Wrightsville Beach August 12, 2010
Alan Barnes with a 45 lb. wahoo he hooked on a live pogy while fishing the Wild King Classic offshore of Wrightsville Beach with his father, Brett, on the "Hot Rod."
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the red drum bite got better over the past week, with most of the fish coming from the creeks (and some fish to 40” released inshore last week). The fish have been falling for topwater plugs early and late in the day, and then for live baits, Gulps, and other lures in the middle of the day.
Good numbers of reds are also in the surf and inlets, where cut baits will get the job done.
The flounder fishing’s been hit-or-miss lately, with some anglers reporting decent action and others struggling to get a bite. The Rich’s Inlet area has been one of the most consistent spots, and some fish are coming from the Masonboro jetties as well.
Some large spanish mackerel are feeding around structure to the north of the area and right on the beach at Wrightsville. Smaller live baits are the way to entice them to bite.
Better numbers of sailfish were reported last week from 6-20 miles out of Wrightsville and on the west side of Frying Pan Shoals. Rigged ballyhoo are the best baits for the sails, but anglers are also hooking up while live-baiting for kings.
There’s been decent dolphin fishing (fish to 10-15 lbs.) in the 15 mile range recently, and live or dead baits will fool the ‘phins.
Grouper fishermen are hooking up with some gags in 60’ of water and deeper, though the bite’s a little slower than it was the previous week. Red and scamp groupers are feeding at structure in 100’ and deeper. Live baits, cut baits, vertical jigs, and more will fool the groupers.
Matt, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that Gulf Stream trollers are seeing an improving wahoo bite and occasional shots at billfish.
Closer to the beaches, the dolphin bite’s been pretty good around 23 Mile Rock (with a few gaffers mixed in with the smaller fish). Some sailfish are feeding in the same area.
Bottom fishermen have found the best grouper bite 30-50 miles out lately, with a few gags in the 15-25 mile range. Black sea bass have been mixed in with the gags.
Anglers had decent king mackerel action with an occasional dolphin in the 10 mile range last week while live and dead-baiting.
Capt. Jody Lang with his first fish on the fly, a red drum he hooked while it was tailing in a marsh near Wrighstville Beach. He was fishing with Glenn Wilson.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, though many have been smaller lately.
Inshore, the flounder are biting well in the marshes and around the jetties at low tide.
The red drum bite’s been best in the creeks lately.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that there are still big numbers of sharks feeding behind the area’s shrimp boats, but they’ve been pressured enough that they’re becoming more difficult to hook. Dropping down in hook size will help hook more of the fish, and large cut baits are the weapons of choice.
King mackerel fishing’s a little slow, but anglers are hooking a few 5-10 miles off the beaches.
Bottom fishing in the same range has been producing action with some black sea bass, grunts, and a few grouper. Squid and cut baits will fool the bottom feeders.
Inshore, deeper flats to the north of the area have been producing some solid flounder fishing (most fish 16-18”). Soft plastics are fooling the flatties.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite’s been tough this week.
There are plenty of blacktip and spinner sharks feeding behind shrimp boats for anglers looking for a tough battle.
Inshore, some big red drum are feeding along the ICW from Wrightsville to Topsail. Anglers are hooking up with the reds on live pogies and topwater plugs.
Korbin Smith (age 12), of Greensboro, NC, with his first gag grouper, which fell for a live bait while he was fishing a ledge 25 miles off Wrightsville with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are picking up a handful of spanish mackerel from the planks, but it’s been tough to get them to bite lately.
Fishing small live baits on the bottom is producing action with some flounder.
A few pompano are falling for shrimp on the bottom.
Opting for action instead of size, several groups on the pier began dropping sabiki rigs baited with shrimp last week, and they hooked up with a mixed bag of bar jacks, pinfish, whiting, croaker, spot, and more.
The water’s 86 degrees.
