Carolina Beach October 9, 2008
Harry "Harry G" Gierszewski, of Carolina Beach, with a 27", 7 lb. flounder he caught in Snow's Cut on a live finger mullet.
Seth, of Reel Bait and Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has been on fire lately (a number of fish between 8-12.5 lbs. were weighed in last week). Deep holes and structure in Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River have been producing the best action lately. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are the best baits for the big fall flounder.
Red drum are feeding well all the way from the lower Cape Fear River up the waterway to Topsail. Live baits, spinnerbaits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures will all get attention from the drum.
Speckled trout are holding around grass islands and other structure in the Cape Fear River, and anglers have been hooking up while casting DOA and Billy Bay shrimp imitations lately.
Sheepshead are still feeding at inshore structure like oyster rocks and bridge and dock pilings, and they should be around until the end of the month. Fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits will appeal to the sheepshead.
Gray trout are holding on nearshore wrecks and other structure, and they should get even more numerous as the weather cools. They’ll fall for a variety of baits fished on Carolina rigs, and anglers can also target them with Stingsilvers and other jigging lures.
Big spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and at nearshore structure (several in the 5-9 lb. range were brought in last week). Anglers are catching some while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, but the largest fish are falling for live baits that anglers are trolling for kings.
King mackerel fishing has been on fire over the past few weeks, with boats hooking kings (many 20-40 lbs.) along the beaches from Topsail to Georgetown, around nearshore structure like Yaupon Reef, and at spots well offshore. Slow-trolled live pogies are the best baits for the large kings.
Offshore bottom fishermen are finding solid action with red grouper at structure 30+ miles offshore. A few gags are mixed in. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits should prove tempting to the groupers.
Gulf Stream trollers are finding solid catches of wahoo (some up to 70 lbs. last week). Some of the hottest action lately has been around the Same Ole, and rigged ballyhoo will produce action if the fish are around.Bruce, of Flat Dawg Charters, reports that the flounder bite has been incredible over the past few weeks, with anglers hooking good numbers of fish (some from 6-10 lbs.). Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are top choices for the flatfish, and the best action lately has been in the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, and Carolina Beach Inlet. Drift-fishing has been producing better results than anchoring up recently.
The speckled trout bite is solid around structure in the Cape Fear River, with some fish coming from Carolina Beach Inlet as well. Live shrimp fished beneath floats are the top baits for the trout, but anglers have also been hooking some on DOA shrimp as well. Plenty of puppy drum are schooled in with the trout.
Some big spanish mackerel are feeding at nearshore structure like Sheepshead Rock, and they should take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
Ted Conner, of Carolina Beach, with a 9.8 lb. flounder caught on a live finger mullet in the lower Cape Fear River. Photo courtesy of Island Tackle and Hardware.
Brad, of Fish Spanker Charters, reports that bottom fishing remains strong 35-40 miles off Carolina Beach Inlet. Anglers dropping squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits to bottom structure are hooking grunts, pinkies, red and gag groupers, and a few beeliners. Cut and live baits are top choices for the larger grouper.
Cigar minnows fished on a light-line while anglers are bottom fishing are attracting attention from king mackerel feeding in the same areas.
Teresa Coley, from kannapolis, NC, with a couple of flounder caught on cut bait in the Carolina Beach Inlet.
Anna, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few flounder on small live baits.
Some spot are coming over the rails, with the best action lately at night.
Plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
