These fish have just started moving into smaller groups, and as bait pours into the inlets, the reds will start to spread out more. Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has remained hit or miss overall as we move closer to summer. Running out to the 3-5 mile range has been the target area for anglers looking to cast Stingsilvers and similar jigs at these feeding frenzies. A good number of Atlantic bonito made an extended stay this spring, and they are now being joined by good numbers of spanish mackerel. The nearshore bite has been really good with calm, clear conditions making it easier for anglers to spot action on the surface. A Carolina-rigged menhaden is like candy for these hungry reds. Red drum fishing downriver has been picking up a lot, especially now with pogies moving into the area. This spring didn’t see great numbers of fish, but the quality of size has made up for it. Luke, of Spot On Charters, reports that some speckled trout (to 24”) have been caught by anglers out on the Cape Fear River in the early mornings. Targeting black drum has required a bit more patience with the croakers and pinfish now around to chip away at the bottom-rigged bait shrimp.Ĭhristian Rutherford, of Wilmington, holds a gray trout caught on a Gold Leader bait in the Carolina Beach area. The black drum are staged up in similar areas as the reds, with dead shrimp being the most productive bait. This has mostly been a 15-17” class of fish, with some larger ones scattered in. Both dead shrimp and live mud minnows are enticing strikes.Ī few black drum are also mixed in the action. The best target areas have been the shell bottom banks, with lower tides being more productive for congregating these fish. Anglers are finding plenty of smaller reds, with slot-sized fish mixed in. Inshore anglers have really focused their efforts in the Cape Fear River, where red drum have broken up into smaller groups and are staging up around structure to ambush the incoming schools of bait.Ĭhristian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action is picking up now that these schools have started to spread out throughout the area. Looking to areas to the south shows those fish pushing onto the beaches with the bait, and this has anglers anticipating a similar trend off Pleasure Island over the coming weeks. King mackerel continue to hold further offshore in the 70-degree waters. This first wave of spanish mackerel have really varied in size from the smaller 1-2 lb. Nearshore fishing has been really good, with Atlantic bonito making an extended stay in our area.Īnglers out trolling and sight-casting at surface frenzies in that 1-3 mile range are also catching good-sized bluefish and spanish mackerel. The rest of the daily mixed bag from the surf has included black drum, croakers, pompano, and the occasional sheepshead. Whiting have been a bit hit or miss, but anglers are finding that the ones being caught are a larger class. Topsail Fall Surf & Pier Fishing Challengeĭecrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page Send by EmailĪndrew, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that surf anglers are starting to see some bluefish moving in as the beachfront water temperatures warm up.
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