Carolina Beach May 31, 2012
Jonathan Lin with a 25" red drum that bit a live mud minnow in a backwater off the lower Cape Fear River while he was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer.
Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that some fat flounder (several 5-8 lbs.) have been caught in Snow’s Cut over the past week. Live menhaden and mud minnows are fooling most of the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in the backwaters off the lower river, and anglers are hooking up with them while casting topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and on a variety of live and cut baits.
Anglers are reporting a few speckled trout from spots north of Snow’s Cut. Live and soft plastic baits offer anglers the best odds with the specks.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the inlets and beaches, and anglers are hooking good numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons in clean water a few miles from shore.
Cobia are looking for meals at nearshore structure and just off the inlets. Anglers can sight-cast bucktails to fish they see cruising on the surface, or fish dead and live baits on bottom rigs near the inlets to hook up.
The few boats who’ve been to the Gulf Stream lately are reporting that the excellent gaffer dolphin bite is still going strong. Skirted ballyhoo are the best bets for the ‘phins.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that flounder fishing continues to improve in the lower Cape Fear River, and anglers are catching the flatfish on live baits and Gulps and other soft plastics. Deeper holes in the marshes, oyster beds, and creekmouths are all good places to connect with the flounder.
Red drum are schooling on the flats throughout the lower river, and smaller groups of fish are working the creeks. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite live mud minnows or menhaden, Gulp and D.O.A. soft plastics, and topwater plugs in the mornings or on overcast days.
Noelle Hampton, of Wilmington, with a flounder that bit a live menhaden in the Cape Fear River.
Large chopper bluefish and some speckled trout are feeding in the same areas as the reds and flatfish, and they’re striking the same lures.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridge and dock pilings, oyster rocks, and other hard structure in the ICW, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River. Fiddler crabs fished on the bottom or dangling near the structure are tempting them to bite.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the flounder fishing in the Cape Fear River is getting better by the week (and more fat 4-5+ lb. fish are showing up). Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live menhaden, which have been plentiful in the dredge pond recently. Oyster and grass points and rocky structure are good places to look for the flatfish.
Anglers are finding plenty of action with red drum while fishing the shallow flats and bays off the lower Cape Fear, and the fish are biting topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the river, and anglers are finding them around rocky structure and creekmouths. Live menhaden or shrimp are tough to beat for the specks.
A few big chopper bluefish are still prowling the lower river, and they’re attacking the lures and baits that anglers are fishing for the flounder, trout, and drum.
Bradner Rudd, of Wilmington, with a 21 lb. cobia that bit a dead menhaden in Snows Cut.
Brenda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers caught some big chopper bluefish last week on Gotcha plugs and bottom rigs.
Some sharks have also been taking an interest in the bottom rigs.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing with shrimp have been decking some sea mullet, croaker, spot, and spadefish lately.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
Chopper bluefish were biting Gotcha plugs and live and cut baits before last weekend’s winds, so they may be back when the water calms down.
