Wrightsville Beach August 25, 2011
Justin Warren, of Wilmington, with a red drum that bit a D.O.A. soft plastic in the ICW near Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Butch Davis.
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some pompano in the surf at Wrightsville, mostly on sand fleas.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are chasing bait just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking them while casting metal lures from the sand and piers and while trolling Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and other lures from boats.
Flounder and red drum fishing remains good inshore, with most of the action in the marshes and creeks. Live baits and Gulps will fool both the flatfish and reds, and anglers may also be able to tempt the reds to bite topwater plugs.
Some tarpon have been seen and hooked down around the shoals at Bald Head, and anglers have also reported the giant fish feeding off Rich’s Inlet.
Offshore, the sailfish action remains hot around 23 Mile Rock and other areas in the 20 mile range where anglers find bait concentrations. Trolling naked ballyhoo and dredge and daisy chain teasers will attract attention from the sails.
Some larger gaffer dolphin (10-20 lbs.) and plenty of bailers are still feeding alongside the sails, and they will take an interest in ballyhoo as well.
King mackerel fishing has improved slightly, and anglers reported landing some around 23 Mile Rock, the 30/30, and other spots in the 20-30 mile range last week. Live menhaden are the best baits for the larger kings, but dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will also tempt them to bite.
Out in the blue water, anglers are connecting with some wahoo and a few blackfin tuna around local hotspots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole. A few billfish are feeding in the same areas, and all will take an interest in skirted and naked ballyhoo or baitless lures trolled a little faster.
Steve, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are still finding solid action with sailfish around 23 Mile Rock and bait concentrations in other areas. Trolling naked ballyhoo along with dredge and squid chain teasers will attract the sails to the boat and tempt them to bite.
Scattered king mackerel reports are coming in, with the best action lately down to the south. Live menhaden are tough to beat for the kings, but they’ll also bite dead cigar minnows and other baits.
Red Blanton, from Wilmington, with an overslot redfish caught while fishing in the Cape Fear Homebuilders Fishtales Tournament. He was fishing with Steve Caudill.
Inshore, the red drum action has been good on the flats and in deeper holes inshore. Live baits, Gulps, spinnerbaits, and topwater plugs will tempt bites from the reds.
Speckled trout are also starting to make an appearance. Creek mouths and deeper holes inshore will offer anglers their best odds of connecting with the specks. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but anglers may also be able to hook up while working topwater plugs in the early mornings.
The flounder bite is still excellent at the nearshore reefs and rocks within 5-10 miles of the beaches. Bucktails tipped with Gulp baits and Carolina-rigged live baits are top choices for the flounder. The flatfishing is also solid around deeper structure inshore.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that there’s been an excellent wahoo bite in the Gulf Stream. The fish are feeding along the break, where ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored trolling lures are tempting them to bite. Running one of the baits deep behind a planer will offer anglers their best odds of hooking up with the ‘hoos. A few sailfish are feeding in the same areas and also falling for the ballyhoo.
Vertically jigging along the break is producing plenty of action with large amberjacks.
Bottom fishing in the 25-40 mile range has been producing some action with red and scamp grouper on live baits.
A bit closer to shore, there’s been a good gag grouper bite at structure around 20 miles out. Plenty of black sea bass, grunts, pinkies, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers are on the feed in the same areas. Live and cut baits are top choices for the gags, while squid and smaller cut baits will tempt bites from the smaller bottomfish.
Light-lining while bottom fishing is attracting attention from some smaller dolphin.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still solid out of Wrightsville Beach. The best action was in 30-35’ of water last week, and trolling Clarkspoons behind small planers has been the most productive tactic.
Flounder fishing is still excellent at nearshore structure in the ocean, and small live baits or bucktails tipped with Gulps or pork rind strips will fool the flatfish.
Bottom fishing a little further offshore in the 10-15 mile range is producing action with some gag grouper and plenty of sea bass, grunts, triggerfish, and more. Live and cut baits will tempt bites from all the bottom feeders.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the red drum bite is still solid inshore. Anglers are finding the best action in the creeks and inlets, with not much going on in the ICW. Live baits are the best bets for consistent action with the reds.
Flounder fishing has been best lately in Snow’s Cut and at the nearshore wrecks and reefs. Live baits or Gulp-tipped bucktails will get attention from the flatfish.
Rick Kelly, of Carolina Beach, with a false albacore that weighed 26 lbs. with its belly cut out for bait that fell for a naked ballyhoo 15 miles off Wrightsville Beach. Whole, the fish could've eclipsed the current NC State Record.
Mike, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching some sea mullet and spot while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Good numbers of red drum are feeding near the pier, and they will bite shrimp, sand fleas, or live baits.
Small live baits fished under the pier are producing some flounder action.
The water is 84 degrees.
