Carolina Beach March 13, 2008
Trey, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that Gulf Stream anglers are starting to hook up with a few yellowfin tuna, and the bite has been decent off Morehead, so it shouldn’t be long until local anglers are filling the fish boxes with tuna. Boats are also landing some blackfins and a decent number of wahoo. Anglers headed to the blue water may be surprised by dolphin or even billfish this time of year as well.
Ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures are the standby blue water baits, and with good reason-they’ll draw bites from virtually anything swimming in the Stream.
Kings have spent the winter 40+ miles offshore, and warmer water will soon bring them closer to the beaches. Recently boats did well on the mackerel around 29 miles out when a finger of warm water pushed the schools inshore. Anglers who want to hook up with kings should look for 67-70 degree temperature breaks on satellite images and troll dead cigar minnows or Drone spoons in the area to locate the fish.
Bottom fishing has been good at structure 40+ miles off the inlets, with boats landing some nice red and gag groupers. Cigar minnows will draw strikes from the groupers and most other fish inhabiting the structure.
Closer to shore, boats have caught some nice sea bass in the 20 mile range. Squid seem to be the top bait.
Bonito have already been seen out around WR4, and they’ll be heading closer to the beaches to spots like the Liberty Ship soon. Anglers can troll Clarkspoons or cast Maria jigs or other metal lures to these fish.
Inshore, speckled trout and red drum fishing has been good in the river and near the inlets. Anglers have caught a number of trout up to 5-6 lbs. lately as well, so there are some quality fish around. Gulp Jerkshads will entice bites from both fish.
As a whole, most of the action seems to be coming early this year, so barring a severe cold snap, excellent spring fishing for a variety of inshore, nearshore, and offshore species should be here soon.
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Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that anglers are landing a few speckled trout and red drum in the bays near Fort Fisher. Anglers are also finding some trout in creeks off both sides of the river, but the bite has been somewhat hit-or-miss. DOA shrimp have been the top-producing artificial for the trout, and anglers are landing the reds on Rapala X-Raps and Terminator spinnerbaits.
As a result of the mild winter, finger mullet stayed alive in the backs of some area creeks, so catching some live baits may be possible for anglers who can find the mullet.
Drum and trout fishing in the river and nearby areas should begin to take off as the water temperatures rise over the next few weeks.
Whiting are feeding near the mouth of the Cape Fear, but most are still on the small side. A two-hook bottom rig baited with shrimp will attract plenty of attention from these panfish, and they’ll grow larger and more numerous as the water warms, too.
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Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that bottom fishing has been good at deeper structure 40 miles and further offshore. Red, gag, and scamp grouper are all possible catches out in the deep water, along with a variety of tasty smaller bottom fish. Cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits are all excellent baits for the variety of species inhabiting the deep water.
Closer to shore, many bottom spots have become inundated with dog sharks.
King mackerel are holding in 67-70 degree water around 40 miles offshore, and they will move inshore as the warm water does with spring.
Further off, wahoo have been around all winter, and anglers can still hook up with the ‘hoos out near the Gulf Stream.
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Susie, of Kure Pier, reports that anglers are landing mostly sharks and skates right now. The pier officially opens March 21st, and as the water warms up after that, bottom fishermen should start to catch whiting and black drum on shrimp.
Bluefish will also be showing up before long, and if this year follows the pattern established by last year, the 1-2 lb. snapper bluefish will be followed by some 7-10+ lb. choppers.
