CAPE FEAR COAST FISHING REPORT –
APR - JUN 2012
By Mike Marsh

Mike Marsh’s New Book, “Fishing North Carolina,” ($26.60 ppd.) along with “Inshore Angler – Coastal Carolina’s Small Boat Fishing Guide” ($26.20 ppd.) and “Offshore Angler - Carolina’s Mackerel Boat Fishing Guide” ($22.25 ppd.), are available by check or M.O. to Mike Marsh, 1502 Ebb Dr., Wilmington, NC 28409. Visit www.mikemarshoutdoors.com for credit card orders and more hunting and fishing information.

Small Boat Trolling Yields Big Fishing Thrills

While Gulf Stream vessels seem to hog all the glory, spring and early summer bring small watercraft to the beaches in swarms. A seaworthy johnboat or skiff is all an angler needs to get into some of the fastest fishing action on the planet, as long as he keeps a weather-eye and heads out on the windless days with calm seas.

The best places to find smaller species of schooling fish are the inlets, Cape Fear River mouth, nearshore artificial reefs, and deeper sloughs along the shoreline. Anglers can find the fish by watching for seabirds circling and diving into the baitfish schools. If birds are not present, anglers should watch for surface disturbances caused by baitfish schools, feeding game fish breaking the surface and oil slicks created by predators chomping baitfish into chum.

The main schooling species in the order that they arrive are false albacore, bluefish, Atlantic bonito and Spanish mackerel. Anglers can catch all of these fish by using simple tackle and trolling techniques and may encounter two or more species in the same area at the same time.

Spoons are the mainstay lures for small game fish trolling. Most anglers have the best success by rigging them on tough monofilament leaders. But there are times when wire leaders are best for landing large bluefish, Atlantic bonito and Spanish. The best advice is to use the least visible leader that will not cut down the number of strikes. Sometimes stranded wire leader is the only way to prevent lure cutoffs by the sharp teeth of big Atlantic bonito, Spanish mackerel or bluefish.

Spoons are fished near the top by rigging them behind surface planers that create a fish-attracting commotion called “birds.” But, when the fish are deeper, rigging spoons behind trolling weights, downrigger balls or planers is key to topflight trolling action.

Many other lures, including jigs and lipped plastic plugs, can be used to catch schooling fish. The trick is to move into an area where fish are lurking and trolling through the area at about four knots. Most lures and spoons are designed to run at this speed. But, when in doubt, the angler should troll the lure right beside the boat and watch it closely to see if it is running true and has the correct action. Once a good speed is found that gives the lure the amount of vibration the angler desires, he lets out the line and begins hauling in fish.

Care should be taken not to troll straight through the center of a school because the fish will become alarmed and scatter or swim deep. If the fish disappear, the angler should stay in the area, watching for them to come to the top again.

If they don’t resurface, they can be found again with the aid of an electronic depthfinder. Once their feeding depth is discovered, the angler can use deep-diving lures or planers and continue catching fish. Depthfinders and deep trolling techniques also work well for finding the fish when they go deep during the day. The best time for surface trolling is at dawn.

Shallotte/Calabash Area

Capt. Larry Horowitz (Voyager Fishing Charters, 910-575-5978) said offshore trolling action would be ramping up.

“April is the month when our offshore fishing really starts to be good,” he said. “We will be catching plenty of wahoo, mahi and blackfin tuna. Perhaps the yellowfin tuna will also show up, although they have not come through the past couple of springs.”

Good places for meatfish trolling will be at the Blackjack, the 100/400 lines and at other ledges along the continental break.

Season for keeping beeliners opens in April and anglers will also catch some porgies, triggerfish, grunts and pink snapper. Grouper fishing opens May 1 and sea bass fishing opens in June.

June is the best month for catching billfish because the first big push of sailfish and blue marlin move to the Gulf Stream. King mackerel action will be good in April and May and cobia will move close to the beaches in May. Good places for king mackerel and cobia fishing include the 15-mile bottom, 20-mile bottom, the 16 Hole and Atlantic Ledge.

Holden Beach/Ocean Isle Area

Capt. Brant McMullan (Ocean Isle Fishing Center, 910-575-3474) said Gulf Stream action would heat up.

“By the end of April, our Gulf Stream fishing will really pick up,” he said. “Tuna, wahoo, and dolphin will fill the boat.”

On May 1, grouper season will open. Grouper will be along the edge of the continental break for anglers who want to combine big game trolling with bottomfish action. The grouper fishing will be best in 120 feet of water.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be schooling near the beaches. Trolling with spoons or casting with jigs and spoons will boat lots of these smaller game fish. Artificial reefs will hold lots of schooling fish, as well as plenty of flounder. Anglers can fish live baits on top and on the bottom at the artificial reefs to catch Spanish mackerel and flounder at the same time.

Lots of king mackerel will move to the nearshore ledges and artificial reefs along with cobia. Slow trolling with live menhaden baits is the best method for catching the biggest king mackerel and cobia. Lots of menhaden schools will be at the inlets and along the beaches, where anglers can catch them using cast nets to fill their live wells.

Southport/Oak Island Area

Capt. Butch Foster (Yeah Right Charters, 910-845-2004) said king mackerel fishing would be heating up along with the water temperatures.

“King mackerel start showing up at Frying Pan Tower around Easter,” he said. “They will move progressively closer to the coastline in May and by June they are going to be right along the beach.”

Atlantic bonito and bluefish are the first schooling fish to show up in nearshore waters at the end of March or early April. By the end of April, Spanish mackerel will move into the area and mix in with the bluefish schools.

In the surf and in the backwaters, fishing will be good for whiting, flounder, red drum and speckled trout.

May is primetime for fishing the Gulf Stream, with anglers seeking wahoo, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi, blue marlin and sailfish having great success. By June, all of the bottomfish seasons will be open, with sea bass the final fishing opportunity to become available. The bottom fishing action will be exciting, with grouper, sea bass, triggerfish and porgies in good supply.

Wrightsville Beach/Carolina Beach Area

Capt. Jot Owens (910-233-4139) said surefire speckled trout action should lure fishermen to Wrightsville Beach.

“We will be fishing the inlets and all the creeks and channels leading to the inlets,” he said. “Berkley Gulp Shad and Ripple Mullet fished on jigs, as well as the 17MR and 18MR MirrOlures are the best lures.”

Redfish will be on the oyster beds in the primary creeks and along the channel edges. Berkley Gulp Shrimp in Pearl or New Penny colors fished on gray or red jig heads will entice redfish.

In May, flounder fishermen will find lots of fish at the inlets, channels, and nearshore ledges and artificial reefs. Live baits fished on Carolina rigs are best for flounder. But Berkley Gulp 6-inch Jerk Shad lures in Neon, Pearl and New Penny colors also work well.

Anglers will find big chopper bluefish at the inlets beginning in late April. Live baits, crankbaits and topwater lures will entice them.

Spanish mackerel will be at the inlets and structure out to nine miles. Cobia will arrive in May, and will school at the nearshore structure and tide lines near the inlets.

Hampstead/Topsail Beach Area

Capt. Wayne Crisco (Last Resort Charters, 910-465-0611) said flatfish should be hitting minnows.

“Flounder start biting in May and the fishing only gets better in June,” he said. “Fishing live baits on the bottom is the best way to catch flounder.”

Anglers should toss mud minnows or mullet on Carolina rigs to the structure areas, such as bridges, boat docks and seawalls. The best bet is anchoring near the structure and casting. However, drifting tactics work well at the inlets and flats.

Speckled trout fishing will be good at the marinas and oyster beds. Atlantic bonito, bluefish and Spanish mackerel will arrive at Topsail and New River Inlets Schooling fish will also be swarming at the natural ledges, such as Divers Rock and at the nearshore artificial reefs.

Red drum action will be excellent in the bays and at the N.C. 50 Highway Bridge.

Surf City/Sneads Ferry Area

Rusty Pate (Rusty’s Bait and Tackle, 910-329-0247) said a smorgasbord of species awaits Surf City fishermen.

“The Atlantic bonito will show up in late March or early April,” he said. “Shortly afterward, the Spanish mackerel will arrive. The fish will school at the inlets and nearshore structure areas, including the artificial reefs.”

At the piers, in the surf and in the ICW, smaller spring-run spots will move into the area. Virginia mullet will bite in the same places. As the weather warms in May, the mullet and spots will move out and sheepshead, flounder and red drum will take over.

Red drum, speckled trout and flounder will turn on at the south end of Lea Island at Rich Inlet. These “inshore slam’ species will also be biting in New River at the Sneads Ferry Bridge and in all of the river’s tributary creeks. The docks and seawalls along the ICW will also hold these species.