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 Fish Poster

Carolina Beach – July 2025

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Lewis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that inshore anglers are catching flounder everywhere. It seems that any live or artificial bait near the bottom will get strikes.
Red drum, along with speckled trout in the early and late hours, are being caught in the waterway and Cape Fear River.
Sheepshead are biting around pilings and bridges.
Surf anglers are catching bluefish, croakers, pinfish, spanish mackerel, and sharks.
Offshore bottom anglers are hooking amberjack and throwback American red snapper.
Gulf Stream runs are landing mahi and some scattered wahoo.

Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are hitting both live and cut bait on jig heads or Carolina rigs. Anglers are targeting grass banks and oyster points, with increased hookups during a rising tide.
Speckled trout (16-22” range) are hitting live baits, while black drum (to 17”+) can be caught with live fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp.
Beach anglers are sight-casting Big Nic Spanish Candy lures for spanish mackerel.

Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports a strong red drum bite in the shallow water flats behind Bald Head, with most being in the slot or just over slot. Plenty of reds are up the main river as well.
Live menhaden or mullet are the top producers, and topwater plugs are successful early in the morning, when anglers are also catching some speckled trout.
Flounder are prominent and active from inshore out to the nearshore reefs.

Megan Carver, of Delco, NC, caught (and released) this 9 lb. flounder in the Carolina Beach area on shrimp.

Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports success when targeting red drum with live menhaden on Carolina rigs along grass lines or rock structures. Cut baits, topwater plugs, and soft plastics have mixed success in any of the same areas.
Anglers are catching black drum on dead shrimp or live fiddler crabs when fishing deeper structure such as bridges, rock jetties, or oyster bars.
Speckled trout are hitting artificials such as topwater plugs, MirrOlure MirrOdines, D.O.A. shrimp, and paddle tail baits.

Mason, of Grand Slam Fishing Charters, reports that throwing live menhaden for red drum has been the top option. Getting off the waterway and targeting 2-4’ banks, coves, or points with live bait under corks works best during higher tides. During lower tides, look for current seams or rips into deeper water.
Black drum are hitting shrimp on the same flats as redfish.
Some sheepshead are holding on docks and other hard structures with good current. Larger fiddler crabs or mud crabs are best.
Flounder catches are coming when targeting grass lines and docks.

Drew, of Strike Inshore Charters, reports that red drum catches include fish that are in the upper to over-slot range, and these reds are being caught mainly on menhaden (followed next by mud minnows). The red drum will stack up on oysters or shell points with 2-8’ of water, but plan to move with the tides. The best action is about an hour into outgoing tides right through mid-incoming tides.
Larger speckled trout (to 20”+) are being caught by following the same tactics and target areas as red drum. Topwater fishing has been another excellent tactic for both species. Sunrise is best, with late afternoons also getting the artificial bite going. For those who prefer soft plastics, Z-Man paddle tails or Z-Man Prawn StarZ shrimp imitations in natural or bright color patterns also work well.

Tony, of Reel Teal Charters, reports catching sheepshead off hard structure in the ICW and Cape Fear River with fiddler crabs.
Grass points in the river are producing red drum and flounder when throwing artificials or live menhaden. In the waterway, fish live or cut menhaden around docks.
These tactics are also finding some speckled trout.
Bottom fishing the nearshore wrecks has been producing ringtails and the occasional sheepshead.
Spanish mackerel are around, but the reality is the bite has been tough. A lot of smaller fish are in the area and schools are scattered.

Harrison Boggs, of Clayton, landed this 18″ speckled trout from the surf at Carolina Beach using a Blue Water Candy hot shot rig with a live pogie.

Barry, of Family Ties Charters, reports that anglers bottom fishing in the 15-20 mile range have produced gag grouper and keeper flounder.
Trolling this range with both live or dead bait rigs has been successful. Baits with a pink/white or blue/white color pattern work great for catching king mackerel, amberjacks, and barracuda.
Though scattered, mahi are showing up in this range. A lure in the spread with a green/yellow pattern is always a good choice.
Runs out to Gulf Stream have been hit or miss. Mahi and wahoo make up most of the action, and, if around structure, blackfin tuna can also strike.

Rod, of OnMyWay Guide Service, reports nearshore anglers are seeing spanish mackerel along the beaches, with Clarkspoons and planers being the top producing tactic.
Bluefish are also hitting this setup.
King mackerel action is best in the 10-25 mile range. Fishing deep with both live and dead bait is key.
The 15-40 mile areas have been productive with the first of the nearshore mahi. Anglers are enticing bites while trolling Blue Water Candy sea witches with small ballyhoo. Keep a pitch rod setup rigged with a small bucktail for the opportunity to cast at any mahi that pop up around the boat.
Bottom fishing has been spectacular on the deeper end, with catches of scamp grouper, red grouper, and gatsby grouper coming from the 35-38 mile areas.
Jumbo black sea bass are out deep as well, with most of these fish going 16-20”+.
Vermilion snapper and pinkies are mixed in.
Runs to the break can be productive, especially when focusing on eddies pushing in Gulf Stream waters and setting up strong weed lines. These areas are seeing mahi, some blackfin tuna, sailfish, and scattered summertime wahoo.
Blue marlin are being hooked by those running deep, with most action in the 600-1200’ range.

Jeremiah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that sight-casting action has been producing small spanish mackerel and bluefish.
King mackerel fishing has been spotty.
Bottom fishing efforts are seeing whiting and the occasional pompano.