Carolina Beach – June 2021
Andrew, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf action has begun to pick up, including some nice-sized pompano making their way into the wash.
A mixed bag of whiting, croakers, and pinfish are also being caught with bottom-rigged baits fished in deeper holes along the sand.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and king mackerel are showing with more consistency for pier anglers.
Off the beach, anglers are doing well while trolling spoons for spanish mackerel.
Cobia are currently being found around nearshore structure in the 3+ mile range. With stable weather and more bait schools arriving, anglers can find fish pushing closer to the beachfront.
Inshore anglers have been focused on red drum as they hold in deeper areas in the ICW. Live baits have been great for fishing around docks and oyster structure.
Garner Wainwright with a 29.6 lb. king that was caught using a Seigler reel while fishing off Carolina Beach.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of black drum on recent trips. This season has seen a pretty consistent class of 15-17” fish, with fresh dead shrimp being the top producing bait. Targeting deeper, grassy banks has been best on high tide cycles, with oyster shell bottoms best on falling and low tide cycles.
Red drum are mixed in with the bottom fishing action. Lower to mid-slot reds are feeding on shrimp and live mullet minnows.
Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that flounder have pushed inshore and are being caught in really good numbers. Fishing Vudu shrimp along the bottom has been the hot ticket recently.
Speckled trout are around, and though slower than past seasons, anglers are still finding a few with artificial shrimp baits.
Red drum fishing is getting better with each trip. Carolina-rigged live pogies and mullet minnows have been most productive while working the deeper holes.
Anglers looking to fish topwater baits are finding action in times of calm winds and low water tide cycles.
Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are getting more active as it moves into summer. Gulp shrimp rigged on 1/4 oz. jig heads will be productive when worked along edges of oyster beds on lower tide cycles. Rapala Skitterwalks and similar topwater plugs are another great setup, and they’re best worked on grass edges and over submerged oyster bars. With more bait pushing inshore, the use of live pogies and mullet is also very effective.
Speckled trout action will be focused more around the early morning hours now that temperatures are on the rise. Topwater plugs are great as the sun rises, and then switch over to Z-Man and similar soft plastics to target the mid-water column.
Anglers are still catching good numbers of black drum with bait shrimp and blue crabs. With smaller pinfish and croakers arriving inshore, this fishing will require much patience.
Chris Meggs, from Riegelwood, with a 42 lb. mahi that fell for a Sea Witch with ballyhoo while fishing north of the Same Ole. Weighed at Island Tackle & Hardware.
Rod, of OnMyWay Fishing Charters, reports that anglers working the beachfront are finding some great spanish mackerel action. Trolling #1 sized planers with 0, 00, and 1 sized Clarkspoons are the go-to setup for working these schools.
Some smaller king mackerel are mixed in with the spanish. Anglers need to be careful to follow each species’ regulations as the two look very similar.
A few straggler Atlantic bonito are popping up around Wrightsville and areas to the north.
King mackerel (up to 18 lbs.) action is focused around ARs, live bottoms, ledges, and rocks in the 5-12 mile range.
Bottom fishing has been great in the 18-30 mile range, with a mix of black sea bass, grunts, and grouper.
Drift lines (fished off the back by the bottom fishing anglers) are producing king mackerel.
Beeliners have been holding a bit deeper (in the 25 mile range).
A few cobia are being caught at these offshore bottom structures.
Gulf anglers have been finding action really picking up, with conditions being extremely important for success. A fresh temperature shot and targeting areas with a little current have been key.
Tuna are being caught over rocks and ledges in the 150-300’ range.
Wahoo are being caught on temperature breaks anywhere from 120-180’.
Good-sized mahi are mixed anywhere in these zones, with a nice 0.5-1 degree temperature change mixed with a 1-1.5 knot current being a great signal to start fishing efforts.
Kyle, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing croakers, whiting, and some spots.
King mackerel (up to 17 lbs.) are starting to arrive for anglers putting in time with live baits off the end.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish should be pushing in more as conditions stabilize and waters clean up.
