Wrightsville Beach June 27, 2013
Adam, of Florida, with a ladyfish that bit a minnow on a bucktail near Rich’s Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Andre Nel of Feel Good Fishing Charters.
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of red drum all around Wrightsville Beach, with the inlets producing some of the most consistent fishing right now. Anglers are also connecting with the reds in the surf, the marshes, and the creeks. Live baits like menhaden are tough to beat for the reds, but anglers can also tempt them to bite soft baits like Gulps and often topwater plugs when they’re feeding in the shallows.
Flounder are also feeding at a variety of spots inshore, but the best bets are in the inlets. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and menhaden are all choice baits for the flatfish, but like the reds, they have a tough time turning down Gulps as well.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridge and dock pilings and other inshore structure. Live fiddler crabs are tough to beat for the sheeps, and they will also fool some black drum looking for meals in the same areas.
Spanish mackerel action has been a bit slow due to dirty nearshore water lately, but anglers are still finding a few whenever they can locate some cleaner conditions. Trolling Clarkspoons and daisy chains is the most productive method to connect with the spaniards, but anglers can also cast metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface to hook up.
A few cobia are still cruising within a few miles of the beaches and feeding near the inlets. Anglers who spot one on the surface can often cast bucktail jigs or live baits to the fish to hook up. Bottom fishing near the inlets with menhaden is also a proven cobia producer.
A few kings have been feeding nearshore in recent weeks, but dirty water has pushed the best action out to the 10 mile range and further. Trolling live menhaden or dead baits like cigar minnows is the way to connect with the kings.
Scotty Gould, of Wilmington, with a 20+ lb. red snapper that bit a 6 oz. bucktail at some live bottom in 120′ of water off Wrightsville Beach while he was fisâhing with George Brinson on the “Reelax.”
Bottom fishermen are still encountering plenty of black sea bass around bottom structure from just off the beachfront to the 100’ depths. Grouper are looking for meals at structure from the 20 mile range on out. Frozen squid, cigar minnows, and mackerel, as well as live baits and more, will tempt bites from the bottom feeders.
Dolphin and some sailfish have pushed inshore to the 20 mile range, where they’ll take an interest in live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
The dolphin bite is still going in the Gulf Stream as well, along with a few wahoo and billfish for boats making the run.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that there’s been some solid action in the 10 mile range last week. Anglers are connecting with dolphin in that vicinity while trolling ballyhoo around structure, bait, and floating debris.
Amberjacks are feeding around structure in the same areas and were quite willing to strike topwater plugs last week.
Some king mackerel are in the same spots and will bite live or dead baits.
Bottom fishing at structure 20-25 miles out is putting black sea bass, grunts, triggerfish, and some gag grouper in the fish boxes. Squid and cut or dead baits will attract attention from all the bottomfish.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that when the ocean’s calm enough to get to them, flounder are starting to show up around bottom structure within 5 miles of the beaches. Small, Carolina-rigged menhaden and mullet will tempt bites from the flatfish. Anglers may also encounter some gray trout or hefty red drum while dropping baits around the structure.
Brent Hinson, of Wilmington, with a 28″ red drum he caught and released in Masonboro Inlet after it struck a live killifish.
Sharks are feeding in the same areas, and anglers have particularly good odds of hooking up with them near (but out of the way of) shrimp boats working the nearshore waters. Live, dead, and cut baits are all attractive to the big predators.
Barracuda are holding around the buoys of the artificial reefs and will pounce on tube lures or live baits for anglers looking to battle one of the fastest and most exciting predators in the nearshore waters.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder from the pier (but the majority are throwbacks). Live baits are the way to go for the larger flatfish.
A few red drum are also falling for live and cut baits around the pier.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are connecting with some sea mullet in the evening hours.
Plug casters are hooking a few spanish mackerel and bluefish.
And live baiters landed several king mackerel and cobia last week.
The water is 79 degrees.
