Carolina Beach November 13, 2008
Wanda Taylor, of Kernersville, NC, with her first red drum, a 26”, 7+ lb. fish caught on a live finger mullet from the Carolina Beach Pier.
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that the speckled trout bite is getting hot throughout the area. Big numbers of the specks have been coming from the Cape Fear River and the Masonboro jetties, and anglers are putting together decent catches between the two at docks off the ICW and in the inlet. Live shrimp under float rigs are the top trout producers, but anglers can also cast artificials like Billy Bay and DOA shrimp or MirrOlures with success.
There are still a few flounder around nearshore (with an 11 pounder weighed in last week), but the flatfish bite is slowing down a bit. Anglers targeting the flounder should fish small live baits on Carolina rigs for the best chances of success.
Red drum are feeding in the lower river and in the surf. Live baits or artificials like Gulps and topwater plugs should produce action with the inshore fish, and finger mullet or cut baits will get their attention in the surf.
Justin Stewart and Jason Rosenfeld with the results of a double hookup in the Fort Fisher surf just before the sharks’ healthy release. The pair of 9’ sand tiger sharks fell for bluefish baits that the anglers kayaked out to a deep drop-off 200 yards off the sand.
Surf casters are also hooking up with some black drum and good numbers of whiting.
The king mackerel have moved off the beaches, and the best odds of a decent king catch now are coming at least 10 miles out. Some nice fish were reported from the Dredge Wreck last week. Live baits are the best bet for the biggest kings, but anglers can find plenty of action while trolling dead cigar minnows, too.
Grouper fishing has been good lately 30+ miles off the beach, and anglers are finding a few gags feeding in a bit closer. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits will produce action with the grouper.
Not many boats have made it out to the stream lately, but there have been reports of scattered wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Josh Williams and Kenny Altman, from Wilmington, NC, with a 9 lb. sheepshead caught in Snow’s Cut. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that gray trout (some are 3-4 lbs.) are schooled up thick on nearshore structure like the Marriott Rocks and Sheepshead Rock. Jigging lures like Stingsilvers will tempt them to bite, and anglers can also bottom fish with cut mullet and other baits to hook up.
Inshore, the flounder bite is still decent, but most fish are smaller than a month or so ago (up to 2-3 lbs.). Live baits on Carolina rigs are the best way to target the flatties.
Whiting are schooling near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and a bottom rig baited with shrimp will attract their attention.
Upriver, there’s been a solid bite with speckled trout, striped bass, and a few puppy drum past the Brunswick River. Live shrimp and DOA shrimp are producing most of the fish, but anglers are hooking a few while casting topwaters like Skitterwalks.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that although the weather’s been rough lately bottom fishing should still be hot in the 30-40 mile range. Ledges and other structure in the area are holding red and scamp grouper along with smaller bottomfish like beeliners, grunts, pinkies, and others. Some gag grouper are feeding a bit closer to the beach.
Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits are top choices for the grouper, and squid will appeal to the other bottomfish.
King mackerel are pushing offshore, which means even more fish are in the 30 mile range where anglers are grouper fishing. A light line baited with a cigar minnow will draw bites from the kings.
Austin, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching some whiting, spot, and pompano on shrimp.
Live pogies are producing action with some flounder.
Plug casters are hooking bluefish.
