Carolina Beach May 23, 2013
Shannon Clark with a 32″ red drum she caught and released after it struck a weedless Category 5 soft plastic. She was fishing the Cape Fear River with her husband, Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that things are turning on in the inshore and offshore waters around Carolina Beach.
Anglers are still finding plenty of red drum in the bays off the lower Cape Fear River, where they’re hooking them on topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastic baits, and live and cut baits.
More reds have been hooked by anglers fishing live baits in Snows Cut in the past week, and resident fish are also feeding around docks and other structure in the ICW.
The speckled trout bite has gotten better in the river, and anglers are reporting speck action in the creeks, along grass banks, and near oyster rocks and other current breaks. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but they’ll also take an interest in D.O.A. shrimp, soft baits like Gulps, and suspending hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s.
Bluefish are feeding in inshore channels, the inlets, and along the beachfront in the ocean. They’ll take nearly any bait or lure they happen across, but some of the best tactics include trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and torpedo weights and casting metal jigs to fish chasing bait on the surface.
Spanish mackerel have also made it to the north side of Frying Pan Shoals, and boats are hooking good numbers while casting jigs and trolling spoons from Carolina Beach Inlet down past Fort Fisher.
King mackerel are also around, with one landed from Kure Pier last week. More have been feeding around structure a bit offshore, so a full-fledged nearshore bite should be happening soon. Live menhaden and bluefish are top choices for the kings, but anglers can also hook up on dead cigar minnows.
Dak Millis, of Wilmington, with a fat spanish mackerel that he hooked on a Gotcha plug while fishing off of Carolina Beach with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with grouper around offshore structure while baiting up with cigar minnows, squid, and cut and live baits.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are finding fast action with dolphin around local hotspots like the Steeples and Same Ol’. Some wahoo and blackfin tuna are also around to complete the meatfish slam. And several blue marlin have also been released by local boats lately, so the summer blue water bite is on. Ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action with the marlin and meatfish.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of red drum in the bays and backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. Fish are feeding in both the creeks and the bays, and anglers are hooking them on Gulp baits, live mud minnows, fresh shrimp, and cut baits. As the water warms, the reds should become more receptive to topwater lures.
Some black drum are feeding in the same areas (especially around oyster rocks) and will take a hearty interest in fresh cut shrimp.
Some speckled trout are also looking for meals in the creeks and around grass islands and oyster rocks in the river. Leadhead jigs paired with paddle and split-tail soft plastics have been tempting the trout to bite.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Carolina Beach Inlet and along the beach on either side. Anglers can hook both while trolling small spoons or working metal jigs around schools of fish feeding on top.
Jesse Billauer, of Marina Del Rey, CA, with a 36″ bluefish that bit a croaker he was reeling in near Carolina Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.
Some Atlantic bonito are also still around and chasing bait at nearshore structure, where they’ll respond to the same tactics as the spanish and blues.
Dropping jigs to bottom structure a bit further offshore (60-80’ of water) is producing action with gray trout, black sea bass, gag grouper, and more.
Linda, of Carolina Beach Pier reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet on shrimp and other baits.
Some bluefish are falling for bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that some bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other flashy casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet (on shrimp) and flounder (on live mud minnows).
Live-baiters landed a 22 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
