Wrightsville Beach August 23, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore the flounder and red drum fishing remains solid. Anglers must be prepared to fish early and late in the day, however, as the high midday temperatures slow down the bite.
The flounder and drum are feeding in the creeks, inlets, and ICW.
Both Carolina-rigged finger mullet and Gulp baits fished on jigheads will produce good results on the flounder and reds.
Boats are also finding good numbers of the flatfish at nearshore structure from 2-10 miles offshore.
The spanish mackerel bite has moved back inshore to the beach. Boats are catching good numbers of spanish while trolling with Clarkspoons and planers or trolling weights. Larger than normal Clarkspoons (size #1) have been hotter than the tiny models recently. Like the inshore bite, the spanish are feeding most actively very early and late in the day.
Tarpon are feeding right on the beach. Live pogies and dead or cut baits fished on the bottom should prove attractive to these silver giants. Anglers can locate the tarpon schools by watching out for the fish rolling on the surface.
The best king mackerel bite has been at least 10 miles off the beach over the past week. Boats are still finding plenty of sailfish feeding alongside the kings at spots 10-20 miles offshore. Live baits will draw strikes from both these gamefish.
The Gulf Stream is still giving up some wahoo for boats making the long run, and a few wahoo have been caught inshore of it as well.
Concentrations of gag grouper are holding on ledges in the 15-20 mile range. Red grouper, scamp, and other bottom fish are feeding at structure 30+ miles from land.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that with the daytime heat keeping anglers and fish lethargic, night fishing for ladyfish presents a welcome change. Around Wrightsville, the action is best near the lights of bridges and docks, as well as in Shinn Creek. The fish are also feeding well in Nixon and Greene’s channels further north.
When the ladies are feeding on mullet, a topwater plug (such as a Mirrolure She Dog) will produce explosive surface strikes. When they’re keyed in on smaller baits, fly fishing enables anglers to successfully cast flies small enough to “match the hatch.”
Flounder are feeding around docks near the inlets, and they will fall for live finger mullet or pogies fished on Carolina rigs.
At structure 5-10 miles offshore, anglers are hooking up with plenty of big spanish mackerel and school-sized kings (around 5 lbs.). Live baits are producing the best results, and threadfins are drawing more strikes than pogies.
Bigger kings (20+ lbs.) are feeding well in the 30 mile range.
Anglers are also finding plenty of hungry red grouper 30-35 miles off the beach. Some scamps and other bottom fish are feeding on the same structure, and cut baits have been very effective recently.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that speckled trout and red drum are feeding well in the inshore waters around south Topsail. The fish have been holding in the creeks and the ICW. Live pogies are the top baits right now.
James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that over sized red drum (30”+) are hitting live baits and sand fleas, and they’re providing exciting battles for pier anglers.
Black drum (3-5 lbs.) are falling for sand fleas and whole shrimp fished on the bottom.
Sand fleas and shrimp are also drawing strikes from 1.5-2 lb. pompano.
Anglers are hooking up with keeper flounder on Carolina-rigged live baits.
Spanish mackerel (some up to 5 lbs.) are biting Gotcha plugs.
The water temperature is 84 degrees.
