Carolina Beach December 6, 2007
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that the wide open wahoo bite has slowed down a bit in the Gulf Stream, but most of the ‘hoos boats are landing are 40+ lbs. A few sailfish and blackfin tuna are still feeding in the stream as well, and the best action has been around the Steeples and Same Ol’ lately. The wahoo bite should continue into January and possibly February before dying off for a few months.
King mackerel have moved offshore and are forming dense schools around their winter feeding grounds—40+ miles offshore near the Frying Pan Tower. Cigar minnows and Drone Spoons trolled behind planers should prove deadly on the kings when boats can locate the schools.
Grouper fishing has been excellent lately, with reds and scamps feeding well at structure 30-40 miles offshore. The gags are holding closer to the beach at ledges and uneven bottom areas 12-18 miles out. The bottom fishing should remain strong throughout the winter.
Some bluefin tuna have already been sighted off the area, and as long as bait stays in the area, it shouldn’t be long until more arrive. Boats have encountered smaller, school-size bluefins around the Frying Pan Tower, and the larger ones should be feeding even closer to shore. The Knuckle Buoy and Horseshoe are good places to begin hunting for the big tunas once they show up, and trolling horse ballyhoo, large mullet, or spanish mackerel on heavy gear is the way to hook up with them.
Closer to the beach, gray trout are still schooling around nearshore structure, and should stick around until the water temperatures fall below 54 degrees. Stingsilvers and Maria jigs should attract strikes from the grays.
Red drum are schooled up in the surf off Lee Island and Topsail and are feeding in the backs of creeks and bays further south.
In the surf, anglers can sight cast to schools of 300+ fish with Mirrolures, gold Johnson spoons, and Gulp baits from boats just behind the breakers on nice days. In the creeks and bays, the fish will fall for the same lures or live baits.
Speckled trout fishing is red hot right now, and should continue to improve over the early winter months. The trout are feeding all over the inshore waters including the river bays, creeks, ICW, and the inlets. Live shrimp fished on float rigs are the absolute best trout baits, but anglers are also landing them on small finger mullet, Mirrolures, and Gulp baits. A decent number of citation (4+ lb.) trout have been weighed in recently, and anglers are also limiting out with regularity.
Surf anglers are landing decent numbers of red drum and plenty of whiting (many 2-3 lbs.) on sand fleas and shrimp. The whiting are also feeding near the mouth of the river.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing is on fire in the Cape Fear River from the battleship and Brunswick River all the way down to Bald Head Island. Anglers targeting the specks should search for grass islands, rocky areas, and mud banks where 2-3’ of water drops off into deeper areas and drift live shrimp beneath floats for the best results. In the early mornings, anglers casting Mirrolure Top Dogs or Rapala Skitterwalks in the same areas can draw some explosive topwater strikes.
On warmer days through the winter, anglers should be able to find some red drum feeding on the shallow flats of the river bays.
Whiting are schooled up and feeding around the river mouth, and will fall for shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
In the ocean, gray trout are still schooled up on nearshore structure like the Marriott Reef and Sheepshead Rock. The larger grays seem to be feeding at the spots furthest south. If temperatures stay warm, these fish will be available for around another month, but cold fronts will send them packing.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing remains solid from 35-40 miles offshore, where ledges and other structure are surrendering red grouper, beeliners, pinkies, grunts, and other species to boats making the run. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits should entice strikes from all these bottom feeders.
As the water cools, fat black sea bass will begin moving onto structure 12-20 miles offshore, offering anglers opportunities at some tasty bottom fish without making a 35 mile run.
King mackerel are forming their big winter schools offshore, and as of last week, were holding 17 miles and further off the beach. Most of the kings are 7-10 lb. snakes, and they’ll be moving further offshore as the water temperatures fall, wintering 40+ miles out.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers were catching decent numbers of whiting until the pier closed for winter last week. It will re-open March 21st.
