Wrightsville Beach August 23, 2012
Mark House, Jr., and Mark House, Sr., of Carolina Beach, with a 53.5 lb. wahoo that bit a live menhaden on king mackerel gear while they were fishing near the Schoolhouse.
Justin, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still connecting with plenty of flounder inshore around the inlets and docks and other structure. Live finger mullet and menhaden, as well as Gulp baits, are tempting the flounder to bite.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and will pounce on the same baits. There are also good numbers of reds in the shallow bays and flats from Wrightsville to the Cape Fear River, and topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and spoons will also get results from the reds in the shallows.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks, near the inlets, and down in the Cape Fear River. The bite’s best in the early mornings, and live baits, soft plastics, and suspending lures like MirrOlure MR’s and Yo-Zuri’s 3D series are top choices for the specks.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the inlets and beaches, and anglers trolling Clarkspoons are hooking big numbers. Casting metal jigs at fish feeding on the surface is also producing some action, and anglers are tying into a few larger fish on free-lined live baits.
King mackerel and some dolphin are feeding at spots starting around 15 miles offshore. Anglers are connecting with both while trolling live menhaden and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Those making the longer run to the Gulf Stream are hooking into more dolphin, and wahoo are starting to make their fall appearance.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some gag grouper and plenty of black sea bass at bottom structure within 25 miles of the beaches. Live baits or dead cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel are top choices for the gags, and the bass will take an interest in squid or cut baits. Red and scamp grouper and other bottom dwellers (like triggerfish and beeliners) are feeding further offshore in 100’ of water, and they’re susceptible to the same tactics.
Robbie, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of sheepshead around docks, bridge pilings, and other hard inshore structure. Live fiddler crabs dangled close to the structure are the way to go for the sheeps.
Flounder and red drum are feeding in the inlets, around docks, and at plenty of other inshore spots around Wrightsville. Live finger mullet and menhaden, Gulp baits, and a variety of other artificials will fool the flounder and reds.
Surf casters are connecting with some sea mullet and a few puppy drum from the beach at Wrightsville. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits will tempt bites from both.
Anglers are reporting action with king mackerel at spots starting around 10 miles out. Both live baits and dead cigar minnows will fool the kings.
Dolphin are mixed in with the kings around 23 Mile Rock and at spots further offshore. Some sailfish may be in the same areas, and both will pounce on rigged ballyhoo, especially when paired with dredge and daisy chain teasers.
The wahoo bite is improving, and anglers have landed several inshore of the break recently, with more out at the typical Gulf Stream spots.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that amberjacks and red, gag, and scamp groupers, along with plenty of other species, are feeding at structure along the break in 150’ and deeper. Vertical jigs like Blue Water Candy Roscoes will fool both, but they’re often tough to get past the jacks (some bruisers approaching 100 lbs.). Baited bottom rigs are a better bet for the groupers.
Tanner Lewis, of Wilmington, with a 30" red drum he caught and released in Masonboro Inlet on his 7th birthday. The red fell for a live finger mullet.
Wahoo are feeding in the same areas and will attack rigged ballyhoo or a variety of trolling lures.
Closer to shore, the gag grouper action at spots in the 20-25 mile range has been stellar lately, with live baits and dead cigar minnows, sardines, cut baits, and more tempting the gags to bite.
Good numbers of king mackerel are looking for meals in the same area, and they have a tough time turning down a live bait.
Spanish mackerel (some large ones weighing 5+ lbs.) are feeding on the surface from the beaches out to spots in the 20 mile range, and they will respond to smaller live baits or metal casting jigs.
Flounder fishing remains excellent at structure in the 50-60’ depths. Bucktail jigs tipped with Gulps or other scented soft baits are the way to go for the flatfish.
Some large red drum (35-50”) have been feeding at the same spots as the flounder and will also bite bucktails.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are still catching big numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons around the inlets and a few miles offshore around working birds, surface activity, and bait pods.
The king mackerel bite has slowed a bit. The kings are around from the beaches to the 20 mile range, though, so it could turn back on at any time. Live baits or dead cigar minnows will get attention from the kings.
Amberjacks are schooled up around ledges and wrecks from the 10 mile range on out, and they have a tough time turning down a live bait.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are picking up some dolphin and other pelagics like false albacore, barracuda, and more while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures around 23 Mile Rock.
Bottom fishing in the same area is putting plenty of black sea bass, grunts, some grouper, and other bottom dwellers in the cooler. Squid and cut baits will tempt bites from the bottomfish.
Spanish mackerel fishing remains excellent just off Masonboro Inlet, where trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights is putting plenty of fish in the boat.
Phillip, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that plug casters are catching good numbers of bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the pier. A school of jack crevalle also showed up this week, and they had plenty of interest in the plugs.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and few spot at night on shrimp and bloodworms.
