Added on Thursday, July 17, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach July 17, 2008

Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are finding a solid flounder bite. Gulp baits and Carolina-rigged live baits are producing most of the action, and the area’s finger mullet population has grown to almost the perfect size for flounder baits.

Red drum are schooling in the creeks and marshes north of Wrightsville. Anglers are casting topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic lures to the schools with success.

The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down on the beach, but there are still a few fish around.

Anglers are seeing a number of tarpon just off Wrightsville, both from the pier and around the jetties. Large live baits will tempt the tarpon into biting.

There has also been a decent king mackerel bite right along the beaches.

Offshore, trollers have been finding excellent action at live bottoms and other spots in the 20-30 mile range, including WR4 and WR2. Some big king mackerel are feeding in the area, and boats are also hooking up with decent numbers of dolphin and a few sailfish. Live baits will attract attention from all three species, but anglers can also troll faster with skirted or naked ballyhoo to cover ground when looking for the fish.

Grouper fishing remains excellent at bottom structure 30-40 miles out, where anglers are hooking reds, scamps, and gags. Both natural baits, like cigar minnows, and butterfly jigs will tempt strikes from the grouper.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there are some upper slot-sized drum feeding behind Figure Eight Island and around Rich’s Inlet.

Flounder are also feeding around the inlets, and both the flounder and drum will have a tough time resisting a Carolina-rigged live bait like a finger mullet or peanut pogy.

Anglers looking for baits should have no trouble finding schools in the Lollipop or behind Figure Eight.

Off the beach, anglers are catching plenty of smaller king mackerel within a few miles of land. Some larger kings and big spanish mackerel are feeding at spots 10-15 miles and further offshore. Boats have also reported seeing a few sailfish at spots within 20 miles while king fishing.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that there’s been steady king mackerel action around bottom structure in the 10 mile range off Wrightsville. Good number of kings have also been coming from the Topsail Boxcars. The kings are finally starting to get a little larger, and anglers landed several over 20 lbs. this week.

Live baits have been drawing the bites, but there haven’t been any pogies north of the Cape Fear lately. Fortunately, anglers are catching plenty of greenies in Masonboro Inlet, and cigar minnows are thick on bottom structure 8-12 miles off the beach.

Sailfish are also showing up, and there has been some action with them inshore of 23 Mile Rock lately. Rigged ballyhoo will draw bites from the sails and kings feeding in the same area. Some dolphin are also around the 23 mile area, and a few decent gaffers (up to 20 lbs.) are mixed in with the peanuts.

Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been excellent near the Surf City Bridge, where anglers have caught double didgit numbers of fish on Carolina-rigged finger mullet recently.

Flounder fishing has been good in Topsail and Masonboro inlets, and Carolina-rigged mullet are top choices for the flatfish, too.

Red drum are feeding around docks at Wrightsville.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that boats are finding some king mackerel around the Liberty Ship. Dead cigar minnows have been attracting their attention.

Some gag grouper are holding on the structure at the Liberty Ship as well, with a few approaching legal size.

 

James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are landing flounder on small live baits.

Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs.

Several kings were landed from the pier last week, with the largest going 20 lbs.

The water is 80 degrees.