Wrightsville Beach May 28, 2009
Andrea Nelson, of Wilmington, with a red grouper that took a live bait in 110' of water off Wrightsville Beach while she was fishing with Nick Maraveyias aboard the "Seabiscuit."
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers have been hooking big numbers of flounder near many of the local inlets recently. Most still aren’t keepers, but some anglers have been putting together double digit catches with a few keepers in the mix. Live mud minnows, peanut pogies, or finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs are excellent baits for the flounder, and Gulp baits are also effective.
Red drum fishing has been good both in the surf and the backwaters. In the surf, the reds will take an interest in cut baits on bottom rigs, and anglers can cast MirrOlures and Gulp baits when they find a group of fish. The backwater fish will also take an interest in Gulps, and the topwater bite isn’t far around the corner.
Chopper bluefish are feeding from nearshore structure into the inlets and throughout the backwaters, and they will strike almost anything.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs from the pier and trolling along the beachfront are finding action with good numbers of spanish mackerel and smaller bluefish.
The king mackerel bite is a little bit slow, but there are scattered kings from just offshore of the beaches on out to the break.
Dolphin have pushed inshore of the Gulf Stream, with anglers reporting fish as close in as WR4 and other spots in the 30 mile range last week. Trolling ballyhoo or light-lining cigar minnows or other baits while bottom fishing should attract attention from the dolphin.
Grouper fishing has been good in the 30 mile range recently, with boats reporting action with reds and gags. Bottom fishing with baits like cigar minnows and vertical jigging will both draw grouper bites.
Gulf Stream trollers found incredible dolphin fishing up and down the break when they could get out last week. Some wahoo and a few blue marlin have been reported from the blue water as well, with skirted ballyhoo producing most of the action.
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Mate Jacky Dufour with a 30" gag grouper that ate a chunk of Boston mackerel on the bottom in 100' around 25 miles off Beaufort Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Ken Mullen of Swell Rider Sportfishing.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the gaffer dolphin fishing has still been excellent along the break, with some fish moving inshore of the Stream. Skirted ballyhoo will produce action with the ‘phins.
The blue marlin bite has also been hot, although most of the fish are to the north of our area. Most boats are finding action with the marlin by trolling large lures.
The grouper bite has been good lately, and anglers have reported catching some stout gags as far inshore as six miles off Masonboro. Cut baits have been producing most of the action.
King mackerel continue to move inshore, and most boats are now live baiting for them.
There’s still a solid spanish mackerel bite when the water’s clean. Trolling Clarkspoons or Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will attract attention from the mackerel.
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Ryan Young, from Wilmington, with 20 and 16 lb. gag grouper caught on whole squid. He was fishing 35 miles southeast of Masonboro Inlet in 100' of water on the "Johnboat."
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the king bite has been a bit slow lately. There are a few fish scattered in the 10-20 mile range, but, overall, the fishing hasn’t been too hot. Trolling live baits or dead cigar minnows is the best way to hook up with the kings.
Amberjacks are schooling around bottom structure from the 20 mile range on out. Live baits or vertical jigs will draw the jacks to bite.
Good numbers of sea bass are holding on structure within 15 miles of shore. Anglers can hook them on bottom rigs or by jigging.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding well close to the beaches, and decent numbers of cobia are prowling the nearshore structure.
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Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent along the beaches from Masonboro to New River lately, with larger fish showing up further north. Trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Clarkspoons behind #1 planers is drawing most of the attention from the spanish.
The king mackerel bite has been a little slow, but a few fish are coming from the Schoolhouse and other areas in the 20 mile range. A few late Atlantic bonito may still be mixed in. Deep Divers and cigar minnows will both produce action on the troll with kings and whatever else is around.
Inshore, bottom fishing around structure in the New River has produced action with black drum, pigfish, and other bottom feeders lately. Anglers baiting up with fiddler crabs are also catching some fat sheepshead.
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Stuart, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that spanish mackerel have been running well lately. Plenty of bluefish are in the mix as well, and both fish are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Live baiters landed two kings last week, with the largest going 19 lbs.
The water temperature is 71 degrees.
