Wrightsville Beach August 11, 2011
Brooks Meine (age 9), of Wilmington, caught these dolphin while on a birthday fishing trip with his father, Trip, and grandfather, Fred, off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Robbie Wolfe on the charter boat "Whipsaw."
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still picking up some flounder and red drum while fishing in the marshes and around ICW structure like docks, but the heat has slowed down the inshore fishing a bit. Live baits like finger mullet and scented soft plastics like Gulps offer anglers the best odds of hooking up with both the reds and flatfish.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just outside the inlets and along the beaches. Anglers can hook them while trolling shiny lures like Clarkspoons and squid rigs or by casting to fish feeding on the surface. Live baits on light wire leaders and small hooks will tempt bites from the largest spanish. Anglers can search for bait and fish breaking the water, or look for working birds, to clue them in to the locations of the spanish schools.
Offshore, bottom fishermen have reported some excellent grouper action lately. A few fish are coming from structure in the 10-20 mile range, but the best catches have been made by boats venturing 35-40 miles. The deeper structure further offshore has been producing action with scamp and red groupers, as well as larger gags than those feeding closer in. Live baits, cut baits, and vertical jigs will all attract attention from the grouper.
The sailfish bite remains at spots 15-30 miles out of Wrightsville. Boats are seeing and hooking big numbers of the spunky billfish while trolling around bait pods on the surface and depthfinder. Rigged ballyhoo and teasers like dredges and squid daisy chains are the most effective trolling spreads.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the flounder bite is solid both inshore and at the nearshore reefs in 30-50’ of water. Inshore, docks have been producing the best flatfish action lately. Live baits like finger mullet and menhaden will draw strikes from the flounder, but Gulp baits on jigheads or bucktails are almost as effective and far less work.
The red drum bite has been a little off around Wrightsville lately, but anglers making the haul to the lower Cape Fear River have been finding plenty of reds willing to bite live baits, topwater plugs, soft plastics, and more.
Sheepshead are feeding around inshore structure like bridge and dock pilings and rocky areas. Some black drum are in the same areas, and both fish will take an interest in live shrimp or fiddler crabs.
The spanish mackerel bite is still excellent along the beachfront and in the inlet, and anglers can hook the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons or casting small metal jigs to the feeding schools.
King mackerel are still elusive in the local waters, but the sailfish bite has been making up for their absence. Anglers are finding the sails 18-25 miles out, and they’re hooking them while trolling naked dink ballyhoo and a variety of teasers.
J.R. Melvin, of Hampstead, NC, with a gag grouper that fell for a cigar minnow/squid combo at some structure 45 miles off Masonboro Inlet.
There are still good numbers of bailer dolphin along with a few gaffers feeding in the Gulf Stream, and there’s been a surprisingly decent wahoo bite for August lately.
Bottom fishermen have been finding the grouper bite a little tough lately, but they’re catching some fat black sea bass around Frying Pan Tower and bottom structure around 30 miles off the beach.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the red drum and flounder bite has ranged from nonexistent to great over the past week, depending on the weather and wind. Fishing early in the day has been the most effective regardless of the conditions. Anglers are finding both fish in the inlets and around inshore structure (like docks). They can be tempted to bite live finger mullet.
Outside the inlets, the spanish mackerel bite is still consistent. Trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers is the most effective way to put the spaniards in the boat.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent just off the beach lately. Most of the fish have been feeding tight to the beaches in 20-30’ of water. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is the way to go for the spanish.
Bottom fishing at structure 10-20 miles out has been productive lately. Anglers are hooking grunts, black sea bass, gag grouper, and other bottom dwellers on squid, cigar minnows, and cut and live baits.
Brandon, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have been catching good numbers of over-slot red drum from the pier in the evenings. Live baits, sand fleas, and shrimp are all getting attention from the reds.
A few flounder have been falling for shrimp and finger mullet under the piers.
Some sea mullet and spot are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Live baiters landed some barracuda and a chopper bluefish last week.
The water is 85 degrees.
