Large schools of reds that are roaming the flats
Happy 4th of July from the Seahawk Inshore crew. We are having a up and down summer here fishing the backwaters of the Lower Cape Fear. Business has been good and most days the fishing has been pretty good but we are having a few tough days mixed in. There are lots of bait (mullet and shrimp) starting to move in to the creeks and flats and this should make for some better fishing opportunities for the remainder of the summer.
On the nicer days with light winds we are able to find large schools of reds that are roaming the flats and do some awesome sightfishing using topwater plugs and other artificials. This will continue and should get better as the schools of mullet minnows move in. We are also picking up a few reds in the creeks and bays, but just not the numbers we usually see this time of year. Most of the reds in the creeks are hitting live minnows on Carolina rigs and artificials with Gulp Jerk Shads and Shrimp working best. In the bays we are using live minnows and shrimp on both Carolina rigs and float rigs around oyster points.
We are picking up a few flounder on live menhaden, mullet, and mud minnows. We are also catching a few flatfish while covering ground with the trolling motor and throwing Gulp Baits. Most of the flounder have been keeper size and we should see some larger fish moving in soon.
The trout bite has been up and down depending on wind, tides, and temperature. Early cloudy mornings have been productive on topwater baits with DOA soft plastics and Gulp Shrimp working also. We are also picking up a few trout fishing live minnows on carolina and float rigs.
We had a good early summer catching some nice black drum and are still picking up a few while fishing for redfish and sheephead around oyster rocks and dock pilings. The sheephead are feeding around structure and putting a few of these great eating fish in the cooler is always a possibility in the summer months.
Schools of ladyfish have moved in chasing the schools of mullet and we are having some fun catching these on the slower days. Jack Crevalles and bluefish will soon join the ladies and will provide us with some incredible action on topwater plugs and other artificials.
Just a reminder, we can make saltwater fishing simple and fun for all ages and skill levels. Some of the fishing we do for redfish, flounder, speckled trout, black drum and others is like fishing for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish in ponds and lakes.
Thanks for reading the report and check out the photos from our recent fishing trips. These are just a few of our good catches from the first half of summer.
Thanks,
Captains Jeff and Christian Wolfe
Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters
Carolina Beach Inshore Fishing Blog
910-619-9580
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