Carolina Beach – September 28, 2017
Kevin, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that the beachfront has provided plenty of action for anglers fishing from both the surf and pier. Those using fresh shrimp and sand fleas have boxed whiting, croaker, and pompano.
Casting Stingsilvers and Gotchas from the pier has produced good numbers of bluefish.
A few slot-sized red drum have also been landed in the suds. Cut mullet has been the key getting bites from the reds.
In the Cape Fear River and waterway, the speckled trout fishing has picked up. Tossing live shrimp under a popping cork or casting hard baits like topwaters and MirrOlure MR17s has produced limits of fish. Those targeting marsh points and shell banks have been most successful. A few slot-sized red drum have been mixed in the same areas.
Out near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the bull red drum bite has started to fire up. Fishing with large pieces of cut mullet near structure has been the best bet.
Those looking for kings have done well in the 22 mile range, but most fish have been on the smaller side. A few mahi are being landed in this same range.
Further offshore, the wahoo bite has improved.
Kyle Warren (right) and Casey Frasier with a pair of slot redfish weighing 8 lbs. each. Both fish hit mullet in the upper Cape Fear River.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that black drum have been plentiful in the lower Cape Fear River. Most fish have been in the 13-17” range. Live or dead bait fished around oyster beds and deeper holes have produced the best numbers of fish.
Redfish have been feeding well in the area creeks. Good numbers of under to lower-slot fish are being landed, with just a few upper-slot fish in the mix as well. Live shrimp and finger mullet, as well as dead shrimp, have been the top baits. Z-Man and D.O.A. plastics have worked when the water is calm.
Those looking for speckled trout have done well early in the mornings or on overcast days. Soft plastics on jig heads have done the trick, and a mix of natural and bright colors have worked best. Most fish have been 13-15”, but a few 16-18” fish have been in the mix.
Just off the beach, the false albacore have started to show up. Big Nic Spanish Candies and diamond jigs have been the most productive lures.
The large red drum have made their way to nearshore structure. Fishing with large cut and live baits have done the job at hooking these trophy fish.
Greg, of TopWater Guide Co., reports that the redfish bite has heated up with the cooling temperatures. The Cape Fear River and waterway docks have held good numbers of fish. Targeting deeper holes and marsh banks with live shrimp and finger mullet have worked best. Most fish landed have been in the 20-23” range.
A few flounder in the 14-18” range have been landed in these same areas.
Speckled trout are starting to feed better in the area creeks and waterway. Targeting marsh lines at higher tides with Rapala Skitterwalk topwaters and MirrOlure MR17s has been the ticket. Anglers tossing natural colors (like green and black) have done best.
Just off the beach, the false albacore fishing has fired up. Casting Shore Lures and Stingsilvers have been the key to landing numbers of fish. In addition, good-sized spanish have also been in the mix.
Rod, of OnMyWay Charters, reports that false albacore have started to show up just off the beach and around nearshore structure. Trolling Clarkspoons and casting jigs have produced plenty of action.
In the 12-25 mile range, the kings have been feeding well. Trolling Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows have boxed good numbers of fish. Most of the kings have been in the 10-20 lb. range, but a few bigger fish have been hooked.
In the 32-45 mile range, the mahi have been present. Anglers keying in on cleaner water have found more action.
Out at the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has continued to improve. Those trolling have landed decent numbers of fish on rigged ballyhoo. Some blackfin tuna have also been in the mix, as well as a few white marlin.
Haley Williams with a 30” trout that was caught and released in the Cape Fear River. She was fishing with Bryan Milliken.
Jesse, of Ocean Stinger Fishing Charters, reports that bluefish and spanish have been schooled up in 25-40′ of water. Trolling around nearshore structure with #00 silver Clarkspoons has been the ticket.
In the 20-30 mile range, the mahi bite has been solid. Ilanders in red/white, black/purple, and blue/white rigged with small ballyhoo have been getting the job done.
Kings have been feeding well in 60-75′ of water. Targeting structure and clear water while pulling silver Drone spoons on #6 planers has been the key to hooking good numbers of fish. Slow trolling with live baits has also been an effective method for the kings.
Out at the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has been strong in the 30-50 fathom range. Most fish have struck a black/purple Ilander rigged with a large ballyhoo on the planer rod.
In the 20-30 fathom range, mahi and blackfins have been present. Pulling small blue/white and red/white Ilanders rigged with small ballyhoo has done the trick.
Woody, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers fishing with fresh shrimp and sand fleas have landed spot and whiting, and those tossing cut mullet on the bottom have hooked up with a few slot-sized red drum.
At the end of the pier, a couple of kings have been landed, as well as one tarpon.
Cathy, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that spot, sea mullet, and black drum have been keeping pier anglers busy. Fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and black drum have been the best baits.
Kings have also started to show up near the beach.
