Carolina Beach September 29, 2011
Billy McCann, of Henderson, NC, with a 48 lb. wahoo that bit a skirted ballyhoo 65 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet while he was trolling the Gulf Stream with Billy McCann and Whalon Huff. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Ron, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching spot by the bucketful. Bottom rigs baited with natural and Fish Bites bloodworms are doing most of the damage on the tasty panfish.
Some sea mullet and spot are taking an interest in shrimp on the bottom in the surf and off the piers.
Bluefish are also feeding along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking them on cut baits, Gotcha plugs, and a variety of other baits and lures.
A few spanish mackerel are coming over the rails on the piers, and anglers are catching plenty more while trolling Clarkspoons from boats within a few miles of shore.
Red drum and speckled trout are feeding in Carolina Beach Inlet and the Cape Fear River. Anglers are tempting both fish to bite live finger mullet, MirrOlures, and Gulp baits.
The flounder bite has also been good in the inlet and the river, with some large (many citation 5+ pounders) fish coming from Snow’s Cut. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will both tempt bites from the flatfish.
Offshore, boats making the run to the Gulf Stream last weekend found an excellent wahoo and blackfin tuna bite around the Steeples. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures are fooling the wahoo and tuna.
Rick, of Carolina Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that the spot are running, and surf and pier anglers are catching plenty on bottom rigs baited with bloodworms.
Pompano and sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs in the surf baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Speckled trout and decent numbers of keeper flounder are also feeding along the beachfront. Anglers can tempt both to bite live finger mullet or mud minnows and artificial lures like Gulp baits.
Plenty of bluefish are moving through the surf. They’ll strike just about any bait or fast moving metal lures like Gotcha plugs.
There are still some large sharks around, but the shark action is beginning to slow down for surf anglers. Large cut baits cast or paddled out a good distance from shore offer anglers the best odds of hooking up with one of the big predators.
Inshore, the sheepshead bite has been strong around bridge and dock pilings and other structure in Snow’s Cut and the ICW. Fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure will tempt bites from the sheeps.
Good numbers of large flounder (many 5+ lb. citations) are feeding in Snow’s Cut and taking an interest in live finger mullet.
Bennett McNeill (age 7), of Wrightsville Beach, with a 23" red drum he hooked on a live mud minnow in the marsh near Lea Island while fishing with his uncle and cousin.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the sheepshead bite is still on in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River. The fish are feeding around hard structure like rocks and bridge and dock pilings, and fishing live fiddler crabs against the structure is the best way to tempt them to bite.
The red drum bite is still good on the flats and in the creeks off the lower Cape Fear River. Live finger mullet and mud minnows will fool the reds, and anglers who want to cast artificials can score while working topwater plugs, soft plastics, and more.
The recent high tides have also offered anglers exciting opportunities to sight-cast to reds tailing on flooded grass flats. Weightless or minimally weighted soft plastics are the go-to baits in the grass.
The speckled trout bite is improving, and anglers are starting to see some larger fish. Chartreuse/metal flake D.O.A. jerkbaits have been particularly effective on the specks lately.
Phil, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of spot from the pier at night. Bloodworms are the way to go.
Some flounder are biting small live baits fished on the bottom.
A few pompano are falling for bloodworms and shrimp on bottom rigs.
Anthony, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with spot, pompano, and some black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder and red drum are taking an interest in live baits on the bottom.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, and anglers can tempt them to bite sand fleas or fiddler crabs.
Bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs and a variety of baits off the pier.
