Carolina Beach June 20, 2013
Jason Fralin with a 22″ red drum that bit a paddletail soft plastic near an oyster bar while he was fishing Buzzards Bay off the Cape Fear River.
Dennis, of Island Tackle, reports that anglers are still hooking some spanish mackerel while trolling within a few miles of the beaches, but the bite has been hit-or-miss day to day (however, the average size has been quite good). Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers is producing most of the fish, and finding clean water is key to success.
Flounder are beginning to make a showing on nearshore structure off Carolina Beach, and anglers landed decent numbers on live baits like mud minnows and small menhaden last week. Some gray trout and slot and over-slot red drum are feeding in the same areas, and they will also take an interest in live baits.
Sharks have shown up as well, and they are feeding around the same structure. Live or dead menhaden will tempt them to bite.
Some smaller king mackerel are feeding in the 10 mile range, with more further offshore. Live baits or dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings.
Amberjacks are also schooling up at the AR’s and other structure in the 20 mile range, and won’t take long to pounce on a live menhaden.
Inshore, the flounder bite is decent, with some of the better reports coming from the Cape Fear River north of Snows Cut recently. Live mud minnows and smaller menhaden, along with Gulp baits, will fool the flatfish.
There have been plenty of menhaden in the Carolina Beach boat basin for anglers looking for live baits.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridges, docks, and other structure inshore, and they will bite live fiddler crabs or other crustaceans.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the sheepshead bite has been solid recently around pilings, rocks, and other structure in the Cape Fear River and ICW. Fiddler crabs are fooling the majority of the sheeps.
Jeremy, Callie, and Cole Somers, of Wilmington, with a red drum that struck shrimp while they were surf fishing at Carolina Beach’s Freeman Park.
Dirty water has slowed down the flounder, trout, and red drum bite in the Cape Fear River, but it’s clearing up and the fishing is improving. Anglers are finding action with all three in the creeks and in the more open water in the bays off the main river. Live baits have been producing more action than artificials lately, but the artificial bite should improve as the water cleans up as well.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that anglers are connecting with red drum in the backwaters off the lower Cape Fear River. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits are fooling the reds, and anglers are also hooking good numbers on live finger mullet and mud minnows pinned to Carolina rigs.
Some flounder and speckled trout are also taking an interest in the lures and live baits in the same areas.
Out in the ocean, the water’s been a bit rough, but anglers are still connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights. When the fish are feeding on top, casting small spoons on lighter tackle has also been effective.
Linda, of Carolina Beach Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms from the pier (and the spot have been large).
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Ronnie, of Kure Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of black drum, sea mullet, small flounder, and more while bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits. Croakers are also joining the action at night.
Some large (to 6-7 lbs.) spanish mackerel are biting live baits on king mackerel rigs.
A few bluefish are falling for bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs.
