Carolina Beach September 26, 2013
Israel Malpass, of Wilmington, with a pair of peanut dolphin and a 10 lb., 7 oz. flounder he hooked on a Gulp-tipped bucktail jig at some nearshore structure off Carolina Beach.
Kyle, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the flounder bite is turning on with the arrival of fall (and anglers are weighing in good numbers of 5+ lb. citation fish). The action’s been best in the river lately, but anglers are also putting together good catches (and picking up some solid fish) in Snows Cut, the ICW, Carolina Beach Inlet, and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet and menhaden are producing most of the flatfish action, but anglers are also hooking up on Gulp baits and other artificials.
Speckled trout are also feeding harder these days, again with the best action in the river. Casting live shrimp under floats around grass islands, oyster bars, and other current breaks is fooling most of the fish, but a variety of artificial lures will produce results as well.
Some gray trout have been feeding inshore alongside the specks and flounder, with more out in the ocean around structure like the Marriott Reef.
Red drum are looking for meals in the inlet, around ICW structure like docks, and in the backwaters off the Cape Fear River. They’ll bite topwater plugs, soft plastics, and a variety of other artificials and natural baits.
Surf casters are also finding plenty of action with the reds, and some larger drum (30-40”+) have been hooked around nearshore structure.
Spanish mackerel have been feeding well one day off Carolina Beach and seemingly nonexistent the next. Anglers can often find hungry spanish off the Cape Fear River mouth near Southport when they aren’t feeding closer to home, however. Trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures behind planers and cigar weights is the best way to locate and hook the spaniards. When they’re feeding well on top, casting metal jigs into the activity can allow anglers to hook up on lighter tackle.
Harris McKoy (age 4), of Wilmington, with his first red drum, hooked on a live mullet near Bald Head Island.
Offshore, anglers are reporting a decent king mackerel bite around structure in the 15-25 mile range like the 30/30. Live menhaden are hard to beat for the kings, but anglers who can’t find or keep them can hook up while trolling dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo. A few dolphin have been in the same areas and falling for the same baits.
Bottom fishing 20 miles and further offshore has been producing some solid catches of grouper. Gags are feeding around bottom structure in the 20-30 mile range, with reds and scamps looking for meals out deeper. Live, dead, and cut baits are all effective on the groupers.
Gulf Stream trollers are reporting decent wahoo action at local spots like the Same Ol’ and Steeples. Stellar wahoo reports are coming in from the north and south, but blended water on the break locally likely slowed things last week. Once blue water returns to the area, the wahoo bite should be excellent. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures or pulling baitless high-speed lures is the way to invite a wahoo to dinner.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a solid speckled trout bite in the lower Cape Fear River, with most of the fish feeding around structure and current breaks like rocks, oysters, and grass islands. Topwater plugs have been effective on the specks lately, and anglers can hook up on soft plastic baits or plugs like MirrOlures when the trout aren’t feeding on the surface.
Tony Brigman with a 61 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo 63 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while he was trolling on the N2Deep.
The red drum action in the bays and backwaters off the lower river has been solid as well, with most of the action taking place around oyster bars lately. Like the specks, topwater plugs have been fooling the reds recently, and a variety of other baits and lures will also get their attention.
Flounder fishing has been excellent, and the flatfish are feeding alongside the reds and specks (with some fish 5+ lbs.). Gulp baits have been fooling most of the flatfish of late.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around docks and bridge pilings and other obstructions in the river and ICW. Live fiddler crabs dangled tight to the structure will tempt bites from the sheeps.
Brenda of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with sea mullet, pompano, and other fish while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some bluefish are also falling for the bottom rigs and casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
Savannah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that croaker, sea mullet, spot, and more are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas.
