Added on Thursday, April 24, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach April 24, 2008

Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are hooking up with decent numbers of speckled trout and red drum in the ICW and adjacent creeks. Mirrolures, Gulp baits, and other soft plastics should attract bites from both.

Some reds are also feeding out around the Masonboro jetties, where anglers have also reported catching a few flounder. Live mud minnows will get the job done on the flatfish.

School-sized bluefish are feeding in the inlets, channels, and the surf. Small metal casting lures will get plenty of strikes from the blues.

Atlantic bonito have shown up at the Liberty Ship, although the winds haven’t allowed smaller boat to get out and chase them. Anglers looking for these tasty miniature tunas can troll Clarkspoons around the structure and working birds, or cast Maria jigs and Gotcha plugs to fish feeding on the surface or mid-water.

Schools of 100-200+ lb. bluefin tuna have been sighted working bait within a few miles of the beach, although not many people are fishing for them.

Bottom fishermen are putting together decent catches of sea bass 18-25 miles out of Wrightsville. Grouper fishing has been best in the 25-40 mile range recently, and boats are also catching some fat grouper in 250’+ on the break.

King mackerel are moving towards the beach as the water temperature rises. Boats chasing the kings have found big numbers offshore of 23 Mile Rock. Dead cigar minnows should produce excellent results on the kings.

Boats trolling the Gulf Stream up north off Morehead City have reported decent fishing for yellowfin tuna, but the yellowfin bite hasn’t heated up off Wrightsville yet. Local boats are catching blackfin tuna, wahoo, and a few dolphin on ballyhoo out in the Stream.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that bottom fishing has been excellent when the wind dies enough to get offshore. The bite has been best in deep water around the break, especially for the larger fish.

Anglers dropping butterfly jigs to the bottom in around 800′ are hooking up with big snowy groupers.

A few miles inshore of the snowies, some nice red grouper (20+ lbs.) have been biting in around 250′, where anglers can send down jigs or bait rigs with success.

Slightly shallower, structure in 100-200′ has been holding a wide variety of bottom fish, including sand tilefish, beeliners, queen and gray triggerfish, amberjacks, pinkies, and more.

Butterfly jigs will draw strikes from most of the bottom feeders, but anglers who prefer to use bait can score with Boston mackerel, squid, and cigar minnows.

Blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and amberjacks have been falling for light lined baits while anglers are anchored up bottom fishing.

Closer to the beaches, anglers have caught decent numbers of keeper sea bass at structure 5-10 miles offshore in around 60′. Metal jigging lures will fool the sea bass.

Inshore, anglers have caught decent numbers of speckled trout and a few flounder around the Lollipop and other areas near Wrightsville. Soft plastic lures will draw strikes from both.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that the Atlantic bonito bite is hot off Topsail, but the fish haven’t made a strong showing off Wrightsville yet. When and if they do, anglers can search for them around nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship. Small metal lures will draw bites from the bonito, and anglers can also cast flies to them with success.

Closer to home, anglers are hooking up with some flounder and red drum in the Lollipop area.

 

Danny, of 96 Charters, reports that bonito are feeding at nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship and 5 Mile Boxcars. While the bonito bite has been hot off Topsail for a few days, the fish are just starting to make a decent showing off Wrightsville. Anglers can find the bonito feeding on the surface near the structure or beneath diving birds and around bait marks. Stingsilvers, Gotcha plugs, and other small jigging lures will tempt strikes from the bonito, and they’ll also respond well to a variety of flies.

Speckled trout are feeding in the Cape Fear River down towards Carolina Beach. Gulp baits should get their attention.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that bluefish have arrived in full force. They’re feeding everywhere from the ocean to the creeks, and anglers are hooking the largest ones (4-5 lbs.) by casting Crippled Herring spoons behind the surf line around Masonboro Island and Mason’s Inlet.

Some keeper flounder are starting to show up on the nearshore reefs, but anglers must weed through bluefish, sharks, and other bottom fish get to them. Large live baits are the best bet.

Speckled trout and red drum are feeding in the creeks. Anglers can catch them on a variety of baits, but topwater plugs are the most exciting.

 

James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with plenty of bluefish and a few citation-class pompano on Gotchas.

Some legal flounder are also coming over the rails and falling for strip baits and live mud minnows.

Bottom fishermen are decking some nice whiting at night. Shrimp are getting their attention.

The water temperature is 66 degrees.