The fishing for the middle of September has been relatively good. Despite the high water temperatures, still reading in the low-to-mid 80-degree range, a lot of anglers have been successful on their fishing excursions. We had another week of hot, humid and close-to-record temperatures, but things appear to be settling down and getting back into a more normal pattern. This should help the fishing as we continue to head into the fall season.
Inshore, the fishing remains consistent, with good reports of red drum, flounder and even some speckled trout making a showing. The red drum and flounder are being caught in the creeks and inlets as well as around the area docks. With the abundance of finger mullet and peanut menhaden in the area waters, a Carolina Rigged live bait is a hard presentation to beat. Most of the flounder around the Wrightsville Beach area are ranging in the 2- to 3-pound range with the larger fish being found around Carolina Beach and also in the Cape Fear River. The river is producing the majority of speckled trout reports with some fish also coming from the Surf City and Topsail areas. Plenty of over slot red drum are being caught around the inlets and nearshore structures.
Along the beaches and off the piers, the bottom fishing has been good for pompano, Virginia mullet and black drum. Fresh shrimp and sand fleas on double drop bottom rigs will produce all three of these species, while using cut bait and live minnows will increase the chances of hooking into red drum, bluefish and flounder. The deeper holes along the beaches have been producing some good fishing for these during the time of rising tides. Some spots and croaker are also being reported with more frequency, indicating that the fall season if not too far away.
Just off the beach, the Spanish mackerel fishing has shown signs of getting back into the groove. Trolled Clark Spoons in water depths between 30-40 feet should produce but as the weather cools, sight casting will become another option for anglers. Live baiters using finger mullet have reported some larger Spanish coming from near the wrecks and reefs. Those trolling the larger live baits are finding the king mackerel from right off the beach out to around 20 miles. While most fish are in the 10- to 15-pound range, some fall fish up to 30 pounds or more are becoming more frequent. Schools of tarpon cruising the beach line have been reported by anglers the past week, although getting them to bite has proven very difficult.
Bottom fishing continues to be good in water depths of around 100 feet, which is needed to remain away from the sharks and other bait stealers. Gulf Stream fishing has been producing wahoo, dolphin and some tuna with a few billfish mixed in.
