Wrightsville Beach May 10, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that wahoo and tuna fishing continue to be good when boats can make the long run to blue water. Skirted ballyhoo are the Gulf Stream baits of choice.
The best grouper catches are coming from the 30-35 mile areas.
Teenager kings are feeding on structure within 10 miles of land. Live bait is tough to find, but cigar minnows are a good substitute.
The Liberty Ship is holding spanish mackerel, and bigger spanish (up to 6 lbs.) are at Sheepshead Rock. Yo-Zuri Deep Diver plugs are the hottest trolling lures for the big spanish.
Cobia are beginning to show up on nearshore structure, and they will become more numerous as May progresses.
The red drum bite has been red hot in area creeks for anglers casting Gulp baits.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that the kings are within 10 miles of the beach. Trolling Clark spoons, cigar minnows, and clown colored Yo-Zuri Deep Divers at structure in the 8-10 mile range has produced lots of king action. Big spanish mackerel are schooled in the same areas as the kings.
Fat Atlantic bonito (up to 5 lbs.) are still hanging around the Liberty Ship. The bonito find a small Clark spoon hard to resist. Some spanish have arrived at the Liberty Ship as well.
Grouper fishing has been hot 28 miles and further offshore. Most catches are made up of reds and big gags. Watch out for curious cobia checking out the boat when grouper fishing.
Inshore, the topwater red drum bite is just around the corner.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that kings are schooled up within 20 miles of shore.
Large bonito are holding in a pocket of slightly cooler water 10-15 miles offshore.
Grouper (mostly reds) are coming from the 30 mile areas. A mixed bag of tasty bottom fish including big sea bass, beeliners, grunts, and triggerfish accompany the grouper.
Cobia are on the same structure where anglers are finding grouper, and they will swim up to investigate the boat.
Nearshore, spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish are coming from structure such as the Liberty Ship and Sheepshead Rock. Small kings may be schooling with the spanish, so identify a fish positively before tossing it in the cooler.
Randy, of Cutting Edge Charters, reports that red drum fishing is excellent along waterway docks. Mud minnows and peanut pogies pinned to Carolina rigs will entice the drum to bite.
There are plenty of little bluefish feeding in Masonboro Inlet.
Flounder fishing at the Masonboro jetties is picking up, and the fish are getting bigger.
A few bonito are still feeding at the Liberty Ship, but spanish mackerel are now the dominant pelagic species there. Anglers are hooking up with spanish by casting diamond jigs to breaking schools.
James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that the bluefish bite has been hot in the mornings and afternoons. Plug casters are filling coolers with blues, and they’re catching a few spanish mackerel at the same time.
Bottom fishermen are catching a mix of whiting, croaker, and small flounder on cut shrimp.
A 29.5 lb. cobia was caught on a live bluefish last week.
The water temperature has come up to 69.4 degrees.
