Wrightsville Beach – September 11, 2014
Dave Hannah, of Wilmington, with a 35 lb. king mackerel that struck a live bluefish off Johnnie Mercers Pier.
Chase, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing plenty of red drum inshore in the area, with fish feeding in the shallows of local marshes and bays, in the inlets, and around ICW structure like docks. Topwater plugs are good choices for anglers pursuing the reds in shallow spots, with soft plastics and a variety of other artificials effective when the fish don’t want to feed on the surface. Live and cut baits are better choices around the docks and inlets where the fish are feeding in deeper water.
Flounder fishing has been good inshore as well, with the flatfish looking for meals in many of the same areas as the reds. There’s also been a good flounder bite (and some bigger fish) around ocean structure within 5 miles of the beachfront. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden or bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits will fool the flatfish inshore or offshore.
Speckled trout are feeding near the inlets and in some of the creeks, and the speck bite will only get better as the weather cools and fall arrives. Anglers can fool the specks on a variety of live baits, topwater plugs, soft plastics, and other artificials.
Surf casters are hooking plenty of bluefish and some large sharks from the beachfront at Wrightsville, mostly on cut baits. Fishing live and cut baits around the inlets is producing some red drum action. And a few spanish mackerel have been coming into range of surf anglers near the inlets recently and biting metal casting jigs.
Spanish mackerel action has been hot just off Masonboro Inlet recently, where boats are hooking solid numbers on Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo sinkers.
A few king mackerel have also been feeding along the beachfront, but there’s been a more consistent bite at spots 5-10 miles offshore. Live menhaden and dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows will all draw strikes from the kings.
Anglers bottom fishing at spots 10-20 miles out are reporting a solid gag grouper bite. Live, dead, and cut baits will all fool the gags and smaller bottom feeders like sea bass and grunts in the same areas. Amberjacks are looking for meals at higher relief structure in the same range and will pounce on live baits and artificials like vertical jigs and topwater poppers.
Boaters making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting excellent wahoo action at local blue water hotspots like the Same Ol’ Hole. A few dolphin have been mixed in, but wahoo have been the stars of the show lately. Both skirted ballyhoo and baitless high-speed lures will attract attention from the wahoo.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream trollers are seeing some excellent wahoo action right now (with most fish 25-40 lbs.). They’re feeding around bait concentrations on the break and biting skirted ballyhoo along with baitless trolling lures. Blackfin tuna are starting to show up in greater numbers around the local spots, and there seem to be a decent amount of sailfish as well.
Vertical jigging at structure along the break is producing plenty of action with some big amberjacks and grouper.
Bottom fishing a bit closer to shore in 100-130’ of water has been excellent recently, with solid numbers of gag and scamp grouper along with a few reds. Smaller fish like red porgies, triggerfish, grunts, and beeliners are around in big numbers as well. Anglers can fool all the bottom feeders with live, dead, and cut baits or vertical jigs.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding from the beachfront to the 10 mile range off Wrightsville, with some large spanish 3-5 miles offshore. Both have a tough time turning down live baits like menhaden.
Schools of false albacore have been chasing bait 7-15 miles off the inlets, and they’re biting small metal casting jigs.
Flounder fishing has been excellent around nearshore reefs and live bottoms, with most of the fish falling for bucktail jigs tipped with Gulps and other baits.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent action with spanish mackerel and a mix of legal and sublegal kings from the beach to the 10 mile range. Some false albacore have been mixed in, and all are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights.
Lynn, of Shearwater Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding some excellent wahoo action along the break off Wrightsville, with most of the fish falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Gag grouper are on the feed around bottom structure in the 20 mile range. Anglers can fool the gags with a variety of live, dead, and cut baits.
Wes, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some healthy red drum from the pier while bottom fishing with a variety of live and cut baits. Some short flounder are biting small live baits on the bottom.
A few spot are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on double drop rigs.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
Live-baiters fishing from the end of the pier landed a 35 lb. king mackerel last week.
