Wrightsville Beach June 24, 2004
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that spanish mackerel are thick from Mason’s Inlet north to Rich’s Inlet. They are hitting trolled silver Clark spoons, or if they surface they may take Gotcha plugs, Megabaits, or Maria jigs. Flounder fishing north of Wrightsville Beach has produced more keepers than throwbacks this week, but there still hasn’t been any real big fish weighed in. Mullet are getting bigger every week, and that is good news for flounder fishing. Also on the inside, the red drum action has been strong along the waterway at docks and creek mouths. If they won’t hit artificials, then a menhaden should draw a strike. Off the beaches, there are reports of spadefish at 10 Mile Rock. Cobia and king mackerel, though small, dominate the catch at the Schoolhouse, WR4, and Dredge Wreck. Live bait has been needed to catch fish at these locations. Out at the 23 Mile Rock and the ledges NW, there has been school-size king mackerel along with 8 to 12 lb. dolphin. Ballyhoo has worked best for dolphin. No reports from the gulf stream due to the Big Rock Tournament in Morehead City this week.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports a few spanish mackerel this week, with a 3.83 lb. fish weighed in. Bluefish are everywhere on the end, and they have been hitting gotchas or cut shrimp. Also, on the 16th an angler brought to the scales a 1.65 lb. pinfish. This is not your usual size bait stealer. Flounder up to 2 lbs. are around, and they prefer live baits. The king fishing this week has been slow.
Lewis, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports that king mackerel, dolphin, cobia, and amberjacks are all mixed together. You can find a bite in the 23 Mile Rock, Schoolhouse, and WR4 areas. Bottom fishing 12+ miles is producing some grouper, red snapper, and black sea bass. Along the beaches, anglers are picking up small spanish mackerel, juvenile kings, and bluefish. The surf is producing sea mullet and black drum, if you have fresh shrimp. Inside along docks and waterways, the flounder bite is great, but it takes a few fish to find a keeper. Red drum will be in the same areas and should take a live menhaden. Sheepshead are being caught on fiddler crabs along bridges and dock pilings around the waterway and Banks Channel.
