Carolina Beach September 14, 2006
Trey, at Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that a few flounder are still biting in the Cape Fear River, but that fishery has been slowed by all the rain. The flounder are still biting well at the nearshore reefs, though, with fish coming from the Liberty Ship, John’s Creek, and the Billy Murrell area. Several citation size flatfish have been reported this week on Carolina-rigged live baits (more at the Liberty Ship than anywhere else).
Some trout have been feeding around Southport and the Muddy Slough area. Nuclear Chicken Gulp baits have been the hottest producers.
Surf fishing is heating up, with flounder, pompano, and red drum dominating the surf catches. The drum are especially numerous around Rich’s Inlet and Lee Island.
Offshore, the pelagic bite has been slow, but there has been a decent grouper bite. Gags are around structure from 28 miles on out, and red and scamp groupers are biting 40 miles out and further.
Bruce, at Flat Dawg Charters, reports that there’s been good flounder fishing lately, with some quality 4 to 6 pounders reported. The Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, and Carolina Beach Inlet have all been producing despite the coffee-colored water from the recent rains.
There are plenty of good size mullet around now to use for flounder bait, and they seem to be working better than pogies.
Redfish are biting primarily in the river (on both artificials and live baits).
Black drum and sheepshead are biting in Snow’s Cut, and they will hit crabs, sand fleas, or live shrimp.
Dave, at FryingPanTower.com, reports that in the gulf stream the dolphin are the big bite right now, although it has slowed with the passage of the storm last week.
Offshore, the dolphin and the weed lines that were holding them have now scattered, and the water temperature has dropped 4-5 degrees in most places. King mackerel and dolphin are scattered throughout the area waters.
Inshore, the spanish are picking around all the area inlets. The recent storm made for some dirty water, and that makes the fish hard to find.
Bottom fishing is still on, in spite of the recent storm. Gags start at about 10 miles on out to the mid 20’s. Reds are from the mid 20’s on out. Scamps are from the 30’s on out.
The flounder are hungry around the area inlets and rocks. Black sea bass are also chewing real well. Just find a ledge or a rock in the 10 mile range.
Susie, at Kure Beach Pier, reports a variety of species biting lately. Fishing shrimp on the bottom could result in bites from sheepshead, black drum, whiting, spot, or croaker.
Flounder from 3 to 5 lbs. are eagerly eating live baits on Carolina rigs.
Bluefish are biting both shrimp and plugs, and spanish are also hitting the plugs.
No kings have been caught lately, but a 100+ lb. tarpon was beached and released.
The water temperature at the pier is 79 degrees.
