Carolina Beach July 30, 2009
David Shields, from Winston Salem, with a 9 lb. 2 oz. sheepshead caught on a live crab in Buzzards Bay.
Dennis, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that flounder fishing is still solid, and anglers are catching the flatfish in the river, Snows Cut, and a few at the nearshore ocean wrecks (with fish to 7-8 lbs. weighed in last week). Live baits on Carolina rigs are the ticket to bites from the flatfish.
Some fat trout have been coming from around the grass islands and rocky structure in the river lately (with fish to nearly 6 lbs.). Live shrimp under floats are the best baits for the trout, although the larger specks will have a tough time resisting a live pogy as well.
Sheepshead have been feeding around the bridges, docks, and other hard structure in the area. Live fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits fished tight to the structure are the best baits for the sheeps.
The spanish mackerel bite is still excellent in the area, especially on the tide line in front of Carolina Beach Inlet out near the sea buoy. Trolling small spoons behind planers and in-line sinkers has been the most productive way to fool the spanish. There have been plenty of small king mackerel mixed in, so anglers should make certain a fish is a spanish before keeping one under 24”.
Larger kings are feeding around the 5 Mile Boxcars and further off the beaches, and anglers can hook up with them while trolling live pogies or dead cigar minnows.
Andy Brown, from Sumter, SC, with a sailfish that fell for a ballyhoo under a Blue Water Candy Witch near WR4 while he was fishing with Capt. Keith Green and mate Charlie Beal on the "Fish Dance" out of Carolina Beach.
Jeff, of Seahawk Inshore Charters, reports that the inshore action’s been a little hit-or-miss over the past week, with a good day or two followed by a tough one.
Anglers are finding schools of upper-slot red drum on the flats of the lower Cape Fear River in the early mornings, but the groups seem to be breaking up and moving off the flats by mid-morning on most days.
After the schools break up, anglers can find success with the reds by casting to deeper holes in the creeks and on the edges of the flats. Spoons, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs will all fool the reds, and anglers can also hook up while fishing with live shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet.
Some speckled trout, black drum, and flounder are mixed in with the reds, and anglers are catching most of those fish on live shrimp, with the flounder also falling for lures that anglers are casting for the reds.
Brad Francis, of Wilmington, with a 7.18 lb. (23.5") and a 4 lb. (19") flounder. They were caught in the lower Cape Fear River near Southport.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that flounder (many 3-5 lbs.) have moved onto the nearshore wrecks and reefs like John’s Creek, Sheepshead Rock, and the Marriott Rocks. Live finger mullet or peanut pogies on Carolina rigs are the way to fool the flatties.
The bite has also been decent inshore, with anglers catching flounder in the river and a few in the inlet. For some reason, the action in Snows Cut has been a little quiet lately.
The king and spanish mackerel bite has been solid between the sea buoy and a few miles offshore recently (anglers landed kings to 35 lbs. nearshore last week). Live pogies are the best baits for the kings and larger spanish, and anglers can hook the smaller spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons.
Sheepshead are feeding around the bridge and at docks at night. Anglers can hook them on rock crabs or other crustaceans fished tight to the structure.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that bottom fishing’s been excellent lately. Fishing bottom structure 30-40 miles offshore in 90-110’ has been producing action with gag, red, and scamp groupers in addition to a variety of other bottom feeders like beeliners, pinkies, grunts, and more. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will fool the groupers, and the smaller bottom fish will take an interest in squid.
Plenty of king mackerel and dolphin are feeding in the same areas, and light-lining while bottom fishing is drawing strikes from both fish.
Some sailfish are feeding even closer to shore, and anglers are hooking a few around 20 miles out while trolling naked ballyhoo.
Nick, of Alford’s Seafood, reports that anglers are finding some action offshore with red grouper, American red snapper, and other bottom fish while dropping baits to structure 30-40 miles offshore.
King mackerel and dolphin are in the same areas, and anglers can hook them on weightless light-lines while bottom fishing or by trolling.
Some large sheepshead (up to 9.5 lbs.) have been caught recently around the bridges, docks, and rocky structure in the area.
The flounder bite inshore has been decent in the inlet and the river. Most of the flatfish are falling for live baits on Carolina rigs.
Surf anglers are finding a solid mixed bag catch of black and red drum, spot, pompano, whiting, and flounder in the breakers.
Lynn, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers caught several king mackerel while live baiting from the end of the pier last week (the largest 26 lbs.).
Bottom fishermen found some action with croaker, bluefish, and a few pompano while baiting up with shrimp.
