Carolina Beach October 13, 2011
Daniel George, of Winnabow, NC, with a 6 lb., 8 oz. flounder that bit a live finger mullet in the Cape Fear River. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of spot off the island’s piers. Natural and artificial bloodworms are the way to go for the spot.
The speckled trout bite is getting better by the week, and anglers found action with the specks in Carolina Beach Inlet and theCape Fear Riverlast week (with action both upriver and downriver from Snow’s Cut). Red drum and flounder are mixed in. Live shrimp, shrimp imitating lures, suspending plugs like MirrOlures, and topwaters will all tempt bites from the specks and reds.
Flounder fishing has been up and down, but anglers are still seeing some solid fish coming from the inlet, Snow’s Cut, and the Cape Fear River. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden are the go-to baits for the flatfish.
Large spanish mackerel have been on the feed down south around Yaupon Reef, and light-lining small live baits is the best way to hook up with them.
There was also a decent king mackerel bite last week around Lighthouse Rocks. Live baits are the way to go for the kings.
Not many people have been offshore recently, but anglers can expect to find action with grouper at bottom structure 20-40 miles off the inlets when the weather’s calm enough to go. Vertical jigs, as well as live, dead, and cut baits, will tempt bites from the grouper.
Likewise, few have been to theGulf Streamover the past week, but the wahoo bite was excellent at last report. It should still be going strong. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are the way to go for the ‘hoos.
Rick, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that there have been some excellent spot runs at Kure Beach Pier over the past week. Natural and artificial bloodworms are top choices for the tasty panfish.
Surf anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and pompano on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand flea baits.
Bluefish are also feeding in the surf and taking an interest in cut baits and finger mullet. Most are still on the small side, but the larger choppers should be moving through the area soon.
Inshore, sheepshead are feeding around rocks, docks, and other hard structure, and they have a tough time turning down live fiddler crabs.
Large flounder are feeding in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River, and live finger mullet or menhaden on Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Chad Burchette with an 18 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish in 20' of water off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Mark Cogdell on the "ATM Machine."
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that sheepshead fishing has been excellent lately (with good numbers of larger fish to 5-7 lbs.). The fish are feeding around rocky structure and bridge and dock pilings, and live fiddler crabs are producing most of the action. Some black and red drum are mixed in, and they are also taking an interest in the fiddlers.
The red drum action on the flats and in the creeks off the lower Cape Fear River remains excellent, and high tides lately have led to some exciting sight-fishing opportunities as the reds hunt in flooded marsh grass. Anglers are also finding the fish schooled up and feeding on the flats and in smaller groups in the creeks. Live mud minnows, soft plastic baits, and topwater plugs are all getting attention from the reds.
Good numbers of flounder are mixed in with the drum and also taking an interest in live baits and soft plastics.
The speckled trout fishing is improving, and the fish are feeding around structure and deeper moving water in the lower river. Live shrimp, Gulp baits, and soft plastic jerkbaits are tempting bites from the specks.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that the red drum action in the lower Cape Fear River remains solid. The fish are feeding in the bays and creeks off the main river, and they’re taking an interest in live baits like mud minnows and paddletail soft plastics.
Good numbers of flounder are mixed in with the reds, and they are interested in the same offerings.
More (and some larger) flounder are on the feed in the ICW and Carolina Beach Inlet, where Carolina-rigged live baits will get their attention.
Out in the ocean, large spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are chasing bait on the surface within a few miles of land. Scanning the horizon with binoculars to find groups of working birds is the way to find the feeding schools, and casting small metal jigs like Stingsilvers will tempt them to bite.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers have caught big numbers of spot from the pier over the past week. Natural and artificial bloodworms are the way to go for the spot.
Some sea mullet, pompano, and black drum are biting shrimp on bottom rigs.
Some flounder were feeding under the pier before last week’s front, and they should be back on track when the weather stabilizes. Live baits are top choices for the flatfish.
