April is normally a transition month and the inshore fishing can be up and down in the Cape Fear area. That is typically how it goes and things usually turn around in May. So I am really looking forward to a little more consistency and the arrival of more and larger inshore species. Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheephead, large and small bluefish and a few more inshore fish will be available as we get into the month of May. I can make inshore saltwater fishing for all of these species simple and fun for all ages and skill levels, similiar to fishing in freshwater ponds and lakes.

The redfish bite has been tough at times and good at times depending on weather patterns and wind conditions. The reds are still schooling on the flats but have been a bit skiddish recently. When they’re in a feeding mood, topwater plugs and soft plastic paddletails will tempt them to bite, but scented baits like Gulp and live mud minnows are more effective on finicky redfish. The creeks are holding a few reds and we are picking up a scattered fish here and there on spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and DOA soft plastics. We are also picking up a few fish in the creeks by anchoring down and casting live mud minnows on carolina rigs into to holes around low tide. There are also some reds holding around docks in the ICW. Look for the redfish bite to really turn on as we get into May.

May and the first of June is usually a good time for speckled trout fishing in the Cape Fear area. The larger spawning specs should show up in the creeks and Cape Fear river. We have caught a few nice specs recently but not any numbers. Hopefully we’ll see the trout fishing turn around this month with more and larger fish. DOA soft plastics, DOA Shrimp on popping floats, Gulp Shrimp, and of course live shrimp on float rigs will tempt the specs to bite.

The flounder fishing will be getting better as we get into May. We are seeing some larger fish showing up and had a four pounder this past week on a Gulp bait. Most of the flounder on my charters have been caught by dropping the trolling motor, covering ground and casting Gulp baits. The drift fishing for flounder around the inlets should start to turn on, along with fishing live minnows and menhaden around structure in the Cape Fear river and ICW.

We are starting to see some sheephead and caught a few over the past week. More sheephead will be showing up and putting a few of these fish in the cooler is always a possibility as we get into late spring and throughout the summer months. Sheephead are a blast to catch, great to eat and there are no limits on size or number. Fiddler crabs and sand fleas will do the trick on the sheeps.

Small and large blues ( up to 13 lbs) have moved into the flats, river, and creeks and are crushing topwater plugs. We have caught some blues in the 10 to 13 lb range recently sightcasting topwater plugs to tailing fish in a couple of feet of water. These fish scream some drag, jump, and have been an abslolute blast to catch on light tackle.

Thanks for reading the report and check out a few of the photos from the past few weeks.

Thanks,
Jeff Wolfe
Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters
Carolina Beach Inshore Fishing Blog
910-619-9580

The inshore and backwater fishing has been a little more consistent in the Cape Fear area and should be getting better over the next couple of weeks. There are lots of redfish action, along with a few speckled trout and flounder. There is also a excellent whiting bite going on in the lower Cape Fear river along the edge of the ship channel. Look for more of these species to show up with some larger flounder and trout. Most of the inshore species should be here and the fishing in full swing by mid to late April.

The redfish bite has been fair to excellent depending on tides and weather conditions. Most of the action has ocurred on the lower stages of the tides using live mud minnows and shrimp on carolina rigs. For those that like using artificials were are catching scattered reds in the creeks and finding large schools on the flats on the calmer days. Gulp baits and DOA paddletails are producing most of the action. The topwater redfish bite is starting to pick up and will be getting better over the next couple of weeks.

Good numbers of small speckled trout and a few larger specks are feeding in the same areas and hitting the same soft baits and topwater plugs. Looks like we may have a good spring trout season with all of the small fish that were here in the fall.

Deeper holes off the lower Cape Fear are producing some flounder action. Look for the flounder bite to get more consistent with some larger fish moving in. Live minnows and Gulp Baits are working on the flatfish. Flounder love Gulp Baits and most of the flounder have been caught while throwing these baits in the deeper holes.

The whiting bite has been excellent in the lower Cape Fear river. Fisherman are filling up coolers and 50 to 100 fish have been the norm. Some of these tasty fish have been the larger ones weighing one to two pounds. Whiting hit hard and a lot of fun to catch. Shrimp on two hook bottom rigs will do the trick on the whiting. We are also picking up a few small black and an occasional larger one using shrimp on carolina rigs and two hook bottom rigs. Catching whiting and black drum using these tactics are great for entertaining children and putting some good eating fish in the cooler.

Thanks for reading the report and I should have a good one for the next couple of weeks. Check out a few of the photos from some recent trips.

Thanks,
Jeff Wolfe
Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters
Carolina Beach Inshore Fishing Blog
910-619-9580

3/26/12 Dave, a fishing guide from Canada that also works in the movie industry spent about a month in the Wilmington area and fell in love with redfishing. He fished with me four times and had some awesome days sightfishing for reds. He turned me on to a great bait that works good on redfish, the Jackall I-Shad, a soft bait from Japan.

3/28/12 Derrick and Angel had a good trip catching reds fishing live mud minnows on carolina rigs.

3/29/12 Kevin with the result of a inshore slam. Caught on Gulp Baits and Jackall I-Shad soft baits

3/31/12 Adam and Amber had a good trip in the backwaters throwing Gulp baits for reds and flounder

4/1/12 Raleigh, Zach, and Randy mixed it up a bit with a catch of redfish, flounder, black drum, and whiting

4/2/12 Jared with a decent black drum he caught fishing shrimp on a carolina rig

4/2/12 Kyle and Jared with the result of a double hook-up of upper slot reds fishing mud minnows on carolina rigs. A great father and son fishing trip on the lower Cape Fear.

4/3/12 John and Ryan with another father and son double hook-up of redfish. Fishing mud minnows on carolina rigs

4/3/12 Ryan with a another nice red. Ryan and Jared from the photos above a great young fisherman and also do really well throwing artificials in the backwaters. These kind of trips are very rewarding for me.

4/4/12 Laurie with a nice red while hubby Robert is hooked up with another.

4/4/12 Robert and Laurie had a good husband and wife trip fishing the creeks of the lower Cape Fear. This was a excellent day fishing for reds and a bonus flounder. We made a pit stop at Jr’s Camp on the way out and took this cool photo. Heck I may even treat them with a anniversary gift certificate at this fine five star camp on Bluff Island over looking scenic Deep Creek. Just don’t forget the bug spray.

Another great family fishing trip with Hugo, Dick, Sam, and Mike. These 9 and 7 yr old youngsters did a great job fishing with their Dad and Grandfather in the creeks of the lower Cape Fear. We had a blast catching reds and black drum on shrimp and mud minnows.

Check out the most recent video I have added to the video library, Cape Fear Tripletail Fishing. Can’t wait for these fish to show up.

Special thanks to Mark and Christine at 601 Media (www.601media.com) for the great job they do on the website and editing most of my videos.