Carolina Beach October 25, 2012
Jimmy and Jerry Hall with a huge wahoo that bit a live bait near the 30/30 and was landed after a long battle on 20 lb. gear while they were fishing with Sam Canady.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that fall surf fishing is in full swing, and anglers are catching big numbers of bottom feeders like sea mullet, black drum, pompano, gray trout, and more on shrimp, sand fleas, and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Speckled trout, flounder, and red drum (ranging from sublegal fish to 40”+ citations) are also feeding along the shoreline and falling for live and cut baits.
Speckled trout fishing is improving inshore, and anglers are reporting trout action in the Cape Fear River, the ICW, and Carolina Beach Inlet. Soft plastic baits and suspending hardbaits like MirrOlures are producing most of the action with the specks, and live shrimp are an even better bet.
Flounder fishing remains strong inshore (with big numbers of 5+ lb. citation fish weighed in recently). Live finger mullet and menhaden are tempting most of the flatfish bites, but anglers are also hooking up on Gulp baits.
Off the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite is still hot for boaters trolling Clarkspoons within a few miles of shore.
King mackerel have also made their fall appearance, with big numbers landed on the piers recently and by boaters fishing from the beachfront out to spots well offshore. Live baits like mullet, menhaden, and bluefish are fooling most of the kings, but anglers are also hooking up while trolling dead baits and spoons, particularly further offshore.
Those making the run to the Gulf Stream are connecting with some wahoo along with a few blackfin tuna and dolphin.
Zach Woody and Matt Dean, of Garner, NC, with a 40 lb. wahoo and a 18 lb. king mackerel they hooked in 120′ of water near the Same’ Ol. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy JAG lures fooled both fish.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on in the Cape Fear River around the grass islands and harder structure like oyster beds (with anglers catching good numbers of fish and some to 3-4 lbs.). Live shrimp are fooling many of the fish, but anglers are also hooking up while casting artificials like split-tail soft plastics, MR17 MirrOlures, and topwater plugs.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks off the lower river, with some fish schooling in the bays as well. Gulp baits, topwater plugs, and live baits are all attracting attention from the reds right now.
Good numbers of flounder (with some 5-7 lbs. landed lately) are also looking for meals in Cape Fear-area creeks. Live finger mullet have produced the most consistent action with the flatfish, but anglers are also hooking up while working Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
Black drum are looking for meals in the creeks and around hard structure in the river, and live or dead shrimp are getting their attention.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that inshore anglers are connecting with good numbers of speckled trout around the grass islands in the Cape Fear River and in Carolina Beach Inlet. Soft plastics, MirrOlures, and live finger mullet have all been attracting attention from the trout.
Red drum are feeding in the bays off the Cape Fear and taking an interest in live baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs.
There’s been a decent flounder bite around ICW docks lately, with live finger mullet producing the majority of the action.
Justin Potter with a 4.1 lb. triggerfish that bit squid around some bottom structure in 90′ of water 35 miles off Carolina Beach. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Out in the ocean, nearshore structure is playing host to some good fishing right now. Gray trout are schooled up in big numbers around just about any structure within a few miles of land (and some are 24-25”). They’ll bite jigging lures like Stingsilvers or a variety of live and cut baits.
Some large red drum are in the same areas as the bigger trout, and they’re taking an interest in the same baits and lures.
Flounder (some to 7+ lbs.) are also looking for meals at nearshore structure, but the gray trout are making it tough to keep a bait on the bottom long enough for a flatfish strike.
Brenda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have had some excellent king mackerel action lately (even decking double-digit numbers one day) while live-baiting off the end of the pier.
Live bluefish are producing most of the king action, and they’re taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and other baits cast from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and pompano while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that the pier saw its first strong spot runs of the year last weekend. Some pompano and sea mullet have also been in the mix for bottom fishermen, and all are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on double-hook rigs.
Bluefish are still feeding around the pier and biting bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs.
