Surf Fishing Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Part 2)

Article by: Capt. Rick Bennett

Summarizing Part 1, when surf fishing find the best spot to cast your line. Look for sloughs, cuts in the outer sandbar and generally areas where the water is “rougher” than the waters on either side of the area. Medium weight rods in the eight foot range combined with 4000 to 5000 reels and twenty pound braid will handle most anything you are likely to hook. From metal jigs to curly tails, artificial baits work well.

Now let’s discuss some natural baits and when and what you might catch. Natural baits are, but not limited to, fresh dead shrimp, live shrimp, cut bait such as mullet, bluefish and spots, and squid. One thing I want to emphasize is generally you do not have to cast far! When surf fishing, I usually cast just into or just behind the breakers. This is where the targeted fish hang looking for some helpless smaller baitfish. If you are casting for “whatever bites”, fresh dead shrimp is a great bait to use. Among other possibilities you can hope for are flounder, red drum, black drum, bluefish, whiting, and spots. You can use a standard two hook bottom rig and a bank sinker, usually two to three ounces. I prefer bank sinkers because they will roll around in the wave action. Another very successful rig is the Carolina rig. It is particularly good when targeting flounder or red drum. Usually on a Carolina rig I prefer either live bait such as finger mullet or a fresh piece of cut bait from anything that is oily and gives off a good scent.

When targeting flounder, live bait or fresh strips of cut bait work best. Using a Carolina rig with an egg weight allows the bait to roll around and look very natural. When a flounder “tugs” on your bait, resist jerking, wait a few seconds, and then set the hook. Flounder like to scale the bait before they swallow it.
When targeting red drum, the same applies as for flounder except for the waiting part. Reds hit hard and you will know the difference. Set the hook and hold on tight.

Generally, black drum bite during the cooler seasons. Sand fleas and fresh pieces of shrimp work best. A double hook bottom rig works best. Cast right into the breakers using a bank sinker so the bait can move with the wave action.

For bluefish, a standard bottom rig will work, but many anglers like to use bottom rigs with red and yellow cork balls on the rig just before the hook. The cork balls keep the bait just off the bottom where the bluefish like to roam. Fresh cut bait is the best choice.
For whiting, another cooler water fish, sand fleas are the best bait. Fished on a double hook rig when whiting are around will definitely provide a delicious supper. Sand fleas can usually be dug up right at the edge of the water.
Spots love fresh shrimp cut into one inch pieces. I always use a double hook bottom rig with a bank sinker for spots. Cleaning these smaller fish can be like work sometimes, but they eat very well.

When talking about bait, I have used the word fresh often. Frozen bait will work sometimes, but to increase your chances of surf fishing success, fresh bait is the way to go.

I hope you are enjoyed Part 2 of Carolina Beach, Surf Fishing. And, remember if you need a quality surf rod or any other rod, I can build you one just like you want it! Good Fishing!

Capt. Rick Bennett, Ret.
www.rod-man.com
rodman@rod-man.com

Capt. Rick Bennett

A lifetime fisherman, Capt. Rick Bennett, better known as the Rod-Man,has retired from the day to day activities as a charter boat captain but does offer “ON YOUR BOAT” Guided Fishing Trips. Capt. Rick will show you the when, the where and the how. From rod and reel selection to terminal tackle to bait, Capt. Rick has the know how.