Wrightsville Beach August 1, 2013
Dallas Coltren, of Beautancus, NC, with an 18 lb. hogfish that won the big fish pool on the headboat “Vonda Kay” with Capt. Dave Gardner. The hog bit a ringtail pinfish at some bottom structure 40 miles off Wrightsville Beach.
Chase, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing a solid spanish mackerel bite off Wrightsville right now. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers is fooling most of the fish, and the best action’s been along the beaches in 20-40’ of water.
Some tarpon have been feeding around Masonboro Inlet, and one was hooked early in the week.
Several king mackerel were landed on the pier last weekend, and boaters reported more action with fish in the 10 mile range and on out. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are some of the best bets for the kings, but anglers can also hook up while trolling dead cigar minnows.
Dolphin and sailfish have been feeding around 23 Mile Rock and further offshore. Trolling rigged ballyhoo is the best bet for both fish, and anglers can up their odds of a sailfish encounter by adding dredge or daisy chain teasers to their spreads.
Bottom fishing around the artificial reefs and other structure within 20 miles of shore is producing decent numbers of black sea bass and gag grouper. Structure further out is holding more of the same, along with red and scamp grouper and good numbers of triggerfish. Squid and a variety of live, dead, and cut baits will get attention from the bottom dwellers.
Inshore, anglers are connecting with good numbers of sheepshead while fishing around bridge and dock pilings. Sand fleas and shrimp are producing most of the action.
There’s a good red drum bite around docks and near the inlets right now. Anglers can fool the reds with live and cut baits, scented soft plastics, or a variety of other lures.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas and in the creeks. Live finger mullet and mud minnows (or soft baits like Gulps) are tough for the flatfish to turn down.
Some speckled trout are also feeding inshore around Wrightsville, particularly in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and suspending hard lures are all effective on the specks.
Ethan Barnes, of Davie County, NC, with an 8 lb. sheepshead that he hooked on a barnacle from Johnnie Mercer’s Pier.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that there was a solid summer wahoo bite going on last week in 160-200’ of water off Wrightsville Beach. Good numbers of the wahoo (to 50+ lbs.) are feeding alongside some blackfin tuna and dolphin in that range, and all three are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with sea witch skirts.
Big numbers of almaco and amberjacks are schooled up around bottom structure in the same range, and they will pounce on vertical jigs.
Bottom fishing at the structure is producing a variety of grouper, large grunts, red porgies, and other bottom dwellers (including an African pompano last week).
There’s also been good action with gag grouper for bottom fishermen targeting the 70-80’ depths closer to shore.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking good numbers of red drum around the inlets and near docks off the ICW and creeks. Live and cut baits are top choices for the reds, but anglers can also hook up on soft plastics, topwater plugs, and other lures.
There’s also still a decent summertime speckled trout bite around Wrightsville, with topwater plugs producing much of the action.
Flounder are feeding in the inlets, the creeks, and the nearshore reefs in the ocean. Live finger mullet are top choices for the flatfish, and anglers can find big numbers of mullet just about everywhere inshore right now.
Anglers are also connecting with plenty of sheepshead around dock and bridge pilings in the area. Live fiddler crabs are tough for the sheeps to turn down.
Ladyfish have inundated the inshore waters, and they are feeding especially well around lit bridges and docks at night. Any small, flashy lure stands an excellent chance of fooling the ladies.
Spanish mackerel action has been excellent around Masonboro Inlet recently, with trolled Clarkspoons and other lures producing good numbers of fish and some larger spaniards biting live baits.
John Holsonback, of Wilmington, and Mike Parker, of Rocky Point, with sheepshead that bit fiddler crabs at some inshore structure near Surf City.
King mackerel are feeding within a few miles of shore and will also pounce on live baits.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel action was solid off Wrightsville Beach last week, with the best bite tight to the beach in around 20’ of water. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers are fooling most of the spanish.
Inshore, anglers are hooking speckled trout, flounder, and red drum around the inlets and in the marshes. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and scented baits like Gulps are producing most of the action with all three.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports some decent dolphin action at spots in the 20 mile range off Wrightsville. Dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows are fooling most of the ‘phins.
Bottom fishing in the same areas is producing action with black sea bass, red porgies, gag grouper, and more. Some cobia are also showing up around the boat while bottom fishing.
Amberjacks are looking for meals in the same areas and will bite live and dead baits or topwater plugs.
Closer to the beaches, anglers are connecting with plenty of gray trout while jigging metal lures around 5 miles out. Some cobia have been in those areas as well, and several were caught around the Masonboro jetties last week.
Spanish mackerel action has been solid around Carolina Beach, and it seems to be picking up at Wrightsville. Trolled Clarkspoons are fooling most of the spaniards.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that plug casters have been hooking some spanish mackerel when the water’s clean around the pier.
Several king mackerel (to 31 lbs.) have taken an interest in live baits off the end of the pier.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some bluefish, a few flounder, red drum in the evenings, and some speckled trout in the morning hours.
The water is 79 degrees.
