Wrightsville Beach April 24, 2014
Brent Hinson, of Wilmington, with a 24″ puppy drum that bit a Carolina-rigged mud minnow in the surf at Wrightsville Beach.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers have finally seen some bonito show up off Topsail, and it shouldn’t be long before the fish are around in full force. Casting lures like Hogy Epoxy Jigs or trolling Clarkspoons and small diving plugs around working birds or fish chasing bait on the surface is the way to connect with the speedy little tuna relatives.
False albacore are also schooled up and chasing bait 8-10 miles out, and they’re vulnerable to the same tactics.
Black sea bass are feeding on bottom structure from just off the beaches to well offshore, but anglers looking for good numbers of keepers should aim for spots 15 miles out and further for the best results. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits and smaller vertical jigs are tough for the bass to turn down.
Bottom fishing further out is producing plenty of action with triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, and more, and there’s also a good sign of grouper for the season opening on May 1.
Gulf Stream trollers are connecting with solid numbers of wahoo at local spots like the Nipple and Steeples. Some large blackfin tuna have also been taking an interest in trolled baits and lures, and anglers working topwater plugs are hooking good numbers.
Dropping vertical jigs along the break is fooling big numbers of amberjacks along with some African Pompano, and the new Blue Blue Sea Ride jigs have been particularly effective on the pompano lately.
Keith Harabin, of Winnabow, NC, with a tautog that bit a shrimp-tipped Roscoe jig at the Liberty Ship off Wrightsville Beach.
Surf casters are still hooking some red drum, sea mullet, and pufferfish, with increasing numbers of bluefish in the mix.
Inshore, red drum are still feeding in the creeks and around ICW docks, where they’ll bite soft baits, shrimp, and live mud minnows.
There’s been some catch-and-release speckled trout action around Hampstead and Rich’s Inlet lately, with most of the fish falling for soft plastics and MR17 MirrOlures.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding some excellent action when the weather lets them get out to the break off Wrightsville. Trolling around local blue water spots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole is producing action with wahoo and blackfin tuna, and anglers are starting to see some dolphin mixed into the catch as well. Ballyhoo, skirted trolling lures, and diving plugs are fooling the offshore pelagics.
Anglers are also connecting with good numbers of blackfin tuna while working topwater poppers around fish feeding on the surface.
Dropping vertical jigs and bucktails to structure along the break is tempting bites from African pompano and big numbers of amberjacks.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are hooking black sea bass around structure in the 10 mile range, but the ratio of keeper fish is around 1%. Going further should produce action with the larger bass.
Rumors of Atlantic bonito sightings and catches are swirling around, and it won’t be long until the fish are feeding around nearshore structure in full force.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that there’s been a decent king mackerel bite around 40 miles off Wrightsville lately. Anglers can find the kings by searching for suspended bait marks in upper-60’s water temperatures, then hook them while trolling Drone spoons or dead cigar minnows.
Blackfin tuna are feeding out along the break and biting a variety of trolled baits.
Michael Bradley, of Wilmington, with a hogfish that bit a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig near in 170′ of water near the Nipple.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking red and black drum around docks off the ICW. Fresh shrimp, crab chunks, and mud minnows will get attention from the drum.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and taking an interest in soft plastic baits and suspending lures like Rapala X-Raps.
Flounder are becoming more active in the area and taking an interest in lures and baits that anglers are casting for the specks and reds.
Bluefish have shown up inshore as well, and anglers are starting to see some of the 5-10+ lb. “chopper” blues that generally show up this time of year. Large or small, the blues will bite virtually anything they can get into their mouths.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with sea mullet, pufferfish, bluefish, croaker, skates, dogfish, and some smaller flounder while bottom fishing with shrimp and cut baits.
The water is 60 degrees.
