Wrightsville Beach August 19, 2004
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that there were good catches of flounder and drum in the waterway and inlets up until Charley. As soon as the water settles, the fishing should continue to be good. Try to find some cleaner water and bait, and there should be fish around. Surf fishing should be good this week with pompano, drum, sea mullet, and flounder. Offshore, the kings should still be around, so fish the usual artificial reefs. As the ocean settles the fishing will only get better. The further out you can go, the better. The water will be much cleaner.
Dickie, at Tidal Market II, reports that the flounder and drum bite was very good before Hurricane Charley. The main areas were around the jetties, Snow’s Cut, and in the Cape Fear River. The bite should resume as long as the bait is around and the river settles down. King mackerel should still be in the usual areas hanging around the baitfish that they are feeding on. Try the 5 to 12 mile range. Don’t be surprised to see some peanut dolphin still mixed in. Cobia and sailfish were caught right before the storm, so as soon as the ocean settles we should see good catches of those species again. Bottom fishing may take a few days longer to take off, and as long as another storm doesn’t approach soon then fishing should improve daily.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports catches of spot and spanish mackerel this week, with fish up to 2 lbs. The hurricane disrupted fishing and churned up the water around the pier, but bottom fishing should be good. And look for the king mackerel to return as the water clears.
Tyler, at Intracoastal Angler, reports that not much was going on before Charley except for a decent red drum bite in the waterways. The best bet this week is to go offshore as far as you can. A good spot to start is around the 30 mile areas. Fishing should be good in the cleaner, clear waters. Expect to find kings, dolphin, sailfish, cobia, and barracudas. Inside 30 miles the water may be murky, but there will still be some king mackerel and dolphin following bait around. Inshore, the good fishing could take a week to return because of the massive amounts of rain flushing out of the creeks and rivers. The fish shouldn’t leave, but most likely they won’t bite until the water clears and the baitfish show.
