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
North Carolina Inshore Fishing Blog
910-619-9580
