Wrightsville Beach August 10, 2006
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore the fishing hasn’t been as hot as the weather. Some nice flounder are coming from the inlet areas, the river, and nearshore reefs.
There are plenty of mullet now in the creeks and waterway.
Puppy drum are in the creeks, waterway, and surf. Most fish are in the 24 to 30 inch range.
Ladyfish provide some great light tackle action early and late in the day.
Some action on pompano, spot, and croaker has been reported in the surf.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel have decided to show up again. Some fish can be caught along the beach, but the larger fish are 1 to 2 miles off in about 40 feet of water. Also try around the inlets on the falling tide.
Kings, sailfish, and dolphin are in the 10 to 20 mile range. Dallas Rock, 10 Mile Rock, the 30/30, and 23 Mile Rock have been producing good numbers.
Cobia have been caught around the inlets as well as the artificial reefs 10 to 18 miles off.
Tarpon are being reported at the shoals and near the inlets.
Grouper and sea bass are in the 15 to 30 mile range, with the red grouper in the 30 to 45 mile range.
Gulf stream reports are slim due to the low number of boats going. Last reports had sailfish, white marlin, wahoo, and some dolphin at the Same Ole and Swansboro Hole. The blue water fishing has been much better off of Charleston and from the Big Rock north.
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports good nearshore fishing this week, with the spanish mackerel getting most of the attention. They are thick in 40 to 45 feet of water. If you find the spanish, there are some big kings around them. Look for the kings to go as hevy as the 20 lb. class.
The shrimp boats working off Masonboro and Carolina Beach are attracting plenty of sharks. The sharks will give you a good fight (just be sure to give the shrimp boats plenty of room if their nets are still out).
Bottom fishing has been very good for sea bass in the Dallas Rocks area, and grouper are scattered out beyond 20 miles.
Willy, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports lots of black drum around 2 to 3 lbs. biting shrimp on bottom rigs.
Around sunset, large red drum are being caught and released on cut mullet.
Anglers are catching keeper sized flounder on Carolina-rigged minnows and cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
Plenty of bait-sized blues are biting plugs.
There were 15 and 18 lb. king mackerel caught this week.
The water temperature is 84.9 degrees.
