Carolina Beach June 8, 2006
Dave, of Fryingpantower.com, reports that the dolphin fishing is on fire. Big “gaffers” are being caught from Hatteras all the way down to the Georgetown Hole. Rigged ballyhoo with small skirts seem to be the trick. There are still a few yellowfin in the mix, but the wahoo have mostly moved on to cooler waters.
Cobia and kings are being caught in numbers near the Tower. These are not run of the mill cobias either; big cobias are being caught in numbers.
The dolphin and king mackerel are scattered throughout the offshore waters. The Dredge Wreck and WR-4 seem to be producing pretty well on a daily basis. Rigged ballyhoo and rigged cigar minnows will get the job done in these areas.
Inshore, lots of spanish mackerel are being caught along the coast near the inlets. Find clean water and you will find the fish. Try 00 Clark spoons (silver and gold) down deep.
The groupers have started to move inshore. Keeper gags are as close as 14 miles, but the main population seems to be around the 25-30 mile mark. Red grouper in numbers are still deep, but they are getting closer every day. The 35-mile mark seems to be what it takes for these keeper-sized fish in numbers.
Flounder are chewing all along the coast, with a few big ones mixed in. It looks like it will be a good year for flounder fishing in the area waters. Black sea bass are always around on the nearshore rocks and ledges, with 3-4 lbs. pretty common. Squid and cut bait will always make these guys hungry.
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports plenty of flounder to be caught, but most fish are still running small. There’s plenty of menhaden around Carolina Beach and in the Cape Fear River, and a few mullet are now beginning to show up.
Small reds are being caught in the river and up the ICW towards Wrightsville Beach.
The spanish mackerel are on the beaches and in the inlets in 15 to 20 feet of water.
Not many trout this week, but the Cape fear River is where a few are being caught.
Big bluefish in the 8 to 12 lb. range are also being caught in the river.
Mike, at Kure Beach Pier, reports that fishing is a bit slow. Small blues and spanish have recently been caught. The water has been dirty because of the rain showers. Temps are now reaching near 72 degrees.
There have been no kings or cobia to report this week.
