Wrightsville Beach – March 3, 2016
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that speckled trout are being caught in the Cape Fear and New rivers. The fish are generally on the small side, and they are falling for soft plastics fished slowly.
The Cape Fear is providing plenty of action for anglers targeting striped bass. Chartreuse swim shads and grubs fished on jig heads is the preferred method, and deep diving plugs casted and trolled are also getting fish in the river.
Along the ICW, black and red drum are being caught on Gulp plastics fished on lead heads. When the bite is slow, the fish can be caught on jig heads tipped with cut shrimp (dead sticking the cut shrimp is best).
The water is still a bit chilly to provide surf casters much action right now, as the water temperature is around 50-52 degrees. Blow toads, skates, and dogfish are offering the only opportunities, with cut bait fished on simple bottom rigs doing the trick.
Black sea bass and tautogs are being caught 10-15 miles off the beach. Bottom rigs baited with cut squid and 2-4 oz. jigs are getting the bites. The larger sea bass are holding on the ledges and live bottoms, while the ‘togs are holding tight to the AR’s.
A bit further out, the false albacore are crashing baits on the surface, and king mackerel are hugging the 68 degree water line. These fish are being found in the 45 mile range.
The wahoo fishing was excellent over this past weekend, along with scattered blackfins. Skirted ballyhoos and diving plugs were the top producers.
Hunter Diefes, of Whiteville, with a slot red drum that fell for a white soft plastic. Diefes was fishing with Robert McNeill and DJ Oliver near Wrightsville Beach.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that black sea bass are in the 5-10 mile range, and keeper fish are being caught at the rate of one keeper per 4 or 5 landed. The larger sea bass are being caught on live bottoms and ledges in 50’ of water and deeper. Squid, shrimp, and Pro-Cure scented baits are fooling these fish. The artificial reefs are holding sea bass as well, in the same 5-10 mile range, but the fish are typically on the smaller side.
Porgies and tautogs are being pulled from these same waters. The tautogs being caught are quality fish in the 3-4 lb. range. The same cut baits and scented lures will fool these fish, and it is mostly the subtle 2-3 foot ledges that are holding them.
First Mate JT Thompson landed this wahoo while fishing aboard Ocean Stinger Charters, out of Wrightsville Beach, with Capt. Jesse Gawlick.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports catches of red and black drum along the ICW during the winter months by dead sticking cut shrimp. The red and black drum are spread throughout the inland waters, including docks and west to east flowing creeks along the ICW. Black mud creeks are holding schools of red drum that seek these places out to take advantage of the warmer water. Fishing during the middle part of the day will increase odds of finding active fish due to the warming water, as often a couple degree water temperature rise will turn these fish on. Soft plastics rigged on light jig heads, MirrOlures, and cut baits will fool the drum.
Large schools of red drum swim the beach fronts and inlets this time of year, and they can be spotted in numbers ranging from a few hundred to several thousand. Gold spoons and scented jerkshads rigged on jig heads are very effective on these fish.
The prized striped bass fishery in the Cape Fear River has once again been impressive this season. Blue Water Candy soft plastics are the ticket to fooling these fish most days, and many anglers also cast and troll a variety of hard baits to fool wintertime “linesiders.”
Madison Moore (age 9), of Wilmington, with a pompano that bit a piece of shrimp while she was surf fishing at Wrightsville Beach.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports a strong king mackerel bite in the 40 mile range. The fish are mostly concentrated in 66 degree water, and spoons and dressed and naked cigar minnows are fooling them. Most of the action has been on planers and downriggers.
Further out, there is a decent wahoo bite happening, and that action will improve as southerly winds continue to bring warmer water back to the area.
William McCann with a 17 lb. blackfin he landed while fishing in the Gulf Stream out of Masonboro Inlet.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports there are black sea bass in the 10-12 mile range, and more keepers are being caught on bucktails and metal jigs, both tipped with scented plastics or natural baits. The fish are being found in 58 degree water on live bottoms, ledges, and the AR’s. There is also a population of white grunts in the same waters, and they can be fooled with the same tactics.
The Gulf Stream is giving up wahoo, African pompano, and blackfin tuna. The cobia will begin to show as we get later into March. Vertical jigs fished through the water column, and poppers when the fish appear on the surface, are the weapons of choice. The wahoo and tuna will fall victim to trolled ballyhoo and plugs, too.
Kyle Whitfield with a 5 lb. 12 oz speckled trout that was offically weighed in at Texs Tackle. He hooked the big fish on a suspended jerk bait while fishing from his kayak around Oak Island.
Warren, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports the dogfish bite is at its best during the nighttime hours, and the fish are being landed on squid and cut mullet. Blow toads are being caught on Fish Bites and cut shrimp, and the puffer fishing will improve as we progress into March.
