Seagull Bait and Tackle Fishing Report

Like I’ve said before, all it’s going to take is a little warm water to get the fishing season jump-started. That?s what we got last week! Black Drum have showed up in the surf but the big ones are down along the wall by the bays on the South End of the Island. In fact, some one weighed a catch at seven pounds four ounces along with several smaller ones. Now I can say we are catching some of everything and back it up with proof! Whiting are also improving in the surf. We are seeing more daily along with some nice Pompano from one to three pounds. As of Monday, Puppy Drum started really showing up. A lot of shorts have been caught as well as many legal catches. It?s going to be a great year. Big fish this early in the season indicates a big year ahead of us. Off shore, fishing is still a little cold. Shane Snow on the S.S. Fish Witch had a load of Spanish Mackerel the other day, but that was the first and last. We heard of a few Boston Mackerel around the Liberty Ship, but when I say a few, I mean a few. Twenty to twenty-five miles is where the bottom fishing starts with Black Bass, Grouper, and Snapper. It’s all there for the taking and we have all waited long enough! Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec Seagull Bait and Tackle 910-458-7135

Austin Gammon caught this 4 lb. 9 oz. Black Drum aboard Affordable Charters on May 8th, 2005.

Tide tables for May 2005. Compliments of Seagull Bait and Tackle

Here we go! A quick warm up was all it took to bring the fish out to feed. We still have some wind issues to work out, but it?s improving. This past week has made the difference. Surf fishing is 80% better than last week. Pompano are big. Some very big ones have been weighed in at three and a half pounds along with several two-pound catches. Whiting are also running in the surf as well as both piers. Although the larger Whiting are in the surf with catches as large as one and three quarter pounds. Big Blue Fish are also running in the surf with one fisherman weighing Blues in at three, six, eight and three quarters, and one at a whopping eleven and a half pounds. Fishing in the river is still a little slow. Some Whiting and Spots are down by Bald Head Island, but I haven’t heard of much action since the temperature began to rise. The Snow’s Cut area is starting to give up some small Flounder – legal but small. Some have said the dredge pond on the west side of the Island is full of small Menhaden. Offshore, Wahoo and Tuna are still around the Tower. Bottom fishing is also at it?s best with lots of Black Bass. Some really large catches have been reported. I have heard of a few Boston Mackerel in close to shore and just a few Spanish Mackerel. I think I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Let’s get fishing! Keep fishin and releasin… Steve and Karen Labanec Seagull Bait and Tackle 910-458-7135

Martin Souther and Chad Reeves caught these big Blue Fish in Carolina Beach on May 1st, 2005.

Henry and Cat caught this Pompano at 3.6 pounds on May 2nd, 2005 in Carolina Beach.

Lee Hudson caught this 2.5 pound Pompano and 1 pound Whiting last week in Carolina Beach.

John Osmar caught this 2.5 pound Pompano in Carolina Beach on April 30th, 2005.

Rusty Bost and Gary Saine caught these Black Bass last week in Carolina Beach.

Dallas Thompson caught three Blue Fish at 11, 6.75, and 8 pounds last week in Carolina Beach.