Added on Thursday, May 22, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach May 22, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that when boats have been able to make it out to the Gulf Stream, they’re hooking up with plenty of gaffer dolphin and some wahoo. Trolling ballyhoo beneath skirted lures will attract attention from both predators.

Grouper are still feeding around reefs, ledges, live bottoms, and other structure 25 miles and further offshore. Triggerfish, sea bass, grunts, and beeliners are feeding around the same places. Cigar minnows and spanish sardines are prime natural baits for the bottomfish, but anglers are also having great results while working butterfly jigs.

Most of the king mackerel are still schooled up and feeding at spots 10-18 miles off the beaches. Trolling diving plugs, spoons, or cigar minnows should let anglers know whether there are any kings in the area.

Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and around nearshore structure. They’ll strike trolled Clarkspoons or Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, as well as metal casting and jigging lures.

Some cobia have already been seen feeding nearshore, and it won’t be long until the curious fish are feeding well at structure from the beaches to offshore.

Surf and pier fishermen are landing some whiting and pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp.

Inshore, red drum are holding around docks, other structure, and in the creeks. Gulp baits or Carolina-rigged live baits will get their attention.

Flounder fishing gets better by the week, and the best bite is still near the inlets. As the season wears on, the fish are getting larger and more numerous. Gulp baits or live baits on Carolina rigs will get the flatfish biting.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding a nice variety of fish feeding close to the beaches. Large chopper bluefish are feeding around the Wrightsville Beach jetties, and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers are proving very effective on them.

Between the jetties and the Liberty Ship, spanish mackerel are chasing bait. They’ll also fall for the Deep Divers, trolled Clarkspoons, and a variety of casting lures.

At nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship and Johns Creek, jigging Maria jigs and other metal lures near the bottom is producing some keeper sea bass, grunts, and even a few triggerfish.

The king bite has been good 5-10 miles offshore lately, but anglers must stay in clean water to hook up with the kings. When boats find clean water, trolling Hank Brown rigs with cigar minnows around bottom structure is drawing strikes from large spanish along with the kings.

 

Danny, of 96 Charters, reports that the speckled trout and red drum bite is solid in the Cape Fear River. Casting Billy Bay or Gulp shrimp around structure, grass islands, and mud banks will produce strikes from both species.

Off the beach, there are still plenty of spanish mackerel along the beaches and around nearshore structure. Gotcha plugs and other casting lures will get their attention.

Flounder are also feeding around nearshore structure like Johns Creek, the Liberty Ship, and the Marriott Rocks. They’ll strike lures or live baits dropped near the structure.

Plenty of sharks are feeding off Masonboro and providing reliable light tackle action.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that bottom fishing at ledges in 120-160′ has been productive on large red grouper (some up to 27 lbs. lately) and other bottomfish.

Both bottom-bouncing with natural baits and working butterfly jigs will draw bites from the bottomfish. Closer to the surface, anglers are also landing some dolphin in the same areas on the butterflies.

The Schoolhouse is still holding plenty of snake king mackerel and amberjacks. Trolling dead baits or butterfly jigging will attract both species.

Structure in the 10 mile area is holding kings and amberjacks as well.

Nearshore, structure 5-8 miles offshore is producing some good flounder fishing. Jigging up live cigar minnows from the bottom and sending them back down on Carolina rigs will get the flounder’s attention.

 

Mark, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are scoring with whiting while baiting up with shrimp. Spiny dogfish are biting on the bottom at night.

Some chopper bluefish are falling for the king rigs.

The water temperature is 71 degrees.