Wrightsville Beach April 26, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder are finally making an appearance in the inlets. Carolina rigged mud minnows or grubs worked slowly on the bottom will fool the flatfish; however, most of these early flounder are on the small side.
A few anglers are finding and catching red drum, but the fish are proving elusive for many. Some are schooled up in the surf, and kayak anglers are finding some reds in very shallow water in area creeks. The fish in the creeks are very skittish, and anglers in conventional boats, even when poling, are spooking the reds before they can cast to them.
Surf anglers are catching lots of whiting.
In the ocean, small bluefish have taken over the nearshore structure. Bonito are also schooling nearshore, but they are somewhat more elusive than the blues. Trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers is a good way to search out the bonito. Bluefin tuna are also at the Liberty Ship, and they’re feeding on the blues and bonito.
Grouper, mostly reds, are holding on structure 25-40 miles offshore. There are a few bigger gags mixed with the reds.
Kings have been reported as close as 15 miles from the beach, but the recent cold weather has probably pushed them further offshore.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that bluefish have inundated the nearshore reefs, such as the Liberty Ship, John’s Creek, and the Figure Eight Reef. Anglers who can get lures past the voracious blues are catching black sea bass, gray trout, and (at the Liberty Ship) bonito. Large Maria Jigs in the 28g (1 oz.) size sink faster than smaller lures, getting down to the bonito.
Off Topsail, the bonito bite has been hot at Diver’s Rock.
At the Masonboro jetties, anglers are still catching speckled trout on live shrimp and mud minnows beneath floats.
King mackerel are within 20 miles of land, and they’re moving closer as the water temperature rises.
The main concentration of grouper is holding in the 30 mile range, but some gags are closer to shore.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports slot-sized drum are schooled with bluefish in the surf off Hutaff Island. Gold Johnson Spoons produce the best results fishing the surf for drum.
Speckled trout are hanging around the Masonboro jetties.
Some bonito are around, and they can be found by searching for birds or bait around the inlets and nearshore structure.
Randy, of Cutting Edge Charters, reports that they’re catching bonito at and just offshore of the Liberty Ship. Casting diamond jigs to breaking schools on light tackle is the most exciting way to catch the speedy bonito.
At John’s Creek, diamond jigs fished just off the bottom are producing gray trout.
In the bays and creeks behind Masonboro Island, the speckled trout bite has been good.
Gulp shrimp and Bass Assassin Slurp baits are excellent artificials for the trout.
Flounder are becoming active inshore, and they will fall victim to the same soft plastics as the trout.
Red and black drum are feeding at docks on the waterway and behind Wrightsville Beach. Fresh shrimp will attract attention from both types of drum.
James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bluefish are hitting plugs and bottom rigs. At night, anglers are catching whiting by fishing shrimp on the bottom.
Also biting the shrimp are puppy drum and flounder. Some of the flounder have been keepers, but there are still lots of undersize fish as well.
The water temperature is 63.4 degrees.
