Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some good flounder action in the Cherry Grove marshes right now (with some fish to 5 lbs.), but it’s been hit-or-miss. Some days are producing plenty of fish, and it can be tough to get a bite on others.
Live mud minnows fished on ½ and ¾ oz. Carolina rigs have been producing the majority of the flounder, and drifting along with the tide is enabling anglers to cover more water and find the active fish.
There’s also been some decent flounder fishing in Tubbs Inlet lately.
Anglers fishing the beachfront continue to encounter some cobia from just off the breakers out to bottom structure in the 10-15 mile range. Live baits and bucktail jigs are the ways to fool the cobes.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder in Tubbs Inlet and Dunn Sound. Live mud minnows, tiger-side minnows, and Gulp swimming mullet and shrimp are fooling most of the fish, and they’ve been feeding along shorelines, oyster bars, and drop-offs, particularly when the tide is moving.
Some red drum are looking for meals in the same areas and biting the same baits as the flatfish.
A few speckled trout have also been in Tubbs Inlet, and anglers are seeing a good trout bite around the Little River jetties right now. Live shrimp fished under floats are fooling the majority of the specks, but anglers are also hooking a few on artificials and minnows.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, and black drum (most undersized but some keepers in the mix) off the pier right now. Most of the fish are falling for shrimp.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs are connecting with bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel off the pier.