Carolina Beach May 27, 2004
Steve, at Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that the spanish continue to be just off the beach and around the piers. Lots of smaller blues are also on the beach and around the piers. The black drum are beginning to be plentiful in the waterway. He has weighed in several black drum, and the weights have ranged from 2 to 10 lbs. Surf fishermen are picking up a few of these fish. The surf also has a few pompano and some whiting, but the bite for those two species is slowing. The area around Carolina Beach has been producing plenty of flounder. They are in the waterway, Snow’s Cut, and the river. The sizes have ranged from 1 lb. to 11 lbs., with several in the 5 to 7 pound range weighed in recently. The waterway has also had some catches of spots, with most weighing a little less than one pound.
Barry, at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, reports that offshore the primary action has been dolphin. They are mostly running 10 to 20 lbs. and can be found starting at the 23 mile mark and then moving out to the Same Ole. Kings have also been present in this area. A nice billfish bite has been present in the Steeples to the Same Ole. Three of his customers reported catches, including a white, a small blue, and a blue estimated to be in the 500 lb. class. There have been lots of cobia caught on the near wrecks. Large schools of kings and spanish have appeared in the Yaupon area. Spanish remain in numbers all over the beaches, with some weighing up to 6 lbs. Inside there are a couple of reds to be picked up around the docks. The flounder bite is on the increase, as evident in the Inshore Challenge, with several flounder of various sizes caught in the waterway, Snow’s Cut, and in the river. Blues are still around, and there remains to be a trout bite around Southport, especially in Buzzard Bay.
Capt. Dave, of Wild Rover II Charters, reports that the gulf stream action has been hot this week with dolphin leading the charge. Weedlines around the Same Ole have been providing some of the best action. Yellowfin tuna and wahoo have been scarce, but white marlin and small blue marlin have been reported. Charter boats have been limiting out on king mackerel in recent days. Grouper are still chewing with great catches of gag and red grouper from 15 to 30 miles. However, be careful if you run because the current has been really strong the further you go out. Inshore the spanish mackerel have slacked up some, but the bluefish have come on strong. There have been some really nice blues caught in the last few days. The morning and evening bite seems to be the current rule for blues.
