Carolina Beach May 28, 2009
Dave Keith, of Wilmington, with a 60" wahoo he hooked while trolling off Masonboro Inlet aboard the "Chum Maker 2." The 'hoo fell for a ballyhoo under a Blue Water Candy skirt in 275' at the Same Ol'.
Dennis, of Island Tackle, reports that anglers are finding a lot of flounder around the inlet, in the river, and throughout the inshore waters. Live baits like mud minnows or peanut pogies will draw strikes from the flounder, and anglers should also be able to hook up while casting Gulp baits. Many of the flounder are still small, but anglers are picking up some keepers as well.
Good numbers of red drum and some speckled trout are feeding in the bays, creeks, and marshes off the lower Cape Fear River. Live peanut pogies have been producing the most action with both gamefish.
Sheepshead are beginning to make an appearance around the rocky structure of Snow’s Cut. Fiddler crabs are excellent baits for the sheepshead. A few black drum are also around the same areas, and they will take an interest in the fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around Carolina Beach Inlet and nearshore along the beaches. Some of the largest fish are feeding around Sheepshead Rock off Fort Fisher. Trolling is producing most of the action, with Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, Clarkspoons, and Maria Jigs all excellent baits.
Offshore bottom fishermen landed some fat grouper and sea bass last week.
The king mackerel bite has been spotty lately. Boats are finding some mackerel around the WR4 area, with a few in closer to shore. The bite has been pretty good along the beach at Southport, but the fish haven’t made it to the beaches on this side of the cape yet. Live baits are tops for the kings, and there have been a decent number of pogies around lately for anglers looking to catch bait.
Dolphin have moved inshore as far as WR4, and the dolphin bite out at the break has been phenomenal lately. Limiting out hasn’t been a problem for many boats offshore, and skirted ballyhoo is producing most of the dolphin action.
Blue water boats also found some wahoo and billfish last week.
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A rack full of dolphin and yellowfin tuna (with a wahoo and a king mackerel thrown in) caught by Asheboro, NC's Barry Lamb and crew. They were trolling ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy Witches near the Steeples aboard the charter boat "Fish Dance" with Capt. Keith Green and mate Charlie Beal.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that grouper are holding on rocks, ledges, and other structure in the 30-40 mile range. Dolphin have made their way inshore of the Stream and are feeding in many of the same areas, and there are some king mackerel around as well.
Bottom fishing at anchor with cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will produce action with the red, gag, and scamp groupers. Casting out a light line with a cigar minnow on it will attract attention from the dolphin, kings, and any other pelagic fish that meander by.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches, and when the water’s clear, anglers should be able to hook up with big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures.
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Rob Schnieder, of Wilmington, with a blackfin tuna that fell for a topwater plug at the Steeples. He was fishing off Carolina Beach on the "Out Align" with Chris Branco.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that red drum are feeding on the flats of Masonboro Sound and the lower part of the river. Most of the fish are traveling in small pods of 2-5 fish, but there have been some larger schools seen recently as well. The reds should take an interest in spinnerbaits, Gulps, or a variety of other soft plastics.
Anglers are catching some black drum and a few sheepshead while bottom fishing with shrimp around dock pilings in the ICW.
The flounder bite’s been good around Carolina Beach with good numbers of fish also coming from the upper river (between the power lines and downtown Wilmington). Live peanut pogies on Carolina rigs are producing the most action, and there have been plenty of them in the Dredge Pond.
The spanish mackerel bite was excellent last weekend around Wrightsville Beach, and most boats were loading up by trolling Clarkspoons.
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Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder in the surf, near the inlets, and inshore in the river and marshes. Gulp baits or live finger mullet, mud minnows, or peanut pogies will get attention from the flatties.
Hard structure in Snow’s Cut and the river is producing some action with black drum. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs will draw bites from the drum.
Offshore, the king bite was excellent last week at structure from 30 miles on out to the Tower. Light-lining cigar minnows while bottom fishing produced big numbers of kings for many anglers.
The grouper bite was a little slow last week, but rough water kept many boats from bottom fishing effectively.
