Wrightsville Beach April 23, 2009
Capt. Jason Dail, from Wilmington, with an est. 20 lb. striped bass he hooked in the Cape Fear River on a shallow diving crankbait. Dail was fishing with Capt. Blair White.
- John Watson, from Wilmington, with a 17 lb. hogfish caught 35 miles southeast of Masonboro Inlet in 100′ of water while he was fishing on the “Johnboat.” The hog fell for a piece of cut bait.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are catching a few trout, some red drum, and flounder. The trout are feeding in the creeks, and they will fall for Gulp baits, soft plastic shrimp, and sometimes topwater plugs.
Most of the reds have been coming from the Masonboro jetties. They’ll also take an interest in Gulp baits or live baits fished on Carolina rigs and jigheads.
Flounder have begun showing up in the inlets and in the surf zone along the beachfront. Live mud minnows or other baits fished on Carolina rigs are top choices for the flatfish, but Gulp baits will also produce action.
Bluefish are in the process of invading the inlets and creeks. Most are smaller spring fish, but it shouldn’t be long before some choppers are in the mix. The blues will assault virtually any bait, including topwaters.
Offshore, the king mackerel have moved into the WR4 area, where boats found a fast bite last weekend. Most of the kings are snakes in the 8-12 lb. class, but some larger fish are around the same area, as a 30 lb. king weighed in last weekend demonstrated. Trolled dead cigar minnows are top choices for the kings.
Not many boats have been bottom fishing lately with all the wind, but the bite should be good when boats can get out. Fishing spots in the 35-45 mile range will help ensure a good catch of grouper and other bottom feeders. Bottom rigs baited with squid, cigar minnows, and cut or live baits are bound to draw some attention from the bottomfish, and vertical jigging is also highly effective.
Jigging the edge of the Gulf Stream has produced some impressive results when boats could get there lately. Big amberjacks, groupers, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and other species are falling for the jigs at structure out near the break in 150-300′.
Gulf Stream trollers also had success this past weekend, hooking up with some stout wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin and yellowfin tuna. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are top choices for all these blue water predators.
Joe Anfuso, of Wilmington, with a 12 lb. false albacore caught while fishing with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Fishing Charters out of Wrightsville Beach. The fish ate a 14 gram Maria jig in green.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that Gulf Stream trollers found action with wahoo, gaffer dolphin, and a few blackfin tuna in some warm water down south around the Steeples last week. Trolling lures paired with rigged ballyhoo will produce results in the blue water.
Bottom fishermen found a decent grouper bite last week in 85′. Cut baits, cigar minnows, and vertical jigs will all tempt bites from the groupers and other bottomfish.
Inshore, trout are feeding in Shinn Creek and falling for topwater plugs early in the morning. When they won’t hit on top, D.O.A. shrimp under popping corks and 17MR and 27MR Mirrolures will also fool the specks.
Some black drum are feeding on inshore docks, with a good report from the Lollipop area. Fresh shrimp will do the trick on the drum.
Some flounder and red drum are also biting inshore.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream jigging and popping was excellent last week in the vicinity of the Steeples. Anglers battled plenty of amberjacks (up to 80 lbs.), king mackerel, scamp grouper, blackfin tuna, and other species while working the jigs from the bottom to the surface.
The tuna were feeding actively on the surface, and several also fell victim to large topwater poppers.
Â
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that the Atlantic bonito finally arrived at Diver’s Rock last weekend, and scores of boats were hooking up with them between the New River Sea Buoy and the rock.
Trolling clown and pink Yo-Zuri Deep Divers was the most effective tactic, but anglers were also hooking up while casting Maria Jigs and other lures at the breaking schools and jigging them through bait marks near the ledges. The fish will only be around for a few short weeks, so anglers who want to catch one this year need to do it soon.
Some red drum are schooled up in the creeks and flats behind Topsail Island.
Â
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that the docks around Masonboro are holding some sea bass, croakers, and puppy drum, and the fishing’s been good at night. The bass and croakers were hitting clams on bottom rigs while the pups were taking an interest in live mud minnows.
Some speckled trout are feeding south of the power lines in the river. Anglers have been hooking them on topwater plugs and float rigs with artificial shrimp.
Â
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that the bonito action was hot and heavy off New River Inlet last weekend. Casting and jigging gold and chrome diamond jigs around breaking fish and bait marks produced most of the strikes from these speedy little tuna relatives.
Red drum are still feeding in the sloughs along Masonboro Island where they’ve been schooled up most of the winter. Anglers can spot the fish while running along the backside of the surf on a calm day, then hook up by casting 27MR Mirrolures and Gulp baits into the schools.
Â
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking some snapper bluefish (1-2 lbs.) on Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen are decking some fat black drum (to nearly 5 lbs.) along with some whiting and a few keeper flounders. Shrimp fished on bottom rigs have been producing most of the action.
The water is 64.6 degrees.
