Carolina Beach Winter 2004
Steve, of Seagull Bait and Tackle, reports that the November fishing has been great. With a little less wind people would have done even better. Inshore there were plenty of Virginia mullet, both in the surf and in the Cape Fear River. They were averaging 2 to 3 lbs. There were also large pompano in the surf, with two weighed in at over 4 lbs. Both were biting shrimp and sand fleas. A lot of small blues were being caught on cut bait. Puppy drum, from legal size to the 12 lb. range, bit well in the surf. A slower bite happened in the waterway. Night fishing for drum produced many in the 30 to 40 lb. range, with people focusing both in the surf and the inlets.
Offshore, at any nearshore wreck there were plenty of gray trout ranging from 2 to 4 lbs., with some weighing in as large as 6 lbs. Speckled trout are now in the inlet and Snow’s Cut areas biting live shrimp and green grubs. Bait, however, has moved into the river, and is otherwise found in large schools offshore with jigging being the most effective way of getting them in the boat. The best bet for winter fishing is striper. There have been a few caught already, but striped bass won’t really move into the area until after the cold weather sets in. A great way to fish for stripers is by slow-trolling north, between the power lines and the bridge at the Brunswick River. A reliable lure is a hot orange Rapala with a big lip called the Heavy Duty Stretch Plus.
Barry, of Cape Fear Marine and Tackle, has a winter fishing prediction. The conditions currently at work creating the fishing climate for the Cape Fear area are very similar to those that made the 2002 to 2003 late fall and winter fishing so good-at least where drum are concerned. It seems recent water, bait, and weather/temperature movements could potentially make large drum stay close to the shore, thus making their catch ideal for surf casters. Two winters ago, people were catching 50 drum in a day casting mirrolures just beyond the breakers in water too shallow for boats to come near. For now most people are using artificial baits.
Lately speckled trout and drum are biting well inshore and should continue through Christmas. Pompano as big as 3 lbs. are biting sand fleas and shrimp in the surf. King mackerel and wahoo should stay through Christmas as well due to some warm water eddies forming close offshore. There should be a good run of false albacore soon. And gray trout are still abundant at the Kure Beach dredge hole and John’s Creek. A reminder about John’s creek, it has undergone some serious commercial fishing of late.
Dave, of Wild Rover II Charters, reports that the gulf stream has been exciting with catches of blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo. Medium-sized Islanders seem to be the lure of choice.
Offshore, king mackerel are starting to school now. They’re anywhere from the Dredge to WR-4. You just have to look for the “signs”: temperature break, birds working, and/or fish breaking. Limiting this time of year is easy on these 8 to 10 lb. fish.
Inshore, trout is the name of the game. They’re inshore around the area rocks and outcrops. The Kure Beach dredge hole has also been producing well. Jigging with Sting Silvers has been the best producer. Black sea bass have also moved inshore, and I mean “blueheads.” Those big, fat sea bass are everywhere you can find structure. Sea bass fishing in the winter means two at a time and all day long.
Before this latest cool spell, the grouper were thick from 17 to 25 miles offshore on the area ledges. Squid, cigars, and cut bait all work. They will hit just about anything this time of year.
