Carolina Beach – June 19, 2014
Olivia Nagy with a 24″ and 20″ flounder that bit live menhaden near Carolina Beach while she was fishing with her husband Tim. Olivia Nagy with a 24″ and 20″ flounder that bit live menhaden near Carolina Beach while she was fishing with her husband Tim.
Weston, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are seeing some decent speckled trout action now that the season has opened. Most are coming from the Cape Fear River for anglers casting topwater plugs and live baits in the early morning hours.
Red drum are feeding around marshy shorelines in the river and pouncing on topwater plugs and Gulp baits.
The flounder bite has been inconsistent recently, but anglers are hooking decent numbers on many days. The flatfish are falling for live menhaden, mud minnows, and shrimp in Carolina Beach Inlet, the ICW, and the Cape Fear River.
Out in the ocean, the spanish mackerel action has been solid for anglers trolling Clarkspoons within a few miles of the beachfront.
Some cobia are cruising within a few miles of shore and feeding around nearshore structure. Anglers are hooking the cobes on live baits and bucktail jigs.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid grouper action at offshore ledges in 100’ and deeper.
Dolphin are feeding in the Gulf Stream and moving inshore to the 30-40 mile areas, where boats are hooking up while trolling ballyhoo around weedlines and current edges.
Brandon Bridges of Wilmington NC with a nice bull dolphin caught offshore of Carolina Beach fishing on the “Jus Right” with Carl and Kelly Cliver.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are still seeing decent red drum action in the bays and creeks off the lower Cape Fear River. Some are feeding on the flats and some in deeper pockets in the creeks, and anglers are hooking them on live mud minnows, shrimp, and cut baits, along with topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic baits.
Some speckled trout are feeding in the same areas as the reds and around grass islands and structure in the river. They’ll bite the same offerings as the drum.
Flounder fishing has been up-and-down, but many recent days have seen a decent bite. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live menhaden and mud minnows in the river, Snows Cut, and Carolina Beach Inlet.
There’s also decent flounder action around bottom structure out in the ocean, where live baits and bucktail jigs are tempting the fish to bite. Some gray trout are in the same areas and biting flounder baits and metal lures like Stingsilvers.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront and around nearshore structure as well. They’ll bite metal casting jigs (when anglers spot them feeding on top) or Clarkspoons trolled behind cigar weights and planers.
Some cobia have also been feeding on bait schools and cruising on the surface within a few miles of shore, and anglers are tempting them to bite live baits and bucktail jigs.
Hayden McCarter with a dolphin she hooked on her first trip offshore. The ‘phin fell for a pink/white-skirted ballyhoo while she was fishing near the Same Ol’ Hole with Lowell Mason on the “Sarah’s Worry Too.”
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the sheepshead fishing is improving, and anglers are hooking good numbers of the tasty fish around rocks, pilings, and other structure in the Cape Fear River and ICW. Most are falling for live fiddler crabs fished vertically near the structure.
Red drum are looking for meals in the marshy backwaters off the lower river. Some are schooled up in the bays, and anglers are finding more in smaller groups in the creeks. Topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastics will tempt bites from the reds. Some days they don’t want the artificials, however, and live mud minnows, menhaden, or cut baits are often more effective when the fish are finicky.
Some speckled trout and flounder are feeding in the same areas as the reds and falling for the same offerings.
Betty, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel and a few bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some spot, sea mullet, and other panfish are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Live-baiters landed a cobia last week.
Alice, of Kure Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking spanish mackerel and a few bluefish from the pier.
Live-baiters caught a tarpon last week from the end of the pier.
Bottom fishing with shrimp is producing some croaker and sea mullet.
