Carolina Beach September 2, 2010
Wayne Milligan with an 8 lb. sheepshead he hooked in Carolina Beach Inlet on a live shrimp.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder bite has been excellent all over the area lately. Anglers are connecting with the flatfish in the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, Carolina Beach Inlet, and at nearshore structure in the ocean (with several in the 6-7 lb. range weighed in this week). Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs have been producing the majority of the flounder bites.
Red drum are feeding in most of the same areas, with the bays off the lower river especially productive places to go looking for them. Live finger mullet have been fooling most of the reds as well, but anglers can also tempt them to bite topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other lures.
The speckled trout bite has slowed a bit, but anglers can likely find some working around the grass islands in the river and tempt them to bite live shrimp.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around the area’s bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure inshore. Live shrimp, fiddler crabs, and other crustacean baits will tempt bites from both.
Surf anglers are beginning to see some large pompano showing up. They’ll bite shrimp or sand fleas. There’s also been a decent flounder bite for anglers surf fishing around Carolina Beach Inlet.
The spanish mackerel bite is still going, but most of the action seems to be between the island’s piers instead of around the inlet, where anglers have been finding fish the last few weeks. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting Gotcha plugs and other lures to fish feeding on the surface will put the spaniards in the boat.
Not many reports came in from offshore last week.
Ryan, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are finding some action with flounder along the island, with the best action around the inlet.
Some large red drum are also feeding in the surf near Carolina Beach Inlet. Large cut baits will fool the reds, and anglers can hook both fish on live finger mullet.
Neil Persall, of Wilmington, with a red grouper he hooked 30 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while fishing aboard the "Fish Dance."
Anglers are catching some big whiting around Fort Fisher, and some large pompano are beginning to show up as well. Both have a passion for sand fleas.
Anglers are finding action with some big flounder in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River, and live finger mullet are fooling them.
Red drum are beginning to school up in the bays off the lower river, and anglers can tempt them to bite a variety of live baits and lures.
Sheepshead are feeding around hard structure like the Snow’s Cut Bridge and big docks in the area. Anglers can hook them on fiddler crabs, and the bite’s often best at night.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer Charters, reports that the flounder bite around nearshore structure in the ocean is still strong. Anglers are also hooking up with good numbers of bluefish and gray trout while dropping live finger mullet to the bottom for the flatties.
The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent, and anglers are hooking big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons along the beaches and nearshore.
Sharks are feeding behind the shrimp boats in the area, and they’ll readily bite large cut baits.
Inshore, the red drum bite’s been excellent in the backwaters off the lower river, and anglers are fooling the fish with live finger mullet, paddletail soft plastics, and topwater plugs.
Some flounder and speckled trout are mixed in with the reds.
Schools of jack crevalle are also feeding in the lower river, and anglers can hook them on topwater plugs when they’re feeding on the surface.
Alex Rosalia with a 26.75" red drum that fell for a Rapala Skitterwalk while he was fishing with Christian Wolfe in the backwaters of the Lower Cape Fear River.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still a bit off, but anglers are hooking up with some fish while trolling Clarkspoons around Carolina Beach Inlet.
Gag, red, and scamp groupers are feeding around bottom structure 30-40 miles off the beach. Anglers can tempt them to bite live and cut baits or dead cigar minnows.
Benny, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are catching some flounder on small live baits.
Whiting are falling for shrimp on the bottom.
Plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
Live baiters landed several king mackerel last week (the largest 25 lbs.).
Bryan, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with some whiting, croakers, and gray trout on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
