Wes, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers are catching a lot of large red drum in the surf from Kure Beach down to Bald Head. Cut baits are fooling most of the reds.
Big numbers of bluefish, sea mullet, and the first few spot of the year are also feeding just off the beaches, and they will fall for shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits.
Flounder fishing remains excellent inshore (with some fish to 9+ lbs. weighed in lately). The best action has been to the south in the Cape Fear River, but anglers are also finding flatfish in Snow’s Cut, the ICW, and Carolina Beach Inlet. Most of the fish are falling for live mullet and menhaden, but Gulp baits will also tempt the flounder to bite.
Red drum are feeding on the flats and bays off the lower river, where topwater plugs, soft plastic baits, and live baits will get their attention.
The speckled trout bite is turning on in the river with good reports coming from the grass islands, the dredge pond, and areas of structure. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, but anglers can hook up on topwater plugs, suspending baits like MirrOlures, and soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off Carolina Beach Inlet, and anglers are fooling big numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal lures to fish feeding on the surface.
The king mackerel bite is turning on from the beaches out to spots in the 15-20 mile range (like the 30/30). Live baits are the best bet for the kings, but they’ll also take an interest in dead cigar minnows.
Further offshore in the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite is turning on for fall. Blackfin tuna are also in the area, and both will take an interest in naked or skirted ballyhoo or a variety of baitless trolling lures (with smaller lures better for the blackfins).
