Wrightsville Beach – April 14, 2016
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are catching a mix of speckled trout and red drum. Most fish are being found around deeper marsh banks and creek mouths near the inlets. As the reds begin to move in and spread out inside the sound, look to target them with Z-Man paddletails with mullet Pro-Cure. On the flats, lures such as Savage Gear shrimp and crabs fished very slowly will do the trick. For the speckled trout, most anglers are using soft plastics such as Z-Man Trout Tricks or twitchbaits like MirrOdine 17MRs.
Anglers are also reporting catches of black and red drum from deeper waterway docks. Live mud minnows and Gulp shrimp are working for the reds. Cut shrimp on a Carolina rig or jighead will fool the black drum. A few bluefish have been reported around the inlet, but it is still early.
Surf anglers are reporting good catches of sea mullet and blow toads, with most fish being caught in the evening. Shrimp and sand flea-flavored Fishbites have been the most successful when targeting these species.
Bonito are being caught around ledges and artificial reefs in the 5-10 mile range. As the weather warms over the next week or so, look for these fish to move into their normal spots closer to the beach. Troll #1 Clarkspoons behind planers or medium-sized (4-3/8″) Yo-Zuri Deep Divers for these fish. When casting, Gotcha Jigfish lures and Hogy Epoxy Jigs have been successful, especially in the 3/4-1 oz. sizes.
Bluefish are starting to show up along the beach. There are plenty of decent sized blues around reefs such as the Billy Murrell and Liberty Ship, and a few early season spanish mackerel have been reported as well.
Woody Jones, of Fuquay-Varina, with over 75 whiting he caught while fishing with Capt. Mark Register, of Playin’ Hooky Fishing Charters. The fish were caught in the Cape Fear River using fresh shrimp.
Black sea bass are still being caught in decent numbers, but the larger fish are starting to head offshore. Look for keeper fish to be 75’ or deeper. In the 20 mile range, there are plenty of schools of false albacore, and some of those schools are moving even closer. King mackerel are being reported closer in, with fish showing up in the 30 mile range. Trolling cigar minnows and Drone spoons in the 68-70 degree water is working best.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are being reported in Gulf Stream waters. Wahoo fishing has been best around the Same Ol’ and to the south in the 30-40 fathom range. There have also been quite a few sailfish being reported as well. Trolling skirted ballyhoo with Jr. Ilanders and Blue Water Candy Seawitches and Jags has been the most productive.
The blackfin tuna are being caught better around the Steeples and Nipple area in a little bit deeper water. They are being hooked on long jigs and occasionally on topwater poppers.
Jigging anglers are reporting good catches of amberjacks, African pompano, and an occasional cobia. Slow pitch style jigs in the 100 gram range along with bucktails and glow grubs have been the best for the pompano.
Weston Taylor, of Wilmington, caught this 26″ drum on a shrimp while fishing in Leland Park.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that bonito are being found in the 5 mile range. The fish are being caught around structure while trolling plugs and spoons under planers. Look for the fish to start moving closer to shore in the next couple of weeks. Large thresher sharks have been hooked from just off the beach to the 5 mile range. The fish are likely hunting the northern mackerel that are in our local waters right now.
Large black sea bass are continuing to be pulled from 50-60’ of water. They are falling for metal jigs, Fishbites, and squid fished on bottom. Closer to shore, the flounder are starting to show up in better numbers. They are being found around the inlets and further back in the marsh. Most of the flounder have been caught on scented soft plastics fished slowly along the bottom.
Kevin Wallace, of Wilmington, with a 22″ speckled trout that struck a Halo Shrimp in a creekmouth near Wrightsville Beach.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that bluefish are biting throughout the area. The fish are being caught using the same techniques for anglers chasing bonito. In the marsh, they are being caught on hard baits and Gulp plastics on jigheads.
Red drum are taking an interest in cut baits. The reds are around deeper docks along the waterway and near the inlet.
Speckled trout are biting around Wrightsville Beach. They are falling for a wide array of hard and soft plastic baits, like D.O.A. shrimp, Blue Water Candy soft plastics, and Rapala X-Raps.
Scott and Spencer Fowler with speckled trout and a black drum they hooked while fishing near Wrightsville Beach with Steve Campbell.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that false albacore are moving closer towards shore. Bluefish are mixed in with the schools of albacore and are eating trolled plugs and spoons fished behind planers. A bit further out, king mackerel and bonito are holding in 65 degree water.
Mike Smith with a king mackerel he caught 30 miles east of Wrightsville Beach while fishing with Capt. Jesse Gawlick, of Ocean Stinger Fishing Charters. The fish fell for a silver Drone spoon on a #2 planer with in 100′ of water.
Warren, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that sea mullet are being caught in great numbers, on both sides of high tide. The best fishing has been during the evenings on an incoming tide. Bottom rigs tipped with shrimp, squid, and Fishbites are producing the best bite.
There are no bluefish to report, but they should be making their appearance soon.
The water temperature is 63.7 degrees.
Crystal Mangum, of Wendell, with a 21″ black drum she caught on a shrimp while fishing near Wrightsville Beach.
