Wrightsville Beach – April 2024
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that surf anglers started to see some whiting in the surf during the last warm front, and there should be better numbers and a more consistent bite in no time.
The surf fishing efforts are also producing pufferfish, dogfish sharks, and scattered bluefish.
Nearshore anglers are beginning to see some schools of bluefish off the beach.
Atlantic bonito are mostly being found further off the beach (15 miles) as anglers await their arrival closer to the beach.
The wahoo bite has been good, with some boats having double digit hookups. Gulf Stream trolling action has also produced king mackerel and blackfin tuna.
Bottom fishing anglers targeting the deeper structure are catching some triggerfish.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite has picked up some as we wait for warmer water temperatures to really kick off the spring bite. For now, the better action seems to be from just north of our area.
Red drum are still schooled up in their winter patterns, and anglers are finding a lot of smaller (to 18”) fish in these groups.
Mike Lennon, of Wilmington, found this red drum in the waters behind Wrightsville Beach using live mullet.
Ryan, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers red drum fishing inshore are having plenty of success with both soft plastics and live bait.
Speckled trout are mostly still back up in the creeks until the water temperatures warm up. Currently, anglers using live shrimp are enjoying the most strikes.
Black drum are staged up around docks both in the creeks and out along the ICW.
Bluefish are starting to show up just off the beach, with Atlantic bonito currently being found in the 15-mile range.
Offshore anglers have found the wahoo bite to be really good. This 40+ lb. class of wahoo are mixed in with blackfin tuna.
Bottom fishing anglers are doing well finding large black sea bass out around 20 miles.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that the black drum and red drum bite has been really good. The fish are still schooled up for the most part, so anglers finding one will likely find more action in the same spot. Fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig has been best for putting up good numbers of strikes from both, and target hard structures such as docks and oyster bars.
The spring speckled trout bite has been decent, with the fish hitting a variety of MirrOlures and soft plastics. Some trout are even reacting to topwater lures, so it won’t be long until this tactic can be a consistent option.
Nearshore anglers are starting to see the first Atlantic bonito pushing into the area. So far, these frontrunners are on the smaller side, but expect the quality to jump up dramatically in the coming weeks. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or using deep diver plugs are the best early season tactics.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that red drum fishing has been fairly consistent while targeting docks or grass lines with Carolina-rigged shrimp. When fished slowly, a Gulp shrimp on a lightweight jig head will also entice strikes.
Trout are starting to make a move, and they are now staging up around the mouths of mainland creeks, with some out around the jetty rocks. MirrOlures are still having plenty of success, as does live shrimp if you can get your hands on some.
Nearshore action hasn’t popped off just yet as we look for the arrival of Atlantic bonito in the coming weeks. False albacore should also push in along the beaches, with most schools now being seen out in the 8-10+ mile range.
If running out to the nearshore ARs, there are a bunch of gray trout staged up. Anglers can catch their single fish limit by jigging a casting metal or Gulp jerk shad on heavier (3/4-1 oz.) jig heads.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that red drum and some black drum are being caught in the backs of creeks.
The first few Atlantic bonito have been caught nearshore, and as many bluefish as you want to catch are starting to show as well.
Out on the reefs, anglers are seeing some good sheepshead fishing. These sheepshead will likely stay in the ocean until the end of April, when they start to push inshore and stage on the larger hard structures.
Taffin Dusdal, of Denver, CO, caught this speckled trout in a Wilmington creek using a Z-Man paddle tail. She was fishing with Capt. Guion Lee of Green Creek Outfitters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that April is one of the best months to run out to the Gulf Stream and target blackfin tuna and wahoo.
Wahoo will be staged over the deeper structures and mostly moving with the better water that is pushed off the Stream.
Blackfin tuna will also stage up around structure. These fish will be actively feeding, allowing anglers to target them with artificials (such as plugs and poppers) in addition to the standard trolling tactics.
Bottom fishing has remained strong, with anglers catching plenty of vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and larger amberjacks. Targeting the deeper bottoms tends to be more productive as these areas see less pressure.
African pompano are starting to pick up a little.
Ben, of Southern Run Fishing Charters, reports that bottom fishing remains strong for anglers catching a window to make a run off the beach. Black sea bass action has been great when targeting bottoms in the 10-20 mile range, and the deeper side of that range has been seeing more of the larger fish.
When targeting areas in the 20+ mile area, anglers will also find some vermilion snapper and triggerfish mixed in.
More stable conditions in April will allow for anglers to make the run to target wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Jimmy, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers are starting to see some sea mullet showing up, as well as a bunch of pufferfish.
Smaller bluefish have begun to arrive, and this action only picks up as better numbers and bigger fish migrate into the area. Anglers have caught them while both bottom fishing and casting plugs.
