Carolina Beach October 28, 2004
Harry G, of Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that the main player for pier fishermen has been spots. They’ve been running off and on for the past two weeks, with bloodworms as the main bait. Both piers have also seen an occasional king hook-up. From the surf, there have been lots and lots of blues. They are mostly 2 to 3 pounds and are biting on cut bait and finger mullet. The water temperature is still a little warm for whiting. It’s 73 degrees now, and temps in the mid-60’s seems to work better. The surf has also seen some small flounder, but the pompano bite has slowed way down. Inside, the big flounder are on the move. The water temperature is getting cooler, and they are moving out of the river. The store has seen numerous citations, and live bait in Snow’s Cut and CB Inlet is your best bet. The evening hours are seeing some red drum catches, with the majority in the 5 to 6 lb. range. Go with cut mullet, finger mullet, or sand fleas. The trout bite has been sporadic for both grays and specks. The best area for grays has been offshore of Fort Fisher using cut bait or stingsilvers.
Barry, of Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, reports that due to weather he hasn’t heard as much from local anglers to report on. The flounder activity continues, as well as lots of night fishing for drum using Carolina rigs and mullet. The river is producing good flounder, and there have been several reports of gray trout as well. Offshore the fishing is great, mostly because of a “big belly of warm water with lots of fish in it” which according to Barry was rather stationary from 7 to 8 miles past 23 Mile Rock. Wahoo have been caught as close as 30 miles out. Several schools of albacore were spotted last week northeast of the Cape Fear area.
Capt. Dave, of Musicman Charters, reports that the inshore king bite has been fairly strong, with most kings in the 6 to 15 pound range. Also in this 5 to 10 mile range there has been lots of light tackle false albacore action. The bigger and more consistent king bite has been coming from farther offshore. Bottom fishing has been strong, with some trips yielding the limit on grouper. Also mixed in are black sea bass, gray snapper, pink snapper, and beeliners. The gulf stream still has wahoo as its primary bite. You can also expect to find blackfin tuna, an occasional yellowfin, and sails.
Capt. Dave, of Wild Rover II Charters, reports that in the gulfstream the wahoo are biting just inshore of the break around the Same Ole. There’s also an occasional yellowfin mixed in. Offshore, king mackerel in numbers are coming from most of the offshore wrecks. Try anywhere from the Dredge Wreck out to WR-4. Ballyhoo and double hook cigar minnow rigs seem to be the baits of choice. Grouper are in close, with gags coming up anywhere from 10 miles on out. Reds and scamps are 25 miles on out. Most of the grouper are spawning this time of year, and they will hit anything that moves. Inshore, the false albacore, along with acres and acres of bait, are everywhere around the 5 mile mark. Clark spoons and Drone spoons will produce all the trolling action you want. Trout are plentiful around the inshore rock bottom areas. Cut mullet is the bait of choice. Black sea bass are also chewing close to shore on cut bait and squid.
