Added on Thursday, July 24, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach July 24, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing and hooking good numbers of tarpon from the pier and on the shoals at the river mouth, but boat anglers aren’t hooking many in between. Large live baits or dead baits fished on the bottom should draw bites from the tarpon when boats can find them.

There’s a decent king mackerel bite on the inlet tidelines, and live baits are outproducing dead ones with the kings. The kings are also feeding around many of the usual spots within 20 miles of the beaches.

More sailfish are starting to show up alongside the kings. Live baits or rigged ballyhoo will get attention from the sails.

Some dolphin are feeding in the same areas as the kings and sails, and they usually aren’t too picky about what they’ll eat.

Bottom fishing should still be good when boats can make it far enough offshore. The action has been best lately at least 30-40 miles offshore. Cigar minnows and live baits will tempt the grouper to bite, and butterfly jigs are also highly effective.

The spanish mackerel bite has been slow on the beaches with the stirred-up water from last week’s storms, but it should improve once the water clears.

Ladyfish are feeding at night around the bridge and near the inlets.

Anglers are catching flounder in the inlets, channels, and creeks. Gulp baits or Carolina-rigged live baits will get their attention.

Red drum are feeding in the marshes and around ICW docks, and they will also take an interest in Gulps or live baits.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite is still good at structure around 10 miles off the beach, although the weather hasn’t let a lot of boats chase them lately. Cigar minnows and live baits will both get attention from the kings when anglers find them.

There are plenty of sharks feeding inshore right now, and anglers are hooking blacktips and other species while fishing cut baits at night in the ICW.

Ladyfish are feeding at night in the ICW, the inlet, and Shinn Creek. Anglers can hook up with the ladies by casting Deceiver and Clouser flies, a variety of lures, or by fishing with live baits.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that night fishing has been producing a lot of action lately.

Anglers are hooking a lot of blacktip and other sharks while fishing cut pogies and other baits on the bottom at night in the sound. Chumming increases angler’s chances. A few tarpon are picking up the baits, too, but keeping them hooked is tricky.

A few red drum are adding to the nighttime shark and tarpon action as well.

Ladyfish are feeding around the bridge and other lit structure at night, with falling tides best. They’ll strike live baits or a variety of lures, like small swimming plugs and topwaters, but they can often be picky about the size baits they will strike.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that there are loads of baits, both finger mullet and pogies, around Wrightsville right now, so it shouldn’t be difficult to load up the well for an inshore trip.

Anglers are hooking a mixture of slot-sized red drum, chopper bluefish, nice flounder, and short flounder while fishing the inshore flats, marshes, and creeks. Tossing out a live bait on a rattling float while casting artificials has been producing most of the action.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that king mackerel fishing remains good at structure in the 10 mile range. Live cigar minnows and threadfins have been the best baits, and anglers are jigging the cigars up from the structure and cast-netting the threadfins in the inlet.

Anglers are vertically jigging up amberjacks at structure like the Dredge Wreck and Schoolhouse, with bigger jacks on the Dredge lately.

There have also been a few dolphin around the Schoolhouse, but action with them is slowing down a bit.

The nearshore grouper bite was solid last week, with anglers finding action with reds and gags inside of 30 miles at ledges and other structure in 80-90′. Dead and cut baits were outproducing live baits last week on the grouper, strangely enough.

 

Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live baiters landed several king mackerel and barracuda from the end of the pier last week.

Plug casters are landing a few spanish mackerel, and the bite has been better in the afternoons than the mornings lately.

Bottom fishermen are hooking a typical summer mix of spot, croaker, and blues in the surf zone.

A few flounder are falling for live finger mullet fished on the bottom.

The water is 84 degrees.