Wrightsville Beach April 15, 2010
Donald Weaver landed this 62 lb. cobia while jigging on the edge of the break near the Same Ol' Hole on a Shimano 5000 Stradic. The cobe fell for a 7 oz. Blue Water Candy Roscoe Jig while Donald was fishing out of Wrightsville Beach with his son, Capt. Russell Weaver of Living Waters Guide Service.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that jigging along the edge of the Gulf Stream is still producing some impressive catches for local anglers. Anglers working vertical jigs like Blue Water Candy Roscoes and others are battling big numbers of amberjacks, cobia, and African pompano, along with some grouper (which still must be vented and released until May 1) and other bottom dwellers.
The blackfin tuna bite has been hot in the same areas, although the blackfins tend to feed a bit deeper than the bottom dwellers. The same vertical jigs are producing excellent results on the blackfins.
Blue water trollers caught a few wahoo and blackfin tuna last week, and at least one sailfish was released as well.
Bottom fishermen had excellent sea bass action at bottom structure in the 20 mile range last week. Smaller vertical jigs or bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits are producing most of the bass action.
Along the beaches, surf anglers are beginning to find decent whiting action, along with decent numbers of red and black drum. Shrimp and cut baits are the way to go in the surf.
The red and black drum are also feeding in the inlets and at nearby structure.
Bluefish are moving into the inlets as well, where they’re feeding on large schools of glass minnows.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been decent and will continue to improve as the fish work their way back in from the surf.
Anglers are picking up a few speckled trout in the creeks and at other inshore spots (with several in the 5 lb. range caught last week). MirrOlure MR17’s are the hot speck baits.
Billy Manger, Seth Berkabile, and Capt. Jim Sabella, of Plan 9 Charters out of Topsail Beach, with 48 and 52 lb. cobia they hooked while jigging along the break near the Same Ol' Hole. The cobia both fell for 7 oz. Blue Water Candy Roscoes in 200'.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that inshore anglers caught some flounder last week (with a few around the 3 lb. mark). Most of the flatties have fallen for Gulp baits.
A few speckled trout are also starting to show up, mostly inshore. The bite at the jetties has thus far been slow. Gulp baits and MirrOlures are tops for the trout right now.
The red drum bite has been a little slow to get started around Wrightsville, but good reports are coming from the Cape Fear River.
Off the beaches, boats have found some action with Atlantic bonito around 15 miles offshore, and the fish should soon make their way closer to the coast, where anglers can target them around nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship. Metal casting lures and trolled diving plugs are the way to fool the bonito.
The Gulf Stream trolling bite has been a little slow lately, but boats that made the run last week did bring home a few wahoo.
Jigging in the blue water is still producing action with African pompano, amberjacks, and more.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the blackfin tuna bite was on fire last week near the edge of the break (with most fish 20-30+ lbs.). Vertical jigging has been outproducing trolling for the blackfins of late.
Jigging in the same areas continues to produce action with big cobia (many 50-70 lbs.), African pompano, amberjacks, and a host of other species.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been finding action with keeper black sea bass at structure 10-12 miles offshore. Bottom rigs baited with squid are producing most of the fish.
The only action anglers have found with Atlantic bonito so far has been 20+ miles offshore, but the fish should be making their way towards the beaches soon.
Way offshore, the jigging bite at the break is still hot, and anglers are hooking up with African pompano, cobia, and more while working 7 oz. Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs at structure in 140-200’ of water.
Trolling the blue water has been producing a few wahoo.
Capt. Matt Dillon, of Yankeemama Charters, with a big queen triggerfish he hooked while jigging in 150' near the Steeples. The trigger fell for a 2 oz. Bluewater Candy Roscoe Jig.
Rick, of Rod Man Charters, reports that the inshore water temperatures are climbing into the mid-upper 60’s and the fishing is coming around as a result.
Red and black drum action has been solid lately at ICW docks between Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. Fresh shrimp are fooling both fish.
Nearshore, anglers have been putting some keeper sea bass into the box at structure 3-5 miles out.
Towards the end of the month, anglers can expect to see flounder migrating back towards the beaches. They’ll show up first at structure in the 10 mile range, then work their way to the inlets. Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the flatties.
Warren, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of whiting and croakers during the evening hours, and shrimp are fooling both.
Some dogfish and skates are still in the mix, and the pier has seen its first bluefish of the year as well.
The water temperature is 62 degrees.
