Wrightsville Beach August 2, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder fishing is getting better and better. The inlets are the best places to target flounder right now, and live baits or Gulp Alive fished on jigheads will tempt the flatfish to bite.
Red drum fishing is also good right now, and the fish are feeding mostly in the creeks and creeks mouths. They’ll also show an interest in live baits or Gulp baits.
Spanish mackerel are still running the beaches looking for meals, but they are feeding very early and late in the day and avoiding the midday heat. Clarkspoons and diving plugs will get attention from the spanish when they are feeding, and anglers trolling small live baits should attract slightly larger fish. Plenty of bluefish are feeding along with the spanish.
Tarpon are also feeding along the beaches, and they will take live pogies or mullet, or dead baits fished on the bottom.
The king mackerel bite has slowed down noticeably this week, but there are still a few kings feeding at the usual spots. Live pogies are the top king producers.
Sailfish are still chasing bait off Wrightsville, and the best sailfishing has been 5-20 miles offshore over the past week. The 5 Mile Boxcars are a good place to begin looking for sails, and they should respond well to live baits or rigged ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen are catching plenty of grouper. Gags are holding on structure 15-20 miles off the beach, and most of the reds are further offshore (30+ miles).
A few African pompano are starting to show up around Frying Pan Tower, but they aren’t especially numerous yet.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that most of the king mackerel are either right on the beach or a good distance offshore. Boats are picking up a few fish at the traditional spots in the 5-15 mile range, but the king fishing isn’t spectacular there.
Anglers are catching lots of sharks (up to 125 lbs.) while fishing behind shrimp boats and at traditional king spots. Blacktips, lemons, and hammerheads are making up most of the catch, and they’re all providing dogged battles on live bait tackle.
Sailfish are still feeding well, and the best action on the sails has been 5-15 miles offshore. Dallas Rock has produced a number of sails recently. Anglers looking to catch a sailfish should troll live baits or rigged ballyhoo.
Grouper fishing is on fire right now, and the best catches are coming from around 30 miles offshore.
Inshore, anglers are hooking up with red drum in creeks around Topsail. Some speckled trout and flounder are feeding in Masonboro Inlet.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports finding sailfish, amberjacks, and king mackerel feeding around 25 miles offshore. Most of the kings are around 20 lbs., but there are some bigger fish (30-40 lbs.) in the mix. Live pogies are the top baits for these predators right now, and the bigger the pogies that anglers can find, the better.
Inshore, you can expect to find flounder, red drum, and speckled trout feeding well north of Figure Eight Island. The main channels are holding bigger fish than the creeks right now. All three species will readily strike 4” New Penny Gulp Shrimp fished on jigheads.
James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some whiting and pompano. Cut shrimp are the most effective baits.
Flounder are around, but few anglers have been fishing for them. Target the flatfish by fishing live baits near the pilings.
Anglers are seeing sheepshead milling about the pilings, but no one is fishing for them. They’ll hit sand fleas or fiddler crabs.
Live baits are catching big spanish mackerel (up to 5 lbs.), kings, and have hooked several tarpon. Last week’s largest king was 27.8 lbs.
The water temperature is 82.1 degrees.
