Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Carolina Beach June 5, 2008

Trey, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing just keeps getting better. Anglers are starting to see good numbers of flatfish in the 4-7 lb. class while fishing live baits in the inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the river.

The speckled trout bite is still good at the usual places in the river, like grass and mud banks, oyster beds, and other hard structure. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but they may not be easily available. Billy Bay Halo shrimp or Gulp baits should also draw some strikes.

Red drum are feeding around creeks and docks off the ICW and Cape Fear, and anglers have also been finding some in the lower river bays. Any bait that interests the trout or flounder, such as live shrimp, mullet, pogies, or Gulps and other artificial lures, will get attention from the reds.

Spanish mackerel are feeding right along the beaches (and boats have seen some as large as 7 lbs. recently). Trolled Clarkspoons and diving lures will get strikes from the spanish, but anglers may have better luck using live baits or casting to the larger fish with metal lures. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spanish.

Some king mackerel are feeding alongside the spanish near the beaches, but the best king bite has been at spots around 10 miles offshore over the past week. The kings will bite dead cigar minnows, but live baits produce superior results. Some pogies are showing up in the river and outside Carolina Beach Inlet, and anglers can also jig up live cigar minnows from the structure they’re fishing.

Some cobia are showing up on the nearshore AR’s and other structure. Anglers can sight cast to the fish with bucktails or fish live baits like pogies with good results on the cobes.

Some dolphin have moved inshore of the Gulf Stream, and they are feeding around 30 miles off the beach. It’s June, so it shouldn’t be long until some sailfish join the dolphin and move even closer to shore, feeding 10 miles and closer to the beaches.

Dolphin fishing also remains strong out in the Gulf Stream, and anglers are also landing good numbers of wahoo out in the blue water. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures will produce results with both fish.

 

Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that flounder fishing is still improving. Over the past week, the bite has been best around Carolina Beach Inlet, with slower flatfish action in the river and Snow’s Cut. In the inlet, anglers have been landing good numbers of flounder (some up to 6 lbs.) while drifting live baits on Carolina rigs. Pogies, finger mullet, and other baits will all draw strikes, but the fish seem to be showing a preference for the striped killie minnows anglers can cast net along sand bars and shoals.

Red drum are also feeding well in the inlet, and anglers are catching several per trip when flounder fishing. The killie minnows are attracting attention from the reds as well.

Speckled trout are still looking for meals at the spots in the river where they’ve been feeding for months, but the bite is slowing down a little bit. Live shrimp are still the best baits when anglers can get them.

The river is also giving up good numbers of black drum to anglers fishing crustacean baits near structure.

 

Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that there are plenty of spanish mackerel around the inlets and nearby along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons should produce action with the spaniards.

Kings keep moving closer to the beach, and anglers found good numbers at the 20 mile spots recently.

Gag grouper are also feeding in the 20+ mile range, with most of the reds and scamps out a little bit further-30+ miles. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits should keep anglers busy when bottom dropping on the ledges where the grouper live.

 

Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that flounder fishing has been productive from the pier recently. Live mud minnows are drawing most of the bites, and anglers landed flatfish up to 3.5 lbs. last week.

Bottom fishermen are landing a mixed bag of black drum, whiting, croaker, pompano, and bluefish. Cut shrimp seems to be attracting the most attention on the bottom.

Plug casters are hooking up with a few spanish mackerel and bluefish.

The water is 72 degrees.

 

Kathy, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers landed a king last week.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been biting well for anglers fishing with Gotcha plugs