Fishing Report

 

Mid July 2010........ Whew, is it HOTTT!!!!  The past ten days we have been blessed with strong SW winds and terrible heat.  I mean just plain hot.  But the fish have been good and so has the been the fishing when they come out to bite.   There are better days than others, but we still manage to catch enough to make everyone happy and that is how it goes.  Offshore the Spanish Mackerels have been hot to cold, just depending on the day.  Kings have been scarce and the flounder are biting on the offshore ledges along with the sharks.  Inshore the drum and flounder bite has improved and we are beginning to see more mullet minnows everyday.  We just go out and see what we can catch, and work hard.  Lots of fun in the CB Sun!  More later.

 

July 8, 2010.... Hey, I mentioned all my old friends who have returned and recently Luhrs and Misty were back on the boat and Flounder were not everywhere, but we did get a nice one for Luhrs and various other species for Misty... Wayyy too much fun on the water and that is what it is all about!  Maybe next time we will not complete the Greater Inshore Trash Fish Grand Slam!  Even Bat Rays showed up..... and boy were they fun on the light tackle!  Water temp down in the bay was in the high 80's and even the minnows as my guarantee states were dying trying to catch some nice fish.  Oh well, that is the life of a minnow!  Soon to be better weather and cooler winds.  Best to all.

 

July 8, 2010...... The fishing season is going well except for the dang HEAT WAVE that has encompassed the whole east coast of the US... and it is hazy, hot and humid here in SENCLand.... with no sign of it ending soon.  Flounder have arrived in numbers and the bait is getting thick.... but the mullet minnows are slow to appear.  All else is normal and the Spanish Mackerels are good sized with some nice Kings thrown in for good measure.  There have been many good days and a few slow ones, but every day here has been great in one way or another.  I have had the pleasure of fishing with some of my old friends and family on some great charters, but I have also met many new and fine friends.  Life is Good!  So come on down and wet a line here at Carolina Beach and have some good old fashioned FUN!!!!

 

June 26, 2010.... Boy is it Hot, and I mean HOTTT!!!  The weather is beautiful but the heat is on and some of the fish are like big black dogs, looking for a cool spot to hide from the sun, but when they come out to feed it is in Full Force.  The finger mullet have arrived and so have the flounder, but not in numbers yet.  We still have a few days to go before we hit the Fourth of July and really get active.  Red fish are in the river and ICW around the docks and they are still in the bays, though we have had some days where we see a bunch of them but they do not feed.  Minnows and top water baits have been the favorites for them and many have been over the slot (27 inches or bigger) and in the same areas there have been some nice Flounder and a few Speckled Trout, but for me not many of big size.  I have heard of some larger fish, but have not seen them myself.  Just off the beaches we have had a nice bite of some larger for this time of year Spanish Mackerels and some great shark fishing behind the boats and on the nearshore ledges.  Just fun fishing on light tackle gear!  There are flounder on the reefs but they just have been slow to bite so far this season.  Go figure.  AND a news flash here.  I have not caught one myself, but I have heard of Lionfish being on the wrecks 10 to 15 miles offshore.  If you are not familiar with this creature, look him up on line and if you catch one, cut him free into a bucket and destroy him back on land.  Do NOT attempt to handle him unless you have proper teaching and know the technique.... they can be DEAD:LY!!!   No joking here.  They are good to eat though, but you must be knowledgeable in the technique to handle and clean these fish.

We are glad to be busy and fishing this summer and grateful for all our friends and returning clients.  We also have fished with a lot of new folks who normally would be in the Gulf Coast areas on vacation and we feel for our fellow fishermen who are suffering so to the south and west of us.  They are in a mess and we think of them daily.  All we can do is try and help out in any way and I know the Red Cross is already active in many communities there, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers also.

Come on down and enjoy all we have to be thankful for and come for a visit.  My son Robert has relocated his business and boat to the "West Side of the Harbor" and is now my neighbor.... he has found "Z" Dock to be to his liking and I am including some photos of his dock move to the West side.  Lots of fun now on the docks, and fish cookouts are common!  More later.

Best to all and tight lines.  Capt. Charlie

 

June 1, 2010......OK, the heat is on and summer is here!  We have had a nice bite going on a few days ago but this week the little depression offshore broke up and muddied up our waters and seas... just a small setback and now the water is once again cleaning up and the fish are starting to bite again.  In the river and bays we have had some nice flounder, though not in numbers yet and some really nice Speckeled Trout also.  The Drum seem to be everywhere though the other day I found them in schools that were enormous but they all had lockjaw.... they just would not bite.  Talk about going crazy.... but we had a ball chasing and harrassing them!  The following day they would hit anything.  Go figure.  Then a few trips with moms and dads and the kids and we had a great shark bite on the nearshore ledges and wrecks and had fun fishing with our light tackle.  Bear hunting with a switch so to speak.  So if you're ready for some nice summer action  and fun on the water, give me a call and we will do it!  Best to all and tight lines.......

 

May 25,2010.......Hey folks, this is the first report for the season 2010 and it looks to be a good fishing season here in SENCland!  We have had Spanish, Flounder, Red Drum and various assorted other fish and as the water heats up and the bait appears in greater quantity, so should the fish.  I have run some trips after returning from the islands and all is well and the gear and the boat are ready to go!  Come on down and enjoy the CB area before school lets out in mid June and the crowds arrive.... and the hotels report good bookings and reservations so we all should be busy on the water this summer.  Looking forward to see all of you soon, Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker

 

...Hey Guys, the 2010 Inshore Nearshore Fishing Season is fast approaching the Carolinas and I have had many emails about reserving dates for the future season and I want to thank you all very much for your support and interest.  I have had some folks who want to fish this month and April, but I am sorry that I am presently out of the country fishing in the Bahamian waters.  I know, I know,  it is a tough life, but someone has to bite the bullet and do it!  Please call my son Robert at 910-264 -1807 for further assistance until I return.  His website is carolinaexplorer.com and you may email him from that resource.  I look forward to seeing all my old friends and my new friends back at the Carolina Beach Town Marina Docks sometime this spring.  Till then, everyone have a great winter and travel well and safely…….

                       Tight lines and Strong knots, Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker