Wrightsville Beach April 11, 2013
Michelle Singer, with a black drum that bit shrimp behind Wrightsville Beach while she was fishing with Capt. Andre Nel of Feel Good Fishing Charters.
Ryan, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still finding action with wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling around local blue water spots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole. Skirted ballyhoo are solid choices for both fish. Smaller lures often appeal more to the blackfins, and high-speed trolling with larger lures can be a good wahoo strategy. A few dolphin have started to turn up in the local blue water catches, and more are on the way.
Vertical jigging along the break is producing plenty of action with amberjacks, along with some African pompano, cobia, and interesting bottom dwellers.
Anglers have hooked some Atlantic bonito while trolling along the break lately, and it won’t be long until the fish make a nearshore move and take up residence at structure within 10 miles of land. Once water temperatures in that range crest 60 degrees, it’s time to go looking for the bonito. Casting metal jigs and trolling small diving plugs around working birds, bait, or fish feeding on the surface is the way to hook the tenacious little tunas.
Inshore, red drum and speckled trout still seem to be feeding in the creeks, though they’ll be moving to more open water soon. Soft plastics will fool both, and they are starting to attract attention from some flounder as well. The flatfish bite will get better as the water warms up over the coming weeks.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that bluefish have shown up at Wrightsville Beach, and anglers can find them chasing bait around the Masonboro jetties and Carolina Beach boat basin. Larger “chopper” bluefish should be moving into the area, and anglers should be able to find them in the creeks, channels, and inlets over the coming weeks. They’ll strike a variety of lures, but small live menhaden are tough to beat. Heavy mono (30-50 lb.) or wire leaders on Carolina rigs or in front of lures will keep the big blues’ sharp teeth from cutting off anglers’ offerings.
Flounder are staging at nearshore structure in the 3-8 mile range off local beaches. Anglers can connect with the flatfish (and huge numbers of black sea bass and dogfish) while bouncing 2 oz. bucktails tipped with scented soft plastics around the edges of the structure.
Erik Scheeler prepares to release a white marlin hooked by Jamie Mercer. The fish struck a skirted ballyhoo just north of the Steeples while they were trolling off Wrightsville Beach on the “Wide Open.”
Anglers are also finding a few flounder inshore in the backwaters and creeks.
Red and black drum are feeding inshore as well, and they will take an interest in shrimp or scented soft plastics pinned to jigheads, especially on the moving tides.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of red and black drum while working docks along the ICW. The water’s still quite clear, so those with a trolling motor can creep up to the docks and visually check to see which ones are holding fish. If the fish spook, they generally return to the same area shortly. Fresh shrimp fished still on the bottom have been the best bet for both drum lately.
Some speckled trout are starting to feed in the local creeks, and the bite should be going strong in the Cape Fear River between Wilmington and Snow’s Cut. Suspending twitchbaits or lightly-weighted soft plastics are the best bets for the specks.
A few flounder are also making their spring appearance, and the bite should get even better over the coming weeks as the water temperature rises.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers are finally seeing signs of spring in the blue water. Warm water pushed in to the Steeples area recently, creating some stellar topwater action for blackfin tuna (many to 30+ lbs.). Several yellowfins were caught last week as well, so this may be the year local boats see the yellowfin tuna return to the area.
Deep-jigging at structure along the break is producing fast action with amberjacks (some to 80+ lbs.), along with some cobia, African pompano, and plenty of bottom dwellers.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and pufferfish while bottom-fishing with shrimp and squid.
Bluefish have made their spring appearance over the past few days, and some anglers have already had success hooking them on Gotcha plugs.
The water temperatures are now flirting with 60 degrees.
