Carolina Beach May 29, 2008
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing continues to improve throughout the area. Anglers fishing Carolina-rigged live baits are hooking up with larger flounder every week (some up to 7+ lbs. recently) while fishing in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River.
There have been big numbers of peanut pogies and finger mullet in the river, so catching live baits shouldn’t be a problem.
Speckled trout are still feeding in the Cape Fear River. Live shrimp will fool the most and largest specks, but anglers should also be able to hook up on Billy Bay Halo shrimp and Gulp baits. Look for the trout around grass islands, drop-offs, and structure areas.
Some red drum are feeding in the river bays and around the same places where the trout are ambushing bait.
Spanish mackerel have invaded the waters near the beach, and boats should be able to hook up while trolling Clarkspoons and diving lures along the beach front and around nearshore structure. When the fish are concentrated and feeding, anglers can also cast metal lures into the breaking schools with good results.
Some cobia have been reported at spots not far from land, and it won’t be long until the fish are feeding right along the beach and at structure and buoys within a few miles of shore. Live baits should attract some attention from the cobia.
Kings are also feeding close to shore, and anglers are hooking up with them from the beaches to offshore of Frying Pan Tower. Deep diving plugs or dead cigar minnows should produce action with the kings, and some live bait-sized pogies have shown up in the river recently, offering anglers another option.
Dolphin have moved inshore from the Gulf Stream, and anglers should begin seeing them consistently inside of 30 miles soon. Ballyhoo or cigar minnow baits will produce strikes from the dolphin.
The bottom bite has been better 35+ miles off the beach recently, where boats are hooking up with good numbers of red grouper and other bottom fish. Anglers can hook up with the fish by sending baits such as cigar minnows and Boston mackerel down to the structure or by vertically working butterfly jigs just off the bottom.
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Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that anglers are catching more and bigger flounder by the week (with a number in the 5-7 lb. class recently). Peanut pogies, finger mullet, and tiger minnows fished on Carolina rigs are all producing good action with the flatfish.
Speckled trout are still feeding in the river, and anglers are also hooking up with good numbers of specks in the inlet. Live shrimp are the top trout baits, but they’re becoming somewhat hard to come by, and anglers are also having good luck while casting Halo shrimp (especially under popping corks) and topwater lures like Skitterwalks and MirrOlure Top Dogs.
Plenty of bluefish (with some choppers) are also feeding in the inlet and nearby, and they’ll fall for live baits or a wide variety of lures.
Spanish mackerel (most now running 2-3 lbs.) are feeding right in the inlet and along the beachfront to the north and south. Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 planers are the ticket to hooking up with the spaniards.
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Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing 35-40 miles from the beach has been productive recently. Anglers are hooking up with good numbers of red grouper, but the gags have been more reluctant to bite.
In addition to the grouper, anglers are catching some very large beeliners (2-4 lbs.), pinkies, grunts, and other bottomfish.
Cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will get the attention of the bottom feeders.
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Kayla, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that plug casters are catching bluefish and decent numbers of spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
On the bottom, anglers baiting up with mud minnows are hooking up with some flounder.
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Freddie, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs, cut baits, and shrimp.
Bottom fishermen are landing some large pompano and a few whiting on shrimp.
Some flounder are coming over the rails on live baits.
