Carolina Beach June 9, 2005
Dave, of WildRover II Charters, reports that the gulf stream action has cooled down some, with dolphin being the mainstay and a few wahoos and yellowfins mixed in. There is a really nice weed line formed up around the 30 mile mark, with lots of gaffer-sized dolphin coming out from under the weed mats. Ballyhoo on small skirts is the way to target them.
Inshore, the king mackerel and spanish bite was hot until this recent spat of rain. The fresh water influx has slowed down the bite a lot. The blues are still chewing at all the major rocks.
The grouper bite has been strong at the 25-35 mile range. Ample catches of gag and red grouper have been made in the past week. Cigar minnows, squid and cut bait are the baits of choice. Sunday, he caught two keeper American red snapper in that same range.
Barry, at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, reports flounder fishing has picked up somewhat with some bigger fish in the 5 to 6 lb. range being caught. Plenty of menhaden are around the state park and the dredge hole to use for them. Drum fishing has also picked up as well, with more bait around. The best fishing has been for spanish along the beaches with some nice 4 to 5 lb. fish mixed in, as well as some bluefish. Yo-zuri plugs are still the hot lure for them. Kings are moving in the 5 to 10 mile areas, with bigger fish around 20 miles on wrecks and hard bottoms. Cobia are scattered along the nearshore wrecks and inlets, and the only real news from the gulf stream is all the dolphin you want to catch.
Harry G, at Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that pompano and black drum are coming out of the surf. The south end of the island has been the best area, and go with shrimp or sand fleas. Some flounder have been caught off the piers and the north end, but they’re all still running small. Blues have also been coming off the piers, and the spanish have been slower and still mixed in with the blues.
There’s been a bunch of grass (“lettuce”) all over the inlet, and it has slowed the fishing. Ther have been, however, a few bigger flounder coming out of the river. The heaviest so far has been 5 lbs., but most flounder have been just over the keeper size.
