Wrightsville Beach August 20, 2009
Izzy Mabrey and Ken Broomfield with a 110 lb. swordfish they hooked 95 miles off Wrightsville Beach in 1600' aboard the "Fish Hooker."
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been excellent lately, both inshore and off the beaches. Inside and out, anglers seem to be catching bigger numbers of flatties to the north of the area and larger fish further south. Live baits on Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with scented soft baits are producing the action with the flounder.
Red drum are feeding on the flats and in the bays inshore in the area. Anglers are hooking the reds on topwater plugs and scented soft baits.
Spanish mackerel are still on the feed just off the beaches. Trolling with Clarkspoons and Blue Water Candy squid rigs is producing big numbers of the spaniards, and most of the action has been on top lately. Some larger (4+ lb.) fish are around as well, and they’re more apt to fall for live baits.
Blacktips, spinners, and other large sharks are feeding nearshore as well. Anglers can hook them near the shrimp boats, but chumming and fishing live baits near the inlets and pods of pogies working down the beaches has been producing at least as many sharks as following the shrimp fleet lately.
Tarpon are feeding in the same areas, but anglers are seeing far more of the fish than they’re hooking.
The sailfish bite is still solid in the 10-20 mile range, where anglers reported a number of hookups and releases over the past week. Live baits and rigged ballyhoo are both fooling the sails, and decent numbers of dolphin that have been feeding in the same areas.
The king mackerel bite has been on the slow side lately.
Bottom fishermen have been reporting that the grouper bite is fairly slow.
Amberjacks and African pompano are feeding around the legs of Frying Pan Tower and at the ledges nearby. Live baits almost guarantee hookups with the jacks and pompano if they’re around, and anglers can also entice them with vertical jigs.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream lately have been rewarded with action with good numbers of wahoo and some gaffer dolphin.
Jimmy Vass, Jr. (age 13) with his first wahoo. He hooked the fish on a ballyhoo under a blue/white sea witch in 50 fathoms of water off Wrightsville Beach while fishing with Les Edwards on the "Horse."
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the wahoo bite has been on fire all over the area lately, with boats reporting good catches from the Big Rock all the way south to the Steeples. Some sailfish and white marlin are feeding alongside the wahoo. Rigged ballyhoo will fool the wahoo and billfish.
Some sailfish are feeding inshore of the Stream, but they’ve moved back out to the 23+ mile areas. They’ll take an interest in ballyhoo or live baits.
Bottom fishermen are reporting catching a few grouper and snapper at structure 20-40 miles offshore. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut and live baits will fool the bottom feeders.
The red drum bite is still excellent behind Topsail and in the marshes throughout the area. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and live baits will attract attention from the reds.
Inshore structure is holding plenty of flounder, and Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulps will get their attention.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that vertical jigging on the edge of the Gulf Stream is producing plenty of action with large amberjacks (up to 80+ lbs.).
Live baiting with pogies near the Stream edge has produced action with some stout gaffer dolphin recently as well.
African pompano are holding around the Frying Pan Tower, and anglers are hooking them on live pogies as well.
Red and gag grouper are holding at bottom structure near the Tower and falling for live pogies and cigar minnows.
Live baiting closer to the beaches (in the 20-40 mile range) is attracting attention from plenty of smaller dolphin, some king mackerel, false albacore, and other fish.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of king mackerel (many teenagers) on dead cigar minnows while trolling at structure in the 15-20 mile range.
Closer to shore, the spanish mackerel bite has been hot within a mile of the beaches, where trolled Clarkspoons are producing plenty of action.
There are still plenty of large sharks feeding nearshore, and chumming and fishing with cut baits around nearshore structure, the inlets, or shrimp boats will attract attention from the sharks.
Dave and Arthur, from Asheville, NC, with a pair of gray trout and a 5 lb. flounder they hooked in the ocean off Masonboro Island on live finger mullet while fishing with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that anglers hooked several wahoo at a spot in the 30 mile range last week on live pogies. Good numbers of dolphin are feeding in the same area.
Anglers are also still finding dolphin 12-15 miles off the beaches with a few large king mackerel mixed in. Live pogies are fooling the kings and ‘phins, too.
The spanish mackerel bite is still excellent along the beaches, and anglers can hook the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of flounder from the pier, with a decent ratio of keepers mixed in with the throwbacks. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are the best baits for the flatties.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding well near the pier in the evenings, and anglers casting Gotcha plugs are hooking good numbers.
There have been big numbers of large rays cruising by the pier lately. Anglers have spotted a few cobia swimming with them, but they have been unable to tempt the cobes to bite.
Bottom fishermen have been decking a mixed bag of croaker, spot, gray trout, and spadefish recently.
