Carolina Beach November 11, 2010
David Calhoun with a red grouper that fell for a live flying fish that landed on the deck of the "R/V Dan Moore" while he was on a training cruise for the CFCC Marine Tech program. The boat was in 120' of water off Frying Pan Tower.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf anglers are catching some stout whiting, with a better bite on shrimp than sand fleas. Some upper-slot reds are also feeding in the surf and falling for live and cut baits. Plenty of bluefish and small flounder are feeding in the breakers as well.
The speckled trout bite has been excellent around Carolina Beach Inlet and in the yacht basin lately, and anglers are still pulling good numbers of specks out of the Cape Fear River around the grass islands. Gulps and D.O.A. shrimp have been the most effective baits for the trout lately, as the pinfish and other undesirable species are still too numerous to fish live shrimp effectively.
Red drum action’s been a little slower inshore lately, but anglers are still hooking decent numbers in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. Live baits have been producing the best action with the reds of late.
The flounder bite’s been a little slow inshore lately, but anglers are catching a few (with some citation fish) in Snow’s Cut. The bite’s been slower at nearshore structure in the ocean, too, but anglers are also pulling some solid (citation-class) fish off spots like the Marriott Reef. Live finger mullet are producing most of the action, and they’re still pretty easy to find.
Offshore reports have been hard to come by lately with all the wind. The king mackerel bite is most likely pushing offshore as the water cools, so it may take a little looking before anglers can find the kings. When they do, however, the fish should be feeding heavily, and dead cigar minnows will produce nearly as many fish as live baits this time of year.
Jackie, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching some big red drum at the north and south ends of the island on cut baits and finger mullet.
The flounder bite’s been solid in the surf as well, with most of the fish falling for finger mullet.
Jeremy Hall, from Ohio, with an 8 lb. (est.) flounder that fell for a natural Gulp Alive shrimp in the backwaters off the Lower Cape Fear River while he was fishing with Capt. Jeff Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters.
Black drum, whiting, spot, and some pompano are also still on the feed in the surf, and a bottom rig baited with shrimp will attract attention from all three.
Inshore, anglers are catching black drum and sheepshead on fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits around structure in Snow’s Cut.
Live finger mullet are fooling some red drum, speckled trout, and flounder in Snow’s Cut and the ICW.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite has turned on strong in the lower Cape Fear River. Soft plastic baits and MirrOlure MR 17 and 18 models have been fooling most of the specks, and the action’s been best around structure and in the creeks off the river.
The red drum bite remains solid in the lower river and off the ICW, with the best action in the creeks and around ICW docks and drains instead of on the flats lately. Gulps and soft plastic paddletails are striking the reds’ fancy.
Some flounder are still around many of the same places anglers are finding the reds, and anglers have caught good numbers on Gulps lately (including several 6-8 lb. fish).
Sheepshead and black drum are holding around hard structure in the river and ICW, and anglers can hook both on fiddler crabs, live shrimp, and other crustaceans.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that red and scamp grouper should still be on the feed at spots 30-40 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet. The gags have moved inshore and are prowling structure in the 10-25 mile range. All the groupers will take an interest in cigar minnows and live and cut baits.
B.J. McConville with a 7 lb. red drum he hooked in the Carolina Beach surf on a live finger mullet.
Benny, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few spot and good numbers of whiting while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some red drum and flounder are falling for live baits fished on the bottom.
Plenty of bluefish are still around and biting most baits.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers saw a few spot runs last week, with most of the fish falling for bloodworms. Anglers have been catching plenty of whiting on shrimp.
Flounder are falling for live baits fished underneath the pier.
