Wrightsville Beach May 25, 2006
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore the fishing has been slowed down somewhat due to windy conditions. Flounder are in the creeks and waterway, but they are mostly the 14-inch variety.
The bigger flounder have yet to make their way inshore, but big bluefish (up to 10 pounds) have been keeping anglers fishing the creeks busy. The bluefish are hitting menhaden on top, bottom, or under a float.
Redfish are biting fairly well if you can get on a school of them. Gulps or pogies have been the best baits.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel are here, and most anglers are trolling for them with Clark spoons right on the beach when the weather allows. There are plenty of small bluefish mixed in with them.
Black sea bass are in good numbers 20-25 miles out, and grouper are 25+ miles out. Kings have been biting as close as 15 miles, but not many boats are going after them yet.
Cobia should be showing up in the inlet and along the nearshore wrecks any day now.
In the gulf stream, there have been very few boats to make the trip, but dolphin are biting very well along with a few wahoo. The tuna bite has slowed to almost nothing.
Jot, of Fortune Hunter Too Charters, reports that inshore the bigger flounder are just starting to move in, and they’re also catching a few reds. The big chopper blues are in and around the creeks.
Nearshore, expect to find big chopper blues (5+ pounds) scattered about. There will also be smaller blues mixed in.
The spanish bite has been good, with fish running from 1-5 pounds. The average size has been a healthy 2-3 lbs. Go for the spanish and blues by trolling Clark spoons and/or casting Gotchas.
A few cobia have also appeared. They can be found around the inlets and up and down the beach. Try slow trolling, light lining, and/or drift fishing.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports that reds are biting well in the inshore areas. The fish are running anywhere from 18-36”. Go with topwaters or big menhaden. The flats have been a little slow this year, so try the creeks and bays. And the best time has been the last two hours of the falling tide.
Flounder are being caught in the creeks. Most are small, with 2 out of 5 being keeper size. Offshore you can expect to find the bigger flounder.
Live bait has been plentiful, with menhaden, finger mullet, and small spots in the area.
Matt, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports good catches of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs. A citation pompano was even hungry enough to hit a Gotcha. The rest of the pompanos are hitting cut shrimp.
Flounder are eating live baits on the bottom, and a few keepers are starting to arrive.
