Wrightsville Beach – May 22, 2014
Hunter Kailos with a bull dolphin that bit a black/yellow/clear trolling plug 57 miles off Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Clint Cornette.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that there’s been some solid action with red and scamp grouper in the 130’ depth range lately (with some grouper 25+ lbs.). A variety of live and dead baits will attract attention from the groupers. Plenty of red porgy and other bottom dwellers are feeding in the same areas and will bite squid or cut baits.
Gulf Stream trollers are still hooking big numbers of gaffer dolphin, with the best action around the Same Ol’ Hole lately. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the ‘phins. Some sailfish and blue marlin are around and taking an interest in trollers’ offerings as well.
There haven’t been many king mackerel reports lately, but anglers are finding a few around structure in the 20 mile range like the Schoolhouse and 23 Mile Rock. Live baits or dead cigar minnows will fool the kings.
Cobia are feeding around structure around 10 miles out, where anglers can fool them with live baits, artificial eels, or bucktail jigs.
The spanish mackerel bite was excellent last week along the beachfront, but the recent front pushed the fish out to structure in the 3-10 mile range. A few days of consistent warm weather should move the spaniards back towards the beachfront. Clarkspoons, diving plugs, and casting jigs will all attract attention from the spanish.
Inshore, the flounder bite is improving around the inlets and in the marshes. There are still plenty of short fish in the mix, but keepers are showing up and the ratio will improve over the coming weeks. Small live baits or scented soft baits like Gulps are tough for the flatfish to turn down.
Red drum are still feeding in the creeks and marshes, and they’ve started biting topwater plugs well over the past week.
Surf casters on Wrightsville are finding action with some bluefish, puppy drum, sea mullet, and pompano.
Matthew Stokely, of Wilmington, with a 27 lb. red grouper that bit a squid/cigar minnow combo at some bottom structure in 130′ of water off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Charters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that there’s been an excellent dolphin bite in the Gulf Stream from the 180’ depths out to past 600’ of water. Plenty of weedlines and current rips have been in the area recently, and the fish have been holding around these surface irregularities. A few wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in with the dolphin, and all are falling for ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures.
Billfish have just begun to show up, primarily blue marlin, and boats are encountering the blues around the 100 fathom line. Larger ballyhoo or baitless trolling plugs will attract attention from the marlin.
Bottom fishing in 130-160’ of water has been very productive lately, with red, scamp, and gag groupers, along with triggerfish, red porgy, and other bottom dwellers. Whole, live, and cut baits will fool the grouper, with squid and smaller cut baits the best bet for the other bottom dwellers.
Gag grouper, black sea bass, and grunts are feeding around structure in the 80-120’ depths, and they’ll take an interest in the same baits.
Neashore, anglers are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling Clarkspoons and diving lures.
Cobia are feeding around nearshore structure like the AR’s, and they will bite live baits or bucktail jigs.
Flounder are making a good showing in the same areas as the cobes and have a tough time turning down a bucktail tipped with a Gulp bait.
Brent Hinson, of Wilmington, with a 24″ black drum that bit shrimp in the surf at Wrightsville Beach.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports some solid spanish mackerel action for boats trolling Clarkspoons a few miles off the beachfront lately. Some kings are mixed in with the spaniards in the 5-10 mile range and also biting Clarkspoons.
Amberjacks are schooled up at structure around 10 miles out, where they’ll bite live baits or fast-moving artificials and dead baits.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that there’s excellent gaffer dolphin action going on out in the Gulf Stream right now. A few wahoo are mixed in, and both are falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Amberjacks are schooled up around 20 miles offshore and biting trolled ballyhoo and topwater plugs.
There’s been a good spanish mackerel and bluefish bite along the beachfront for anglers pulling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs near the end of the pier.
Sea mullet, spot, croaker, and pigfish are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits.
A few flounder are also coming over the rails.
The water is 72 degrees.
