Added on Thursday, July 31, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach July 31, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the red drum and flounder bite continues to be solid inshore. Anglers are finding the flounder in the inlets, channels, and creeks, and Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulp baits will tempt them to bite.

The reds are feeding around the inlets, creeks, and in the marshes, and they’ll fall for live baits and Gulps as well, along with topwater plugs and other lures.

Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and around nearshore structure and bait concentrations. They’ll fall for trolled Clarkspoons, and anglers can also cast Maria jigs and other small metal lures to schools of fish feeding on the surface.

Some tarpon are still cruising the beaches, but they’re proving elusive for most anglers to hook.

The king mackerel bite has been good at spots in the 10-20 mile offshore range. Anglers slow-trolling live baits have been hooking up with some fish into the 40 lb. class, so the big fish are beginning to show up.

There have been good numbers of sailfish feeding in the same areas as the kings, and live baits and rigged ballyhoo have been getting their attention.

The nearshore gag grouper bite is turning on, and anglers have had good luck with the gags at spots 10-20 miles offshore, though there are still a number of short fish around. Cigar minnows and other baits will get the gags’ attention.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there have been decent numbers of dolphin and sailfish feeding at 20-30 mile spots like the Schoolhouse and 30/30. Rigged ballyhoo are attracting attention from both species.

King mackerel are feeding closer to shore, and anglers caught decent numbers of them last week while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and dead cigar minnows around the first set of boxcars off Topsail.

There have been some large schools of spanish mackerel feeding a short distance off the beaches, and the action was excellent in around 50′ of water off Masonboro Island last week. Casting jigs towards the surface-feeding schools produced fast action with the spanish.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the king mackerel fishing has been solid at many of the usual spots in the 10-20 miles range lately. There have been good numbers of greenies near the inlet and cigar minnows further offshore for anglers to jig up for live baits.

In addition to the kings, anglers hooked up several sailfish, some dolphin (one 15 lbs.), and a few cobia in the same areas recently, and live baits are producing action with them all.

There are plenty of amberjacks and barracuda around the Schoolhouse, and anglers are hooking them on live baits as well.

Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent for boats trolling #00 Clarkspoons, and a few kings are falling for the spoons as well.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that anglers are catching a mixed bag of barracuda, sharpnose, blacktip, and hammerhead sharks at live bottoms and ledges just off the beaches. The shark action has also been good inshore at night.

Fishing live and dead baits on the surface and bottom while chumming is producing the most consistent action. There are also a few tarpon around, so anglers could hook a silver king while chasing the sharks.

There have been some large schools of big spanish mackerel at nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship and 5 Mile Boxcars, but they’ve been feeding on tiny baits and reluctant to hit most lures.

 

Dan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are still catching some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.

Anglers landed a lot of sheepshead last week while dangling barnacles and other baits next to the pier’s pilings.

Those fishing live finger mullet on the bottom are hooking up with some flounder.

Live baiters caught several king mackerel and hooked some tarpon last week.

The water temperature is 85.3 degrees.