Even when fishing inshore waters, those days the wind is blowing 20 knots are generally not considered good fishing days, but the inshore flounder bite along the lower Cape Fear River has been so good, you find sheltered water and go anyway.
You usually succeed also. Especially if your bait bucket includes a fresh catch of finger mullet and peanut pogies. Just hook one up on a Carolina rig, cast it into productive water and hold on.
It really isn’t quite that good, but flounder fishing novices have been returning with a near limit of 2 to 5 pound flounder on a day’s trip. Experienced flounder fishermen are getting limits and wondering what the fuss is about.
Late last week, Justin Conrad and I had planned a trip and we decided to go in spite of the extremely gusty winds. We crossed the Cape Fear River from Southport to Bald Head and worked our way down Muddy Slough to several of the creeks.
The bite was picking up as the tide changed, but our window in the primary spots was soon used up. The combination of a new moon tide, with a 20 knot southwest wind pushing it, was too much to overcome in some of the narrow creeks. A 75 pound thrust trolling motor wouldn’t make headway and the rushing water pulled our Power-Pole through the mud like a plow.
Once the current became too strong, we moved around the points and worked the fringes for a few more strikes. In the strong current we also drifted mullet minnows and shrimp down the creek banks. By using a bobber stopper and adjusting the line until the weight was lightly draggng bottom, we slowed the drift of the baits to a speed that got the attention of the fish.
Flounder fishing was good and with half the wind it would have probably been excellent. There were also a few hungry puppy drum around and even a couple of small trout.
There was enough action, I’ll probably consider going fishing again one afternoon when the southwest wind is pushing a rising tide.
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