Carolina Beach October 12, 2006
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the fishing in the Cape Fear River has continued to pick up. Speckled trout in good numbers are hitting DOA shrimp, while the redfish are eating Gulps, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and/or shrimp imitations. The reds are being caught from Southport as far up river as the powerlines.
Flounder fishing has been real good on live bait, with plenty of 3 to 4 pound fish (and a few weighing over 7 pounds) this week. The CB Inlet, Snow’s Cut, and shell beds in the river have been the most productive areas.Trey, at Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been hot king mackerel action around the Cape Fear River shipping channel. Big kings have been following all the bait that has moved into the shipping channel and onto the beaches. Slow trolling live menhaden is the best bet to hook up with one of the speedy mackerel, but dead baits such as ribbonfish and cigar minnows will also draw strikes.
Grouper fishing has been excellent lately, with a 50 lb. gag caught early last week. The gags are as close as 20-25 miles from the beach, and reds and scamps are holding further out in the 30-35 mile range.
Out in the gulf stream, anglers are reporting action with wahoo, and boats have raised a few sailfish as well.
Closer to the beach, fishermen are catching gray trout at John’s Creek on jigging spoons. Nice spanish are also around John’s Creek and Yaupon Reef, and they are hitting trolled spoons and small menhaden.
Inshore, the flounder bite is hot in the waterway and in the inlets. Fish up to 9 lbs. have come from Carolina Beach Inlet. A finger mullet or peanut pogy on a Carolina rig should tempt them into striking.
The inlets are also holding nice speckled trout (weighing up to 6 lbs.). Carolina Beach Inlet had a particularly hot trout bite last week. Saltwater Assassins are the top lures. And, as always, the trout have great difficulty refusing a live shrimp.
Slot sized red drum continue to bite in the waterway under docks and near oyster bars. Live, Carolina-rigged finger mullet are the prime baits for the drum. The big red drum bite at the Masonboro Inlet jetties has slowed, but there are still a few fish around.
Susan, at Kure Beach Pier, reports that a few flounder from 2-3 lbs. have been hitting live mud minnows in the mornings.
Anglers are catching small whiting on shrimp at night.
Several kings have been hooked over the past week, but none were landed.
The water at the pier is 77 degrees.
