Added on Thursday, June 18, 2009  Fish Post

Carolina Beach June 18, 2009

Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that boats venturing offshore are still finding an excellent gaffer dolphin bite, with fish reported well inshore of the Stream at spots inside in the 20 mile range. Anglers looking for the ‘phins can hook up while trolling ballyhoo or cigar minnows, and many fish have been hooked by anglers live-baiting as well.

The king mackerel bite’s been a little spotty lately, but as a 41 lb. smoker landed on Carolina Beach Pier last week goes to show, there are some big kings scattered from the beaches to spots well offshore. Live baits are tops for the kings, and anglers are finding plenty of king mackerel-sized pogies near the junction of Snow’s Cut, the ICW, and the boat basin.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding heavily in and near the inlet, and boats trolling Clarkspoons are hooking big numbers of both.

There are bluefish spread throughout the inside waters as well, and anglers are hooking them while fishing for flounder, trout, reds, and just about everything else inshore.

Hard structure in the lower river is holding good numbers of speckled trout, black drum, red drum, and sheepshead. Live shrimp will appeal to all of them, and anglers can also hook the reds and specks on live peanut pogies or mud minnows. Float rigs are often necessary in order to keep from snagging, but anglers can score with the sheepshead and black drum on bottom rigs baited with shrimp when the bottom is clear, and one angler weighed in an 8 lb. sheep taken from Snow’s Cut last week.

The speckled trout bite has been even better down around Southport, where anglers are putting together solid catches on live shrimp.

Flounder have established themselves just about everywhere inshore, and anglers are catching some big flatties in the inlet, Snow’s Cut, the ICW, and the Cape Fear. Smaller live pogies are the top flounder producers, and fishing them near some structure on a Carolina rig is best way to hook up with a flatfish.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has been excellent  around structure in the Lower Cape Fear lately (with anglers landing several over 5 lbs. last week). Shell bottoms, oyster beds, and rocky areas are the places to target, and a live shrimp fished on a float rig is tops for the specks, but D.O.A. shrimp are also producing fish.

Flounder are feeding in the same areas as the trout, and the flatfish are turning up just about everywhere else around Carolina Beach as well. Live pogies fished on Carolina rigs are the ticket to flounder bites, and there have been plenty of pogies spread out through the ICW, boat basin, and river, so anglers shouldn’t have much trouble finding bait. Plenty of mullet are working through the inlet as well.

Puppy drum are mixed in with both the trout and flounder, and they will take an interest in shrimp, pogies, D.O.A. shrimp, or other lures.

Black drum are feeding around rocky structure throughout the area, too. Anglers can hook them on live or dead shrimp.

 

Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that red drum are feeding heavily in the ICW, Masonboro Sound, and lower Cape Fear River (with fish ranging from 14-30+”). Anglers have been seeing especially large schools in the creeks and backwaters of the river, and sight-casting to many of the fish with soft plastics and Redfish Magic spinnerbaits. When the water’s too dirty or deep to see the reds, watching for them to drive mullet, shrimp, or other bait out of the water will give anglers some clues on where to cast. A trolling motor is almost essential to cover some ground stealthily when it comes to searching for the reds.

Anglers have been catching good numbers of flounder while casting for the reds, and the flatfish are spread out all over the area. Live pogies or finger mullet are the best flounder baits, but anglers are hooking plenty on Redfish Magics and other artificials.

Black drum (most in the 2-3 lb. class) are feeding around hard structure in the river and nearby, and a bottom rig baited with shrimp will get their attention. Deeper areas with strong current tend to be the most productive, and either side of a slack high tide is ideal.

Speckled trout are feeding upriver around the power lines, and live shrimp are the top baits for them.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the grouper bite is still solid at structure in the 30-40 mile range. Anglers are hooking the fish on cigar minnows, live baits, and cut baits.

Plenty of other bottomfish like pinkies and grunts are around, too, and squid will produce action with them.

Dolphin and king mackerel are feeding in the same areas as the grouper, and they will fall for live baits or light-lined cigar minnows.

The spanish mackerel bite is still solid in the inlet and along the beaches, and trolled Clarkspoons will get their attention.

 

Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that the flounder bite’s been excellent lately, as the double digit fish topping local tournaments last week go to prove. Live, Carolina-rigged finger mullet or peanut pogies are the best ways to hook a flounder.

Black drum are feeding around hard structure in the river and Snow’s Cut, and shrimp on a bottom rig will get their attention.

Some fat sheepshead have been caught in Snow’s Cut lately.

Offshore, king mackerel are spread out from the beaches to offshore (with the larger fish seemingly closer in).

Anglers are finding dolphin action starting around 15 miles. Several sailfish have been reported over the past week well inshore of the Stream, too.

Bottom fishermen are reporting decent grouper catches starting around 25 miles out.

 

Kelsey, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs hooked a few spanish mackerel last week.

Bottom fishermen found some action with spot and spadefish.

Live baiters had several hookups on the king rigs, but unfortunately the fish were lost.