Wrightsville Beach – June 18. 2015
John, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that there’s been a good king mackerel bite from the beachfront to spots in the 10 mile range lately. The kings will bite live baits like menhaden and bluefish or dead cigar minnows.
The spanish mackerel action along the beachfront has been solid as well. Boaters are hooking good numbers of the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons, daisy chains, and other flashy rigs behind planers and cigar sinkers.
Drew Brown with a wahoo he hooked while trolling the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville Beach with Jonathan Blanchard.
Some cobia are still around, and anglers are seeing them in bait balls along the beachfront and around the inlets. The cobes will bite live baits or artificial lures like bucktail jigs and large soft plastics.
Dolphin have been feeding from the 15-20 mile areas on out to the break. They’ll bite the same things as the kings or ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are finding big numbers of blackfin tuna along with some wahoo. Both will bite skirted ballyhoo, but smaller baitless trolling lures like cedar plugs and Fathom lures can be more effective on the blackfins.
Drew Dunn, of Wilmington, with a pair of sheepshead that bit live fiddler crabs under thwe Wrightsville Beach drawbridge while he was fishing with A.J. Canady.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with gag grouper at spots in the 90’ range and scamp and red groupers around structure in 110’ and deeper. Live baits are excellent choice for the groupers, but many different cut and dead baits will produce results as well. Plenty of smaller bottom feeders are in the same areas and biting squid and cut baits.
Inshore, the flounder bite is improving. Anglers are finding the flatfish near the inlets, in the creeks, and around structure like boat docks. Live finger mullet, peanut menhaden, and mud minnows will all attract attention from the flounder. Anglers can also hook up while bouncing Gulp baits along the bottom.
Red drum are also looking for meals in the creeks and around boat docks. They’ll bite topwater plugs in the early morning hours, especially in the creeks. Live and Gulp baits are better choices where anglers find the fish in deeper water or around the docks.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are finding some action with large speckled trout in the early morning hours. Most are feeding near the inlets and around creekmouths and shell banks. They’re biting topwater plugs, which are also fooling some red drum in the same areas.
More reds are feeding around ICW docks, where they’ll take an interest in live and cut baits.
Flounder fishing has been good inshore and in the ocean lately. Live baits and bucktail jigs have been fooling good numbers of the flatfish, particularly in the ocean.
Large spanish mackerel are hanging around the same ocean structure where anglers are finding the flatfish. Free-lined live baits will fool the spaniards.
Good numbers of barracuda are also looking for meals nearshore. Tube lures and live baits are fooling the ‘cudas.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers are seeing surprisingly big numbers of 5-10 lb. blackfin tuna feeding at local Gulf Stream spots right now. They’ll bite vertical jigs or a variety of trolling lures.
Some wahoo and dolphin are feeding in the same areas and taking an interest trolling in lures and rigged ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing at spots in 100-150’ of water is producing plenty of action with triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, and groupers. Rigs baited with squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits will get attention from all the bottom feeders, and anglers can also drop vertical jigs with success.
Amberjacks are schooled up at structure from the 10 mile range to the break. They’ll bite live baits or fast-moving artificial lures like speed jigs and plugs.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers have been finding consistent success with king and spanish mackerel while trolling from the beach out to 10 miles offshore. Most of the spanish are falling for Clarkspoons, and anglers are hooking the kings on spoons and dead and live baits.
A few dolphin have pushed into the 10 mile range, but they’ve been biting better at spots 20+ miles out. Dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows will attract attention from the ‘phins.
Bottom fishermen are seeing some improved action inside the 20 mile mark with gag grouper and black sea bass. Both will fall for cigar minnows, sardines, or squid.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that there’s still some decent action with spanish mackerel around the pier early and late in the day. Most are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Live-baiters have been seeing some tarpon off the pier, but they haven’t landed one yet.
Some keeper flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished next to the pilings.
Sheepshead are also feeding around the pilings, and they’re biting sand fleas.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking some sea mullet at night.
The water is 82 degrees.
