Carolina Beach September 12, 2013
John Metzger with a tripletail that bit a live finger mullet in the Cape Fear River.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are seeing the beginnings of a solid fall speckled trout bite in the Cape Fear River. Fishing live shrimp under floats near the river’s grass islands and hard structure is producing plenty of action with the specks (with 60% or so keepers). Anglers are also hooking some fat sheepshead while floating shrimp for the specks.
More sheepshead are looking for meals around bridge and dock pilings and other inshore structure. Live fiddler crabs or sand fleas will tempt bites from the sheeps.
The red drum action in the bays off the lower river remains steady. Anglers are hooking the reds on topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft baits, and live baits.
The reds are also feeding around structure like docks in the ICW and in Carolina Beach Inlet, though that bite has slowed a bit over the past week. It’s tough to beat live finger mullet for the reds in the waterway and inlet.
Flounder fishing has been solid in the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, Carolina Beach Inlet, and at nearshore structure in the ocean lately. Most of the flatfish are falling for live baits like finger mullet, but anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits pinned to jigheads and bucktails.
Terri Chabot, of Carolina Beach, with a 32″ red drum that bit a finger mullet in the Carolina Beach Surf.
Ladyfish are feeding inshore and in the ocean, and the acrobatic fish will strike virtually any lure or bait they can get in their mouths.
The spanish mackerel bite has turned back on outside of Carolina Beach Inlet and along the beachfront. Anglers are hooking the spaniards primarily while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures behind planers and torpedo weights.
Not many people are talking about king mackerel right now, but anglers can likely find feeding kings at spots 10 miles and further offshore.
Robert, of Carolina Explorer, reports that there’s been some good flounder action out at nearshore structure in the ocean (like the Marriott Reef). Decent numbers of gray trout are mixed in with the flatfish, and both are taking an interest in live finger mullet on Carolina rigs.
Flounder and more gray trout are also looking for meals in the inlet and nearby in the ICW.
There’s been some solid spanish mackerel and bluefish action within a few miles of the beachfront lately. Anglers are connecting with the spaniards while trolling lures like Clarkspoons and casting small metal jigs to fish chasing bait on the surface.
Mike Feasel and Matt Best with a citation wahoo that bit a skirted ballyhoo north of the Steeples while they were trolling out of Carolina Beach.
Speckled trout are feeding in the lower Cape Fear River, and anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs and soft plastic baits early and late in the day. A few drum are falling for the plugs and plastics as well.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent sheepshead bite around hard structure in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River (some to 9 lbs.). Most of the fish are falling for live fiddler crabs fished tight to the pilings and rocks where they make their homes. A few black drum are mixed in, and they’re also biting fiddler crabs.
The red drum bite in the bays off the lower river has turned on again, and anglers are hooking solid numbers while working topwater plugs and Gulp baits. Excellent numbers of flounder have also been falling for the Gulps, and anglers are picking up a few speckled trout as well.
Lilly, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some croaker and sea mullet on shrimp and bloodworms.
Those fishing small live baits under the pier are connecting with some flounder.
