jeff Holshouser with a 15.5 lb. scamp grouper that bit a cut bait 35 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while he was bottom fishing on the “Reel Freq.”
Ron, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that blue water trollers are still finding some excellent dolphin action at local Gulf Stream hotspots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole. Most are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures, which are also fooling some wahoo.
Bottom fishing at structure a bit closer to the beaches (from the 30/30 offshore to the break) is producing some solid grouper action for anglers dropping cigar minnows and cut and live baits.
The wrecks and other structure closer to the coast are holding plenty of black sea bass right now, and anglers should be able to weed through the short fish and find some keepers. Flounder and red drum are also holding at the nearshore structure, and all are biting live baits and bucktail jigs tipped with Gulps.
Spanish mackerel are on the feed just off the inlet and shoreline, and boaters are hooking solid numbers while trolling flashy lures like Clarkspoons and squid rigs behind planers and trolling birds. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in biting the same baits.
Surf casters are reporting action with sharks (most 3-6’) while soaking cut baits just off the breakers.
Bluefish, sea mullet, croaker, flounder, and more are also feeding in the surf zone and biting shrimp and cut baits on bottom rigs.
Capt. Rennie Clark, of Tournament Trail Charters, with a fat speckled trout he hooked on a topwater plug in the lower Cape Fear River.
Inshore, the flounder bite has turned on strong in Carolina Beach Inlet, Snows Cut, and the Cape Fear River. Live peanut menhaden seem to be producing the best results with the flatfish, and there have been plenty of schools of menhaden in the area for anglers looking for bait. Gulp baits and other soft plastics are also tempting bites from the flounder.
Some red drum are holding in most of the same spots as the flatfish, and the red action downriver in Buzzards Bay has been stellar lately. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics are getting the job done for anglers casting artificials for the reds, and anglers are also connecting on live and cut baits on Carolina and float rigs.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the flounder action keeps getting better both inshore and around nearshore wrecks and other structure. Live menhaden are fooling most of the flatfish, and anglers are hooking them in Carolina Beach Inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River along with the nearshore spots in the ocean.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also feeding within a few miles of the beachfront, where anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal lures to fish chasing bait on the surface.
Sheepshead fishing is also improving, and the fish are looking for meals at bridge and dock pilings in the ICW and rocky structure in the Cape Fear River. Live fiddler crabs are tough to beat for the sheeps and are also fooling some black drum in the same areas.
The red drum bite remains decent in the bays and backwaters off the lower river. Live baits are producing most of the reds, but anglers can also hook up on topwater plugs, soft plastic paddletails, and other artificials.
Jaques Dufour, of Pittsboro, NC, with a huge yellowmouth grouper that inhaled a live pinfish at some bottom structure in 105′ of water south of Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Nick Maraveyias aboard the “SeaBiscuit.”
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the sheepshead fishing is getting better, and anglers are finding the fish around structure like bridge pilings and rocks. Live fiddler crabs are tempting bites from the sheepshead and also fooling a few black drum in the same areas.
Red drum are still feeding in the bays and creeks off the Cape Fear River, and anglers are hooking decent numbers on most days. Live baits are producing the majority of the action right now, but anglers are also tossing topwater plugs and soft plastics with success.
Flounder and some speckled trout are looking for meals in the same areas and taking an interest in the live baits and soft plastics as well.
Donald, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and flounder while bottom fishing with shrimp.
A few bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs.Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for live baits fished under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel while working Gotchas.
