Carolina Beach – October 26, 2017
Frank, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf fishing has stayed consistent in the Carolina Beach area. Anglers fishing the bottom have hooked up with whiting, red drum, flounder, and bluefish. A mix of fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and cut mullet have worked best.
The inshore speckled trout bite has heated up as the water temperature has fallen. Targeting marsh points and deeper holes with soft plastics rigged on 1/4 oz. jig heads and MirrOlures have worked best. Most fish have been in the 15-18” range, but a few fish to 20” have also been landed.
The flounder fishing has picked up along the waterway and in the Cape Fear River. Anglers have landed fish in the 2-5 lb. range. Most fish have fallen for live finger mullet pinned on a Carolina rig. A few redfish have been in the mix with the flounder.
Just off the beach, the spanish and false albacore have been schooled up tight. Trolling Clarkspoons near bait pods, as well as casting jigs at busting fish, have both produced plenty of action. Some spanish landed have pushed the 5 lb. mark.
The king bite also remains strong just off the beach. Slow trolling live bait around nearshore structure has landed anglers plenty of fish.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains steady. Most fish have been under-slot, but a few mid-slot fish have been in the mix as well. Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs have produced best. In addition, when tossing fresh shrimp around some of the same areas, a few black drum have started to feed well.
The speckled trout fishing has improved in the lower Cape Fear River. Z-Man soft plastics have been the top producing lures. Targeting moving water has been the key to finding good numbers of specs.
Just off the beach, the spanish and false albacore bite remains solid. Anglers casting Big Nic Spanish Candies have had the most success.
Greg, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that the speckled trout fishing has really picked up with the cooling temperatures. Most anglers targeting marsh banks along the Cape Fear River have found a solid spec bite when throwing topwaters like Zara Spook Jr.’s and Rapala Skitterwalks. Suspending lures like the MirrOlure MR-17 have also done the trick. Most fish have been in the 14-17” range, but a few fish up to the 20” mark have been landed as well.
Redfish have schooled up tighter with fall approaching. Flats and shallow creeks along the river and in the waterway have produced the most fish. Live finger mullet, shrimp, and mud minnows on Carolina rigs have worked best, but soft plastics have gotten the job done, too. Most fish landed have been between 20-24”, with a few upper and over-slot fish mixed in.
The black drum bite has picked up. Most anglers have found the best action around oyster beds and deeper dock structure. Dropping live or fresh shrimp to the bottom has worked best. There has been a mix of under-slot and slot-sized fish landed.
Thomas Higgins with a 5 lb. 13 oz. flounder that was hooked while dock fishing near the Carolina Beach Inlet. The fish was caught on a live mullet.
Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports that just off the beach, the large spanish, false albacore, and bluefish have been feeding well. Trolling Clarkspoons, as well as casting to busting fish, has produced plenty of action. Plenty of large spanish (in the 3+ lb. range) have been in the mix.
The nearshore king bite is still steady. Trolling with live bluefish around nearshore structure has produced plenty of quality fish.
Out between 5 and 12 miles, kings have been holding well. The highest numbers of kings are coming from that range. Most fish have preferred slow-trolled live baits, but dead cigar minnows have produced as well. The kings have ranged from 8-30 lbs.
In the 20-32 mile range, there has been a decent mahi bite. Anglers fishing near weed lines and structure have found the most success. On the bottom between 20 and 40 miles, the bite has picked up. Beeliners, pink snapper, grouper, and triggerfish have all been boxed.
Out at the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has provided plenty of action. Anglers starting to fish closer in and not overshooting the wahoo have found the best numbers of fish. Looking for rock piles and ledges between 130-220′ of water has been the ticket for finding them. A mix of sailfish, blackfin tuna, and mahi have also been landed while at the Stream.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Fishing Charters, reports that anglers looking for spanish have found the most fish in 20-40′ of water.
The king bite in 35-65′ of water has been consistent. Heading north out of the inlet and looking for clearer water has produced the most action. Trolling Ilanders in colors blue/white, red/white, and black/purple with small ballyhoo have worked best. Drone spoons in white and silver have also produced well with the kings when rigged on #6 and #8 planers.
Out at the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has been solid in 30-50 fathoms. The top bait has been black/purple Ilanders rigged with large ballyhoo. A few mahi and blackfin tuna have also been in the mix. Most have been holding in the 20-30 fathom range.
Woody, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that king fishing has picked up from the end of the pier. Anglers have also landed good numbers of spanish when plugging with Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers.
Those fishing the bottom with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have landed whiting, black drum, and flounder.
Gary Burgess, of Charlotte, NC, with a 3 lb. 9 oz. pompano caught from the Kure Beach Pier.
Bobbi, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers have found good numbers of spot, sea mullet, pompano, and flounder. Dropping fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas to the bottom has produced best.
Those fishing from the end of the pier have picked up a few kings.
