Carolina Beach March 2007
Seth, at Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum are schooled up along the beach, from Topsail down to Fort Fisher. Some speckled trout are mixed in with the drum in the beachfront sloughs. The fish are schooled tightly but not very active. Casting Mirrolures into the schools, however, will provoke some fish to bite.
Gulf Stream action has begun, with boats catching fat yellowfin tuna (from 30-60 lbs.) and wahoo. A blue marlin has already been reported as well. Trolling spreads of green skirted and naked ballyhoo and purple/black plugs are the ticket to a full fishbox this time of year. Tuna and billfish will attack the ballyhoos, and the plugs will draw strikes from the speedy wahoo.
Some grouper have been caught lately, with most of the fish coming from 35+ miles offshore.
Warming water should produce excellent speckled trout fishing over the next few weeks. Hewlett’s Creek and the Carolina Beach Yacht Basin are hotspots for the trout, which will fall for Mirrolures, Gulp baits, or live shrimp.
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports that some speckled trout and red drum have been active around grass islands in creeks, the waterway, and the Cape Fear River. The most effective lures for the trout and drum are D.O.A. shrimp in green and root beer colors, and red/white Mirrolures.
Over the next four weeks, year round resident flounder will become active and resume feeding after the winter. Area inlets will be good places to find these early flounder.
Dave, at FryingpanTwoer.com, reports that the yellowfin should soon start to make their annual appearance along the NC coast. Wahoo are biting now, with a few yellowfin mixed in. This will change to mostly yellowfin as the temps continue to rise. Look for the warm water breaks right along the Continental Shelf.
The king mackerel bite has been steady all winter and should continue to do well. These school-sized fish will hold at the offshore temp breaks. Look for a drastic change in water temp and you should find fish.
Everyone has been catching their limits pretty easy on drone spoons, pirate plugs, or drones rigged with cut bait.
The dolphin have been slim to none, but that will also change as the temps start to rise.
The grouper fishing has been outstanding all winter long, with big fish coming on most every trip starting out around the 30 mile range. The blue-headed sea bass (big ones) are also steady in as close as 10 miles. The trick to sea bass fishing this time of year is to find a place that hasn’t been trap fished. If all you catch are small ones, then move to the next stop till you find the bigger ones.
When the offshore waters hold these large temp breaks, fish should be schooled up around those breaks. The king mackerel will be in the colder waters, and wahoo/yellowfin will be in the warmer water.
Nearshore, the bonitos will show up first, then the kings, and then the spanish.
Mike, at Kure Beach Pier, reports that the pier will be opening the weekend of March 30, and anglers can expect to catch blow toads (puffer fish), whiting, and perhaps croaker. As soon as the water gets to the high 60’s, anglers will be catching bluefish and spanish mackerel as well.
