Carolina Beach November 8, 2007
Trey, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout bite is picking up. Anglers are finding most of the trout in the bays of the lower Cape Fear, and some decent catches are also coming from the ICW. Most of the trout are running from 2-3.5 lbs. with a few 4+ lb. citation fish mixed in. The trout are feeding on shrimp, and anglers are hooking them on D.O.A. and Gulp shrimp, as well as live shrimp fished under floats.
The flounder bite has slowed down a bit, but most of the flounder that anglers are catching have been large ones. Carolina-rigged finger mullet and other live baits are the top choices for the flatfish, and anglers are finding them around ICW docks and structure in Carolina Beach Inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the river. A few flounder are still coming from the nearshore reefs in the ocean as well.
The nearshore reefs are holding good numbers of gray trout. Anglers can target the tasty trout by jigging Stingsilvers near the structure. And if the bite is slow, tipping the lure with a piece of cut shrimp will make it more appealing.
Red drum are feeding around ICW docks and in the river, and anglers are landing decent numbers of upper-slot and over-slot fish around the Masonboro Jetties. Carolina-rigged mullet or pogies will entice the drum to bite, and anglers can also cast Gulp baits with good results.
King mackerel are still feeding close to the beaches, but they will be following the baitfish offshore as the water temperatures continue to fall over the coming weeks. Once the beach bite dies, boaters can search for the kings around structure and bait concentrations 5-15 miles offshore. Live baits, such as pogies and cigar minnows, are the top choices for the kings, but they’ll also fall for dead cigars, ballyhoo, and a variety of lures.
A few spanish mackerel are still around and chasing bait near the beaches, but they’ll be headed offshore soon as well.
When the weather calms down, the bottom fishing should be excellent. Anglers can target gag grouper at structure as close as 12 miles from the beaches. Red and scamp grouper and other bottomfish will be holding somewhat further offshore—from 30 miles on.
Wahoo are still abundant in the Gulf Stream, and when the ocean calms down, they should be feeding heavily.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that red drum are feeding throughout the lower Cape Fear River from Bald Head Creek near the river mouth north to the power lines near Wilmington. Live baits, such as shrimp, mullet, or pogies, fished on Carolina rigs will tempt the drum to strike, and in shallow water, anglers may also be able to fool them on topwater plugs.
Fall speckled trout fishing is heating up, and anglers are catching both quality fish and good numbers of them. Anglers are finding solid action with the trout at spots off the ICW and around the grass islands and bays of the lower Cape Fear. Many of the trout are in the 3-6 lb. class, and anglers are catching a few brutes weighing up to 8 lbs.
Live shrimp are the top trout baits, but anglers can also entice them to bite D.O.A. and Billy Bay Halo shrimp imitations fished with a slow retrieve.
Sheepshead are still feeding close to docks, bridges, and other structure throughout the ICW, Snow’s Cut, and the river, and anglers have been finding some large sheepshead (4-6+ lbs.) around docks between Snow’s Cut and Carolina Beach Inlet. Rock crabs fished close to the structure should draw strikes from the sheepshead.
Flounder fishing has been hit-or-miss over the past few weeks, but anglers are still landing some large flatfish while fishing Snow’s Cut, the Southport waterfront, the river, Carolina Beach Inlet, and the nearshore reefs. Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are the top flounder producers.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the falling water temperatures are concentrating the baitfish, and therefore the offshore fishing action has also been concentrated.
King mackerel are schooling around 12 miles offshore and further out, and the dropping temperatures will serve to further concentrate them and push them offshore over the coming weeks.
Gag grouper are holding and feeding around bottom structure in 70-80’ of water from 16-25 miles offshore, and reds, scamps, and other bottom fish are still holding 35+ miles from the beaches.
Fisher, of Capt. Fisher’s Guide Service, reports that red drum in the 10-20 lb. class and chopper bluefish are feeding on the Thoroughfare flats, where anglers can locate them by searching for fleeing mullet or slicks on the water where the fish have been feeding recently.
The drum are also feeding alongside flounder and speckled trout in the backwater creeks. Live baits fished on Carolina rigs and Gulp baits will fool all three inshore gamefish.
Trout fishing has been especially good in the Cape Fear recently, and the lack of rain has the fish feeding from the river mouth all the way north of Wilmington. Topwater plugs, MirrOlures, and a variety of soft plastic baits will all fool the hungry trout, and anglers should target current eddies around oyster bars and drop-offs for the best results with the specks.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around docks and rocky structure in the river, and both will fall for crabs or other crustacean baits.
Out at the nearshore reefs, anglers are landing gray trout, flounder, bull red drum, and king and spanish mackerel.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that the windy conditions over the past week have led to a good spot bite. Anglers seeking the spot are also landing a few pompano. Shrimp, bloodworms, and artificial bloodworms fished on bottom rigs are producing the best results.
Anglers baiting up with cut baits are catching decent numbers of bluefish.
