Carolina Beach – October 13, 2016
Red, at Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that inshore the trout, drum, and flounder have all been biting, with many of the flatfish weighing in around 4-5 lbs. Target all three species in the ICW with mullet and shrimp.
The sheepshead bite has slowed, but those looking for the crustacean lovers should target them under Snow’s Cut Bridge using live fiddler crabs.
Surf anglers report catching pompano, whiting, and flounder. Those looking to hook the pompano and whiting should use shrimp on bottom rigs, while the flatfish are falling for live mullet and mud minnows.
Red drum are also being hooked in the suds, and anglers have landed both slot and over-slot fish using cut bait.
Nearshore, around half a mile out, anglers are connecting with king mackerel and spanish while trolling.
Further out, trolling has yielded wahoo, blackfins, and gaffer mahi. Use purple/black Ilanders and Blue Water Candy Wahoo Bombs to hook up with these pelagic species.
Those dropping down and bottom fishing have connected with grouper and amberjacks.
Scott Lawrence, of Wilmington, with a king mackerel caught north of Kure Beach Pier. The fish fell for a double naked cigar rig and weighed in at 27.8 lbs.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching bull red drum on nearshore structure and artificial reefs. These big drum are eating menhaden and mullet on a drum rig.
The black drum bite has been turning on as the water temps fall. They can be found on shell bed points and deep holes during falling and rising tides. Dead shrimp on a Carolina rig is the best way to hook them.
Speckled trout are showing up inshore, and anglers should target them during moving tides at creek mouths. The best way to get a strike is by fishing with 3” shrimp in the pearl color.
Slot redfish are biting inshore and can be found schooled on the flats when conditions are right. Sight casting to the fish using artificials is best, and anglers should use such soft plastics as Z-Man and Gulp. If these do not work, try throwing a live finger mullet on a 1/4 oz. jighead. For anglers who want to fish live bait, target the fish on shallow grass banks and around shell points on moving tide, and then work the deeper holes during low tide.
Albacore can be found in schools within a few miles off the beach when conditions are calm, and anglers can target these by throwing 1/2 oz. metal jigs in a green or pink color.
Brad Rackley, of Wilmington, with a 32 red drum caught on a live finger mullet. The fish was released back into the lower Cape Fear River.
Luke, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that the trout bite is good in the lower to middle Cape Fear River, with a lot of the fish taking topwater. Use Spooks in 3-5’ of water with a muddy bottom. If you are using soft plastics, Down South Lures, as well as Gulp jerk shads and shrimp, have been working. It’s important to fish the soft plastics close to the bottom after the trout stop feeding on top.
The red drum have been biting well, schooling back up on the flats, and they are reachable by sight fishing to them towards the lower end of the tides. Topwater plugs and Spooks, MirrOlures, and gold spoons are all working when throwing to these reds.
Those out in the ocean can find false albacore under birds working the surface, and anglers may find big spanish mixed in with the feeding schools.
John Revington, of Raleigh, with a triggerfish caught while fishing 35 miles southeast of Carolina Beach Inlet. The fish fell for cut squid.
Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports that nearshore, from the beach out to 20 miles, the king mackerel have been biting, along with large spanish in the 3-7 lb. range. Slow trolling live menhaden or dead dink ballyhoo and cigar minnows are proving successful when trying to connect with the fish.
Offshore, mahi were biting in the 18-30 mile range, and anglers should target them with Blue Water Candy skirts and small ballyhoo.
The water offshore will have to settle down before fishing after Hurricane Matthew is going to be able to pick back up. This usually takes 10 days to 2 weeks. Water clarity is important when trolling for fish like mahi, blackfin, and wahoo, but those hoping to bottom fish will most likely have success sooner when heading out.
Jessica Savage, of Wilmington, with a 28 red drum caught in the Cape Fear on a live mullet and a Blue Water Candy Carolina rig.
Hanna Topping, of Raleigh, with her first flounder. The fish, weighing in at 3.13 lbs, was caught in the Carolina Beach Inlet.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore the spanish mackerel and bonita bite has turned on over the last week, with schools of fish starting to stack up around Masonboro and Masons inlets in advance of the mullet runs. Live finger mullet has been the key to success in getting the larger fish to bite, though dead cigar minnows on bait rigs are working well, too. The king mackerel bite was strong before the storm, and the best place to target the fish was in 50-60’ of water trolling #2 planers and Drone spoons. Dead bait, such as cigar minnows or ballyhoo, rigged on sea witches work well, too.
Offshore, wahoo fishing is starting to improve as the weather cools and the temperature breaks start to become more apparent. Most of the action has been around the Steeples, Same “Ol” Hole, and along the ledges in 20-40 fathoms, but the best fish are being caught north along Yellowfin and Swansboro Hole.
Mahi and blackfin can be found in 20-40 fathoms, and although the mahi are on the small side, they are starting to school up. Fathom half pint skirt rigs have worked the best, with black/purple and dark blue working on cloudy days, and dark green shirts with silver heads on sunny days.
The Gulf Stream is still holding a good sailfish bite.
Naked ballyhoo skipping across the top of the water on outriggers and shotguns is tempting bites from the billfish.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that the pier sustained some damage in the storm, but repairs have been made and the pier is open. Anglers have been connecting with whiting, bluefish, and a few spots, though they aren’t running as much as they were before the storm.
The big citation reds are also being caught, with fish up to 47” reported.
Donna, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that the pier survived the storm and is open. Anglers are connecting with spots, whiting, black drum, and citation-sized reds.
