Wrightsville Beach – April 28, 2016
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that scattered flounder are beginning to show up inshore, although most are undersized. The flatfish can be found around creeks and marshes, and theywill fall for shrimp, cut bait, and soft plastics.
Speckled trout are beginning to be caught along deeper marsh banks and creeks around inlets. The specks are hitting X-Raps and MR17’s, with Z-Man Trout Tricks being very productive.
Red drum are beginning to spread into the marsh, and both red and black drum can be found along docks and hard bottom (like oyster reefs). The fish can be fooled with Gulp and Z-Man soft plastics, as well as cut bait.
Brian Rawls and Brian Shively with wahoo they hooked while trolling near the Same Ol aboard the Sarahs Worry Too.
Sheepsheads are back, and biting around bridges and hard structure.
Bluefish are starting to show up around inlets, and they can be found grouped up in marshes where there are schools of bait. Bigger blues in the 2-5 lb. range have been reported.
Surf anglers are reporting sea mullet and blow toads. Both species will bite shrimp, sand fleas, and sand flea flavored Fishbites. Small black drum and bluefish are beginning to show up in better numbers as well.
Bonito continue to be caught around nearshore structure like The Liberty Ship and Dallas Rock. Casting rigs are working if spotted or marked, but they are consistently biting Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and #1 Clarkspoons trolled on planers near structure.
The first spanish of the year are beginning to show up south of Wrightsville Beach. Kings are also being caught in the 20-30 mile range, around 23 Mile Rock. Trolling cigar minnows or Drone spoons are successful for landing the fish, which are holding in 68-70 degree water.
Offshore, blackfin fishing has been really good, and Same Ol’, The Steeples, and The Nipple are locations where the fish have been found. Wahoo have been mixed in with the tuna, and both can be caught on skirted ballyhoo with Blue Water Candy Seawitches and Jags. Tuna can also be caught on jigs and occasionally on topwater poppers.
Anglers that are vertical jigging are still reporting African pompano, along with amberjack and the occasional cobia. A few sailfish have been reported in the same areas.
Will Lear with a 28 gray trout he landed near Wrightsville Beach while fishing with Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters.
Trevor, of ProFish NC Charters, reports that bonito are biting well early and late in the day. The fish are taking interest in Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs, with silver and clown colors the most productive. Trolling 4-7 knots with 10’ of 30 lb. Yo-Zuri “disappearing” pink leader has been the go to formula as of late. When the fish show up on the surface, a diamond jig reeled as fast as possible works best.
Large sea bass are being found in the 3-5 mile range. They are eating metal jigs and cut squid equally as well. The larger fish will soon head offshore, so now is a great time to catch some keepers close to the beach.
Z-Man plastics fished on jigheads have been producing good results inshore. Red drum and flounder have been feeding well during the last hour of the outgoing tide. Oyster beds and hard bottoms are holding good numbers back in the marsh. The water temperatures are hovering in the high 60’s.
Speckled trout are being caught back in the creeks on Gulp plastics rigged on 1/8 oz. light pink jigheads. The trout are also eating suspending twitch baits like MirrOlure MR 17’s and Rapala X-Raps in a wide array of colors.
Chris Lee, of Hampstead, with a 34 striper that he hooked on a 1/2 oz. Billy Bay jig tipped with a soft plastic jerk bait. He was fishing with Killin Time Outfitters.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that flounder fishing is improving on a daily basis. The flounder are favoring DOA soft plastics, Betts Halo Shrimp and Vudu shrimp.
Red and black drum fishing has been good in the creeks and marshes. The same baits used for flounder have been equally effective on the red drum. Black drum, though, are preferring scented soft plastic shrimp and cut fresh shrimp.
Speckled trout fishing has been decent over the past week. Yo-Zuri crystal shrimp and Rapala X-Raps are producing good number of specks.
Large spanish mackerel are beginning to show up around Wrightsville and further to the south. Some of the first spaniards of the year have been quality fish in the 3-5 lb. range. They are biting Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs and Gotcha plugs.
David Jackson, of Wilmington, with a 28 lb. African pompano he hooked while jigging in 200 of water in the Gulf Stream. He was fishing with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that most of the fishing has been taking place closer to shore due to the weather. Bluefish and bonito are being caught around wrecks using Clarkspoons behind planers. The water temperatures in the 3-5 mile range are in the mid 60’s.
Drew Keener, of Wilmington, caught these bonito near AR-372 while trolling Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Deep Divers.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that king mackerel are moving closer to the beach. The kings are being found in the 20 mile range and eating trolled cigar minnows. AJ’s are also being found in the same range, They are eating a variety of vertical jigs.
A solid triggerfish bite is happening in 100+’ of water, with baby Roscoe jigs working the best. Out in the Gulf Stream, yellowfin and blackfin tuna are around. They are eating trolled ballyhoo, both naked and skirted offerings. The mahi bite has started to improve over the last several days.
Danny, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bluefish are providing the best action as of late. They are eating both cut bait on the bottom and Gotcha plugs. Sea mullet are biting well at night, mostly around high tide. The best bite has been right after the high tide begins to recede. Fresh cut shrimp, Fishbites, and bloodworms have all been catching the mullet.
The water temperature at the pier has been creeping up to 68 degrees. Look for the spanish mackerel to show up soon as the water temperatures get closer to 70 degrees.
