Wrightsville – May 21, 2015
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that local blue water boats saw an epic marlin bite this past weekend, with over a dozen blue marlin releases, white marlin mixed in, and many more encounters.
Most of the billfish action was in the 100-150 fathom range off Wrightsville. Some large dolphin are mixed in with the marlin, and anglers are hooking plenty more gaffer ‘phins inshore to the 40 mile range. Rigged bait/skirt combos and baitless artificial trolling lures are attracting attention from the marlin and dolphin.
Rocco Tchetter with his first Atlantic bonito, hooked near the Liberty Ship while he was fishing with his father and Capt. Rob Boline.
Not many dolphin have pushed inshore of the 40 mile range yet, but water temperatures are right and it should begin happening over the coming weeks.
Bottom fishermen are seeing plenty of action with red and scamp grouper around structure in the 100-120’ depths and gag grouper inshore to water in the 80’ range. The grouper will bite live, dead, and cut baits along with vertical jigs like the Blue Water Candy Roscoe.
King mackerel are feeding well in the 10-15 mile range off Wrightsville and biting Drone Spoons, strip and dead baits, and live baits.
Closer to the beaches, cobia are shadowing schools of menhaden and cruising on top looking for meals. Anglers can toss bucktail jigs, imitation eels, or live baits at fish they spot to hook up with the cobes.
The spanish mackerel bite has been a bit off since last week’s tropical storm, but anglers are connecting with a few and the action should improve as the water continues to settle out.
Flounder fishing has been good at nearshore AR’s and reefs, where anglers are fooling the flatfish on live baits and bucktail/Gulp combinations.
Flounder have also begun to grow numerous in area inlets (with some keepers but most on the small side). Gulps and live mud minnows or other small baits are the way to go for the flounder.
Sheepshead are showing up in increasing numbers around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure inshore. Fishing fiddler crabs next to the structure is the way to connect with the sheeps.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks and biting topwater plugs in the early morning hours. Anglers are also hooking some reds on live and cut baits fished under ICW docks.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are seeing a much-improved flounder bite both inshore and out in the ocean right now. The ICW near Carolina Beach and middle Cape Fear River have both been producing good catches of the flatfish, as has nearshore structure outside the inlets. Live baits like peanut menhaden are tough for the flounder to turn down.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beachfront and falling for trolled spoons and metal jigs cast at schools of fish chasing bait on the surface.
Cobia have also shown up nearshore and are looking for meals within a few miles of the beachfront. Checking out buoys off the inlets and searching for cruising fish or turtles, rays, and bait balls is the best bet for anglers looking for a cobia. Blue Water Candy jigs or live menhaden and bluefish will tempt them to bite.
The red drum bite has been decent recently in the ICW and in area creeks. Most of the reds have been falling for live peanut menhaden recently.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of king mackerel around spots in the 10 mile range off Wrightsville. Dead cigar minnows and lures like Drone Spoons are getting the kings’ attention.
Spanish mackerel have been scattered since last week’s storm, but when anglers find fish they’ve been schooled up tightly. The 35-40’ depths have been producing the best spanish action lately.
Bottom fishing in the 20 mile range has been producing action with gag grouper and black sea bass.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of dolphin action when running to the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville Beach. Most are gaffers at present, and they’re falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted lures like sea witches.
Closer to the beaches, there’s been excellent king mackerel action for anglers trolling in the 10-20 mile range. Most of the kings are falling for dead cigar minnows, Drone Spoons, and sea witch/strip bait combos.
Ryna, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have landed the first cobia and first king mackerel of the year while live-baiting from the end of the pier.
Plug casters are hooking plenty of bluefish along with some healthy spanish mackerel in the morning and evening hours.
Some pompano and sea mullet are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
And anglers are decking some keeper flounder on live baits fished under the pier.
The water is 73 degrees.
