Carolina Beach May 10, 2012
John Tierney with a 5 lb. speckled trout that bit a live shrimp in the lower Cape Fear River while he was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are beginning to see better signs of flounder around Carolina Beach, as usually happens around the May full moon. The fish are feeding in the inlet, the river, and the ICW, and anglers are tempting them to bite live baits and a variety of Gulps.
Sheepshead are also making a stronger showing, and rocky areas or dock and bridge pilings in the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, and the ICW are good places to look for the tasty striped fish. Sand fleas are some of the best baits.
Large bluefish (some over 10 lbs.) have moved inshore, and anglers are encountering a few while fishing for flounder, drum, and other species inshore.
The blues are thick along the beaches too (though most are smaller), and trolling Clarkspoons along the beachfront or working metal jigs around the nearshore reefs will produce plenty of action with the blues.
Spanish mackerel are in the same areas (with larger fish to 4-5 lbs. feeding further south), and trolled Clarkspoons will also produce plenty of action with them.
Gulf Stream trollers are still catching plenty of blackfin tuna and dolphin along with a few wahoo. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling most of the fish.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the red drum bite in the Cape Fear River has been solid in recent days, and anglers are catching the fish throughout the river, not just in the lower bays.
Speckled trout (including some 3-5 lb. fish) are also feeding from Snow’s Cut on down in the Cape Fear, and anglers are connecting with flounder in the same areas.
Oyster points, grass islands, and other visible structure are producing the best fishing for the drum, trout, and flounder. Live shrimp under popping corks, live menhaden, D.O.A. and Gulp shrimp, and a variety of other lures are fooling all three species.
Out in the ocean, anglers working metal jigs around the artificial reefs and other nearshore structure are hooking some bluefish, gray trout, and a few spanish mackerel. Trolling Clarkspoons just offshore and around the same structure is producing better action with the spanish.
Gustavo Sarti, of Brazil, with a 47", 57 lb. jack crevalle he caught and released near Frying Pan Tower after it bit a topwater popper. He was fishing with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the sheepshead bite is improving in the Cape Fear River and the ICW. The sheeps are feeding around hard structure like bridge and docks pilings and rocks, and they will readily strike fiddler crabs.
The red drum bite has gotten much better, and anglers are finding schools of fish on the flats off the lower Cape Fear. Topwater plugs have been working well on the reds lately, and live mud minnows or Gulp and D.O.A. soft plastics will tempt them to bite when they aren’t inclined to come to the surface for a meal.
A few flounder and speckled trout are feeding in the same spots as the reds, and they’ll take an interest in soft plastics or live baits as well.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up some sea mullet and croaker while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas, but the spanish bite has been slow lately.
Ray, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish in the morning hours while working Gotcha plugs.
Some flounder are falling for live mud minnows on the bottom.
Bottom fishermen are putting together some good catches of sea mullet and a few croaker at night, primarily while baiting up with shrimp.
