Wrightsville Beach August 2, 2012
Kevin Neely, Zach Aronson, and Chris Streuli with a 50 lb. cobia Neely hooked on a bucktail and flounder tackle just off Mason's Inlet while waiting to be towed in to Wrightsville Beach. Aronson and Streuli landed the fish without a gaff.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that king mackerel are making a better showing in the 10 mile range off Wrightsville, with decent reports from that area out to WR4. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows are both producing action with the kings.
Dolphin and sailfish are mixed in with the kings 20-30 miles offshore, and they will respond well to the same baits or rigged ballyhoo. Dredge and daisy chain teasers will help attract more sailfish into anglers’ spreads.
Gag grouper are feeding around bottom structure at spots in the 70’+ depths. They’ll eat a variety of dead and cut baits, and live baits will tempt them to bite when they’re more finicky.
Black sea bass and other smaller bottom dwellers are providing plenty of action for anglers dropping squid and cut baits 20-30 miles out.
Red and scamp grouper are out in the 30+ mile areas and will bite the same baits as the gags or vertical jigs.
Gulf Stream trollers are connecting with gaffer dolphin and some wahoo at local spots while pulling skirted ballyhoo.
Billfish, mostly white and blue marlin with a few sails in the mix, are feeding around the 100 fathom line, and ballyhoo or skirted trolling lures are tempting them to bite.
Flounder are still feeding around the AR’s and other bottom structure within 10 miles of Masonboro Inlet, where both live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails will attract attention.
A few cobia are still in the same areas and will also take an interest in bucktails tipped with Gulps or other soft plastics.
Some schools of jack crevalle are popping up in the same range, and topwater plugs will tempt them to bite when they’re feeding on the surface.
Some large spanish mackerel (to 5+ lbs.) are feeding around the AR’s in the 5-10 mile range, and anglers have been hooking them while casting diamond jigs and other small metal lures to schools of fish chasing bait on top.
Smaller spanish and plenty of bluefish are taking a hearty interest in trolled Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs closer to the beaches.
Inshore, the flounder bite remains strong, with good action from Wrightsville to the Cape Fear River. Deeper areas near the inlets and docks and other hard structure inshore are the places to look for the flatfish, and they’ll bite live baits or Gulps.
UNCW students Megahn McDonnell and Katie Walker with a red drum they hooked on a shrimp in Masonboro Inlet while fishing on the "Real Tall."
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes, and they can be tempted to bite topwater lures early and late in the day, and soft plastics or other subsurface offerings when the sun is high.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around bridge and dock pilings inshore and will pounce on fiddler crabs or sand fleas fished tight to the structure.
Surf casters are hooking some red drum and large sharks, with cut baits producing most of the action. Those baiting up with sand fleas and shrimp are catching some pompano and black drum, primarily early and late in the day.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports the red drum bite is still on around Wrightsville, with anglers finding fish from the backwaters on out to the inlets. Topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastic baits, and live or cut baits will all tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are also feeding throughout the inshore waters, with solid action also around the nearshore reefs and live bottoms. Live menhaden and finger mullet on Carolina rigs and Gulp baits are top choices for the flatfish.
Gulf Stream trollers are connecting with good numbers of wahoo for the summer, along with gaffer dolphin and billfish. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are tempting the majority of the bites from the blue water predators.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some king mackerel, amberjacks, and dolphin around spots 20-30 miles out. Live baits and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo have all been productive with both lately.
A few king mackerel are feeding closer to the beaches, and some large spanish mackerel have been mixed in around 10 miles out lately (some to 5+ lbs.). The live and dead baits have also been tempting bites from the big spaniards, and anglers have been able to cast to breaking schools on some recent days as well.
Kathy Allred with a 16 lb. gag grouper that bit a squid/cut bait combo around 40 miles off Wrightsville while she was fishing with Capt. Dave Gardner on the headboat "Vonda Kay."
Trolling Clarkspoons around the inlet tidelines and within a few miles of shore is producing action with smaller spanish (but still some 2-3 lb. fish). Plenty of surprises are mixed in with the spaniards, as anglers are hooking jack crevalle, bullet tuna, false albacore, and more while trolling and casting for the mackerel.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons around Masonboro Inlet and out to a few miles offshore.
King mackerel are becoming more prevalent in the 20 mile range, with some dolphin mixed in with them. Both live and dead baits will tempt bites from the kings and dolphin.
Bottom fishing around structure in the same areas is producing plenty of action with gag grouper and smaller fish like black sea bass, grunts, and more. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and squid will produce results with the bottom feeders.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have been bringing some flounder over the rails recently (many 15-18” keepers). Live mud minnows and finger mullet are producing most of the flatfish action. A 6.5 lb. red drum was also caught last week.
Plug casters are catching good numbers of bluefish and ladyfish on Gotchas, with a few spanish mackerel in the mix.
The water is 82 degrees.
