Carolina Beach – November 2023
Andrew, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf anglers have been hooking black drum, whiting, croaker, large pompano, and plenty of bluefish. Inshore anglers are still finding some nice sheepshead and black drum around the hard structures. Red drum seem to be scattered everywhere from the inlet back into the Cape Fear River. Late fall has anglers thinking about speckled trout. Some specks are being caught, but it’s still early and the area seems to be off to a slow start. Nearshore anglers are catching Spanish mackerel and a handful of king mackerel. Bottom fishing the offshore structure has been producing plenty of vermilion snapper.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are having success finding red drum with finger mullet rigged on jig heads and Carolina rigs. The landings have been a mixed bag of puppy to over-slot reds, with both rising and falling tides seeing a good bite. A bit of moving water either way is key, and target deeper grass banks or shell banks that also see some bait. Anglers are catching a handful of flounder while targeting red drum with live finger mullet fished on the bottom. Most of these flatfish are in the 16-20” range. Schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlets, and anglers can have success throwing Big Nic Spanish Candies and/or similar metal jigs.
Brad Edmundson, of Carolina Beach, hooked this 42.5″ redfish while fishing the Cape Fear River using live mullet.
Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that anglers in the river are seeing tons of bait around, and with temperatures starting to cool off, the late fall fishing is about to fire up. Anglers this time of year have their minds set on speckled trout, but what we’ve seen is this bite is still yet to really kick off. There are trout being caught, but most of the action is still centered both early and late in the day.
Red drum fishing has been good. A ton of smaller reds were being caught in the beginning of fall, but now as their patterns start to settle into cooler water, we are seeing some upper-slot and over-slot fish. Plenty of flounder are mixed in the red drum bycatch, but moving into November, look for these flatfish to start pushing out for the year.
Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that as wind patterns shift from the north and temperatures in the area cool down, the area starts to shift into a new pattern. Anglers targeting red drum will have success in area creeks and back on the flats. Artificial baits will work well in both areas, and they also allow anglers to work through spots quickly. If sight casting conditions aren’t present, you can fish some dead shrimp or cut bait in deeper pockets alongside oyster beds.
Brad Edmundson, of Carolina Beach, hooked this 42.5″ redfish while fishing the Cape Fear River using live mullet.
Speckled trout fishing will be getting strong in the coming weeks with these weather changes. The best tactic will be using both soft plastics and hard lures in moving water around structure or in creek mouths. Black drum will be feeding well through the rest of fall right into the winter months. Dead shrimp and crabs fished around structure, oysters, or deep holes in the creeks will entice strikes.
Mason, of Grand Slam Fishing Charters, reports that the cooling weather has started to pick up the speckled trout bite. Anglers targeting this early push are still finding the fish pretty scattered, though. Shrimp has produced the most strikes, but many times the shrimp has found the smaller class of fish. Topwater plugs, large MirrOlures, and soft plastics have required more effort but have produced a better quality trout. Target areas around the inlet on both ends of the tidal push. A bunch of smaller “rat” red drum (to 16”) are around, with slot fish mixed in. Targeting shallow water oyster points or mud bottom creeks has been best. Black drum will be staged in these same creeks and around shell structures, and they will feed best on cut shrimp.
Rod, of OnMyWay Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing a fantastic fall Spanish mackerel bite. This is the best time to catch the larger fish (3-6 lbs.) while trolling the shallower 20-35’ areas. The Spanish action will continue right up until water temperatures drop below 65. Some king mackerel are right along the beach, but the better action is being found in the 5-10 mile range. Both dead or live baits are having about equal success off the Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. Some cobia may also be caught in that nearshore area.
Caden Curran, of Wilmington, hauled up this 40″+ red drum while fishing from the Kure Beach Pier using a spot head on the bottom.
Gag grouper season closed towards the end of October, but there is still plenty of action found at the reefs. It’s getting to be the time of fall where we start seeing the large black sea bass and grunts. Bottom fishing out in the 30-mile area is where anglers will start finding scamp grouper. Runs out to the break are beginning to see some great wahoo action. The wahoo bite will only get better as we move into the winter months. Mixed in the trolling action are blackfin tuna and scattered mahi.
Woody, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that nice-sized Spanish mackerel (to 3 lbs.) are still running along the beachfronts. Anglers fishing for kings had success with fish to 23 lbs. Some red drum are being caught, though the better action has been in the evenings. Bottom fishing efforts are producing gray trout, pompano, and spots.
