Wrightsville Beach October 25, 2012
Cliff Green, Doug Dann, Lori Williams, and Max Weavil with seven king mackerel (the largest 27.4 lbs.) that were part of a 10-fish day for live-baiters on Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in mid-October.
Justin, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the king mackerel bite is hot right now. Big numbers of fish are close to the beaches, but they’re feeding more heavily some days than others. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are top choices for the kings, but anglers can also hook up on dead baits or artificial lures like spoons and diving plugs. The best action has been within 10 miles of shore lately.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding along the beachfront, and sometimes they’re chasing bait right in the breakers. Anglers can hook both while trolling Clarkspoons or by casting metal jigs and other lures on lighter tackle with success.
Red drum are feeding in the surf, the inlets, inshore on the flats, around structure like docks, and in the creeks. They’ll take an interest in a wide variety of baits and lures depending on where anglers find them.
Speckled trout fishing is turning on around Wrightsville and continues to be strong around Carolina Beach and in the Cape Fear River. Anglers can find them feeding around docks, rocks, and other current breaks. Live baits, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and suspending hardbaits like Yo-Zuri 3D’s and MirrOlure MR17’s are all effective on the specks.
Flounder fishing is still going strong, with excellent reports coming from Wrightsville on down to the Cape Fear River. Live baits like finger mullet and menhaden often produce the largest flatfish, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft plastics.
Brandon and Sierra (age 9) Brooks with a 6 lb., 8 oz. flounder Sierra hooked on a live finger mullet in Masonboro Inlet.
Offshore, boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are still reporting solid wahoo action along with some blackfin tuna. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are tempting bites from both fish.
Robbie, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the speckled trout action turned on around Wrightsville last week, and it should only get better as fall wears on and the water temperatures drop. Live baits, soft plastics, suspending lures, and topwater plugs are all good bets for the specks.
Red drum are still feeding in the backwaters, around inshore structure like docks, and in the inlets. Live baits, soft plastics like Gulps, and topwater plugs are all good bets for connecting with the reds.
Flounder fishing remains solid around Wrightsville, especially in the inlets, creeks, and around structure like docks and bridges. Live finger mullet and menhaden are tough to beat for the flatfish, but anglers can also tempt them to bite Gulps and other scented soft baits.
Surf casters are hooking up with a mixed bag of croaker, sea mullet, spot, and other panfish, with a few red drum in the mix as well.
Spanish mackerel fishing remains solid around Masonboro Inlet and within a few miles of the beaches. Most of the fish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
The king bite is better than it’s been all year, with big numbers of fish coming from the piers and spots out to the 10-20 mile range. Live baits are the best bets for the kings, but anglers can also tempt them to bite dead baits.
Gulf Stream trollers are still finding plenty of wahoo action, and decent numbers of dolphin continue to feed at local blue water spots as well.
Capt. Chris Bryan with a 10.8 lb, 30″ flounder he hooked in the ICW near Carolina Beach.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that king mackerel are on the feed from the beachfront on out to offshore spots like Frying Pan Tower. Slow-trolling live baits or pulling dead cigar minnows, Drone spoons, and other offerings a bit faster is the way to hook up with the kingfish.
The spanish mackerel bite is still going strong, with plenty of fish around Masonboro Inlet and within a few miles of the beachfront on either side. Trolled Clarkspoons are producing most of the action with the spaniards.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite has heated up from the beaches out to the 10 mile range, with spots 7-10 miles out producing the most consistent bite last week. Cigar minnows pinned to dead bait rigs have been putting plenty of kings in the boat.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that king mackerel continue to attack live baits fished off the end of the pier, and anglers have decked 52 kings in the last three weeks.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder and slot-sized puppy drum.
Not many spot have shown up yet, but anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking some sea mullet.
The water is 72 degrees.
