Wrightsville Beach August 31, 2006
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that fishing has been steady for the last week. Red drum are still biting well in the creeks, inlets, and surf. Live bait, fresh cut bait, and artificials are all working, but you have to play around to find what’s working best at any given time.
Flounder have been biting very well in the river, as well as the waterway and nearshore reefs. There are plenty of mullet around now for flounder bait, but Gulp baits have been getting their attention too.
Ladyfish have been in the area and will hit shrimp and topwaters, and sheepshead are hanging around the docks and bride pilings hitting crabs and sand fleas.
Outside the inlets, the spanish are biting fairly well early in the mornings. Kings are scattered from the beach out to 100 feet of water. Some of the bigger fish have been caught on the inlet tide lines.
Several sailfish have been landed off the beach in 75-90 feet of water. Sea bass and grouper are being caught as close as 20 miles.
The dolphin bite has slowed somewhat, but there are still good catches 20-30 miles out. The few gulf stream reports have been catches of wahoo with scattered dolphin.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports that there are good catches of dolphin and king mackerel in the 10-15 mile range off the beach. Pulling live pogies or dead cigar minnows has been the best tactic.
The dolphin have been especially big this week, with several 15+ pounders landed and the heaviest weighing in at 28 lbs.
The flounder bite has slowed down with all the rain this past week, but it should pick right back up with all the bait around.
Red drum fishing has stayed consistent due at least in part to all the mullet moving around along the waterway and creeks.
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports that bottom fishing has been decent in the 20 mile range, with a few gag grouper, big sea bass, and small beeliners. There has even been some nice flounder caught in this area.
A few of the sea bass were around 3-4 pounds this week. Dropping dead baits or live pogies has been the preferred method.
The top bite offshore has slowed down drastically, with very few kings, the occasional dolphin, and the usual barracudas and sharks.
Along the beach there are a few spanish mackerel, flounder, and good numbers of gray trout (if you can get on a good school of them).
Willy, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that black drum and spots are eating shrimp pinned to bottom rigs. The spots are nice ones (around 1 lb.).
Some flounder have been caught this week, but none have been big.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel (up to 4 lbs.) are hitting Gotcha plugs.
An 18 lb. king mackerel was caught this week.
The water temperature at the pier is 84 degrees.
