Wrightsville Beach August 12, 2004
Dickie, at Tidal Market, reports a good spanish mackerel and small king bite right along the beach with few bigger kings on the near shore reefs. Dolphin are mixed in from 10+ miles, but they are very small. No report from the river, but the drum, flounder, and trout bite should continue to be good. Flounder and drum are also being caught on live baits in the inlets and creeks around Wrightsville. Surf catches included sea mullet, bluefish, and drum.
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports an aggressive flounder bite this week with fish coming from the waterway, inlets, and off the beach. Live mullet or menhaden on a Carolina rig should get some bites. Red drum are in the surf and along the jetty rocks, and they are eating live and cut baits. Small kings are on the beach, with bigger fish in the 12 to 30 mile areas, and very small dolphin are mixed in. Some big bluefish in the 4 lb. range were caught in the Rich’s Inlet area, and there are a few spanish still mixed in with the summertime bluefish along the beaches.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports a few keeper size flounder being caught on live bait. Some bottom fish, including sea mullet, spots and blues, have been caught on shrimp. Off the end, there have been no kings but several sharks to report.
Tyler, at Intracoastal Angler, reports that the lower Cape Fear River fishing is producing red drum, flounder, and speckled trout. These fish are mostly being caught on artificials, like grubs, but they shouldn’t turn down live baits. Few king mackerel reports from off the beach, but the better bite was in the gulf stream where several billfish were caught and released this week.
Lloyd, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports that the gulf stream is producing yellowfin tuna and a few nice dolphin. Closer in, there are some smaller dolphin and kings in the 10 to 30 mile areas. On the beach there are juvenile kings and spanish mackerel to be caught. Red drum and flounder are being caught in the inlets and creeks.
