Wrightsville Beach – August 18, 2016
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that red drum are becoming more numerous for surf fishermen, particularly around the area inlets. Fresh cut bait on fish finder rigs has worked best. Anglers working close in the suds are connecting with nice numbers of flounder. Most of the fish have been throwbacks, but the occasional keeper has been reported.
Bluefish have been thick in the surf around the inlets. They are taking fresh cut menhaden and mullet on bottom rigs. This time of year there are good numbers of spinner and blacktip sharks patrolling the surf. Shark fishing efforts around dusk and at night will result in more hookups.
Bottom fishermen are reporting a few pompano, croaker, pinfish, and sea mullet. They are taking a variety of natural baits including shrimp, sand fleas, bloodworms and Fishbites.
The continuing warm water temperatures are pushing the inshore fish towards heavier structure. Oyster rocks, docks, and hard bottoms are holding trout, flounder, and red drum. All three have been responding best to live bait, particularly live finger mullet. A variety of rigs have been producing strikes including Carolina rigs, popping corks, and free-lined. The red drum have also been taking chunks of mullet, menhaden, and bluefish.
Many anglers are reporting that some of the most productive fishing has been during the low to high tide transition while the fish get a little push of cooler water.
Sheepshead fishing continues to produce, and the fish are holding around area bridges and docks that have 5+’ of water on them. The fish are eating live fiddler crabs and sea urchins on heavier Carolina rigs.
Flounder are widely distributed throughout the marsh and nearshore structure. The fish are in their typical summertime pattern. There aren’t large concentrations of fish in one location, but rather they are spread out across many locations.
There have been a few spanish mackerel holding around the inlets. They are being caught trolling with Clarkspoons fished behind #1 planers and bird rigs with daisy chains. There have been some fish caught early and late in the day casting small metal jigs into schools of surface feeding fish.
Larger king mackerel continue to hold further off the beach in the 20+ mile range. Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs, Drone spoons, and ballyhoo are getting the bites. The better bite has been on downriggers and #2 & #3 planers. Smaller kings are numerous in the 10-12 mile range, and they’re taking similar baits.
Boaters in the Gulf Stream are reporting improved action with wahoo. The full moon cycle this month will likely improve the ‘hoo bite for a few days on both sides of it. The fish are taking wire rigged ballyhoo behind Blue Water Candy Jags, Seawitches, and Jr. Ilanders. There have also been a few more white and blue marlin out in the deep water as of late.
Mahi fishing has been best in the 40 mile range. There is an abundance of smaller baits in this range, and the fish are responding best to dink ballyhoo. Anglers are reporting that some of the best action has been skipping the smaller baits on the short lines.
Lena Barteck with a 5.2 lb. sheepshead caught on live fiddler crabs off the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge.
Trevor, of ProFish NC, reports that the mullet run is heavy right now, making cast netting them an easy game. Drifting live finger mullet on the bottom in the 2-10 mile rage has been productive. Flounder, sea bass, grunts, and triggerfish are holding around ledges, sand banks off AR’s, and reefs in this range.
There have been quite a few school-sized kings in the same range. They are taking a liking to Drone spoons fished on downriggers and #2 planers.
Red drum are holding around waterway docks and responding best to either live or cut baits. Finger mullet or small menhaden pinned on Carolina rigs has been working well. Chunks of larger menhaden or bluefish has also been effective targeting the reds.
The inshore water temperatures have been reading in the mid to high 80’s. The flounder haven’t seemed to mind as they are feeding heavily on the abundance of bait. Look for the flatfish around deeper creek mouths and docks along the ICW.
Gage Gattone with a 27 red drum caught off Wrightsville Beach on a live mullet.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that flounder are biting well around Wrightsville Beach. The fish seem to be preferring live finger mullet to most other offerings. The fish have been holding along the creeks inshore and the area artificial reefs.
Red drum are feeding in the same areas, along with waterway docks. Live mullet or cut menhaden have been working best for the reds.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that blackfin tuna have been biting well recently out in the Gulf Stream. There has also been wahoo showing up, and the bite should continue to improve as we get closer to fall.
The nearshore fishing has slowed down a bit over the past few days, with spanish mackerel fishing just off the beach being hit or miss. On days the spanish want to cooperate, the fish are eating spoons behind #1 planers.
Dylan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bluefish and spanish mackerel are biting plugs and spoons early in the mornings. The fish have been landed off the end of the pier.
On the bottom there have been more flounder showing up. The majority of the fish have been undersized, but there have been a few keepers in the mix. The fish are taking a variety of offerings including fresh shrimp, live finger mullet, and scented soft plastics fished along the bottom.
Over the past week there have been a few cobia landed, all undersized fish.
The water temperature has been holding steady in the low 80’s.
