Wrightsville Beach August 5, 2010
Brayden Crowder (age 7), of Raleigh, with his first topwater red drum. He hooked the fish near Topsail Island on a topwater plug while fishing with his father, Jason, and Capt. Seth Vernon of Double Haul Guide Service.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that surf fishermen have been finding decent action with whiting and pompano recently. Most of the fish are falling for sand fleas and shrimp.
Some red and black drum are also feeding in the surf, and they’ll take an interest in Gulps or sand fleas.
Inshore, anglers are finding plenty of red drum in the area’s creeks, but many have been hesitant to bite lately. Live bait and Gulp baits will tempt strikes from the reds when they’re feeding.
The flounder bite’s been decent near Rich’s Inlet lately, where anglers are hooking the flatfish on Gulps and live baits.
Flounder are feeding on nearshore structure as well, but many have been small lately.
The spanish mackerel bite is still decent early and late in the day, mostly between the inlet and the sea buoy. Trolled Clarkspoons will put plenty of spaniards in the cooler, but anglers can hook up with larger fish on live baits like finger mullet.
The king mackerel and dolphin bite has been somewhat hit-or-miss lately, but anglers are finding the fish from nearshore structure out to the 30 mile range, with the best action in 25-35 miles out. Live and dead baits will fool the kings and dolphin. Some sailfish are feeding alongside them and will take an interest in the same baits.
Bottom fishermen who know where to look have found solid gag grouper action around bottom structure in 80-100’ of water lately. Live baits, dead cigar minnows, cut baits, and more will fool the gags.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that offshore anglers are reporting action with a few sailfish and some smallish dolphin in the 10-30 mile range. Both are falling for rigged ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen have been hooking up with some gag grouper, sea bass, grunts, and other bottom feeders at structure in 60-70’ of water. Live baits are top choices for the grouper, while the bass and others will take a liking to squid and small cut baits.
Inshore, anglers are finding some red drum action on the flats and in the surf. Live and cut baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and more will fool the reds.
Flounder fishing’s been decent in the inlets, the creeks, and at structure off the ICW and Cape Fear River. Live finger mullet and mud minnows or bucktail/Gulp combinations will fool the flatties.
Some speckled trout are on the feed despite the warm weather. Anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and small mud minnows under floats, and the most consistent action has been in the river between Snow’s Cut and Southport.
Kristin Strickland with an over-slot red drum that fell for a live pogie near an ICW dock. She was fishing with Capt. Rick Bennett of Rod-Man Charters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that some large spanish mackerel (5+ lbs.) are feeding along the beaches and at nearshore structure, and they will take an interest in small live baits.
The flounder bite has been solid at nearshore structure in the area (with good numbers of 2-4 lb. fish). Anglers are also hooking up with the flatfish on small live baits.
Offshore bottom fishing has been producing excellent catches of gag grouper, some red and scamp groupers, triggerfish, grunts, sea bass, and other bottom dwellers. Live baits will fool the groupers, while squid and small cut baits will attract attention from the smaller bottom dwellers. The action’s been best to the south of the area recently.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have put together some nice catches of gag grouper, grunts, pinkies, and other bottomfish around structure in 70’ of water lately. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Some king mackerel and dolphin have been feeding at spots 20-30 miles offshore lately, and ballyhoo under South Chatham Pirate Plugs have been producing the best results on both. A few kings are still feeding in the 10 mile range.
The spanish mackerel bite is decent close to the beaches for anglers trolling Clarkspoons and other lures.
Large sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats culling their catch in the area, and anglers can hook them easily on whole and cut baits.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that anglers are catching some slot and over-slot red drum around docks and other structure off the ICW. Live baits are fooling most of the fish.
Some near citation-sized flounder and gray trout are feeding in the same areas, and they should also take an interest in live finger mullet and peanut pogies.
Spanish mackerel fishing along the beaches has been hit-or-miss, with a day of good fishing followed by a tough bite.
Jordan Nason with a citation 8.1 lb. sheepshead that fell for a live fiddler crab at some inshore structure near Figure Eight Island. Weighed in at Tex's Tackle.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching some stout red and black drum from the pier (7-10 lbs.). Cut baits and shrimp are fooling the fish.
Anglers also landed some fat pompano (1-2+ lbs.) recently on shrimp.
Flounder are coming over the rails on the rising tides nearly every day, and most are falling for small live baits.
Spanish mackerel and some larger bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs in the afternoons.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel (to 29 lbs.) and barracuda last week.
The water is 84 degrees.
