Wrightsville Beach April 12, 2012
UNCW student Jimmy Luke with a bluefin tuna that bit an Excalibur Spook topwater two miles off Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the spring fishing is progressing nicely inshore. Anglers are finding decent action with red drum along the area’s shallow flats and under ICW docks. Gold spoons and topwater plugs have been fooling most of the fish on the flats, with Gulp baits and small bucktails producing action around the docks.
Some flounder (a few to 5 lbs.) are in the same areas and taking an interest in the lures as well.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and deeper holes, especially near the inlets. Soft plastics and MirrOlures are both drawing bites from the specks, and a dab of Pro-Cure Super Gel (especially in the mullet flavor) on the lures has been helping anglers get more bites.
Surf casters are connecting with plenty of pufferfish and sea mullet throughout the area, with shrimp and Fish Bites bloodworms on bottom rigs responsible for most of the action.
A few red drum are also feeding in the surf.
Bluefish and a few early spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Boaters are hooking more of the spanish while trolling small Clarkspoons behind planers around Wrightsville and south. Plenty of bluefish are feeding in the same areas.
The blues are also thick on the nearshore wrecks, where anglers are picking up a few gray trout and flounder on Gulp-tipped bucktails.
King mackerel are feeding in the 30 mile range along temperature breaks leading to 69-70 degree water. Diving plugs, Drone spoons, and dead cigar minnows will all tempt them to bite.
Alan Thomas, of Wilmington, with a dolphin caught on a skirted ballyhoo at the Same Ole.
Bottom fishing 40-50 miles out has been productive with beeliners and triggerfish, and a few cobia and dolphin have moved into that range as well.
Boats making the long run to the Gulf Stream have been bringing back good catches of wahoo, blackfin tuna, and dolphin, and they’re even releasing a few billfish. The action’s been hot one day and cold the next, so it’s a good idea to check satellite sea surface temperature shots before going to get an idea of where the best temperature breaks are. Ballyhoo and high-speed baitless lures have been fooling the wahoo and dolphin, with smaller skirted lures like Green Machines tempting most of the bites from the blackfins.
Jon, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that Gulf Stream trollers have found action with blackfin tuna and some large (to 80+ lbs.) wahoo lately. A few billfish have also been in the mix, and both lure/ballyhoo combinations and baitless trolling lures have proven effective lately.
Closer to shore, anglers landed some smaller bluefin tuna just off Wrightsville Beach over the past week, both while casting lures and trolling.
Bluefish are feeding in the inlets and around nearshore structure, and the first few spanish mackerel were landed locally over the past week as well. Both will respond to trolled lures like Clarkspoons or metal jigs and other small, flashy lures cast to fish feeding on the surface.
Inshore, the red drum action has been excellent in the bays and flats from Southport on up to Surf City. The fish were feeding strong in flooded marsh grass on last week’s full moon tides, too, but lower tides in the coming weeks will likely slow that bite down. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other soft plastics are top choices for the reds.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and the usual trout haunts all over the area. Soft plastic shrimp imitations like Gulps and Billy Bay Halo shrimp are fooling most of the fish, either cast alone or worked under a popping cork.
The flounder bite is also turning on inshore, with anglers reporting increasing numbers of keeper fish. Smaller live baits like mud minnows and scented soft plastics like Gulps are hard for the flatfish to pass up.
Lindsey Lyon, of Wrightsville Beach, with a 26" red drum that bit a live finger mullet under a local dock.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while trolling small spoons behind planers. The fish are feeding from the inlets to nearshore structure out in the ocean.
Speckled trout action has been decent in creekmouths and current breaks in the Cape Fear River, and D.O.A. shrimp under popping corks have been very effective on them lately.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have found plenty of action with sea mullet and pufferfish in recent weeks, with shrimp the most effective baits.
Plenty of bluefish are coming over the rails for anglers working Gotcha plugs, and the first few spanish of the year also took an interest in the Gotchas last week. The spanish bite slowed after a few cool nights, but the little mackerel should be back as the water temperature recovers in the coming weeks.
The water is 66 degrees.
