Wrightsville Beach – August 7, 2014
Jon Salvant with a 29″ red drum he caught and released in Masonboro Inlet. The red gulped down a live finger mullet.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the monsoon-like weather over the past week has kept many anglers off the water and reports sparse, but those who’ve been out are still finding some action, and the rain likely won’t have any long-lasting effects on the fishing in the coming weeks.
Boats running to the Gulf Stream are still reporting solid summer wahoo action, with some limit catches. The fish aren’t running huge, but they will get bigger as summer fades into fall. Both conventional skirted ballyhoo spreads and baitless high-speed lures will fool the wahoo. A few dolphin, blackfin tuna, and billfish are looking for meals in the ‘Stream as well and will also take an interest in ballyhoo.
The 40-45 mile bottom fishing isn’t as hot as it was, but anglers are still hooking gag, scamp, and red grouper, along with plenty of smaller bottom feeders like sea bass, porgies, grunts, and more.
The gag bite around structure 20-25 miles out is getting better after a slow start to the season. Anglers can tempt the gags to bite live baits or dead cigar minnows, sardines, mackerel, and more.
King mackerel had been scattered from the beaches out to the 40 mile range before the rain, and anywhere anglers can find some clean water and bait right now, they should stand a chance at some king action.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding off Wrightsville Beach, but the action’s likely better a bit off the beaches in the 50’ depths than right against the breakers.
Terry Trivette and Andrea Williams with speckled trout and a flounder that bit a variety of artificials while they were fishing in Masonboro Sound with Capt. Josh Savage of Yellow Dog Charters.
Red drum are feeding in the inlets, on the flats, and around inshore structure like docks. Anglers can fool the reds with topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live and cut baits.
The speckled trout bite had been surprisingly good for summer before the weather, and it will likely continue. Anglers can find the specks feeding in creeks and near the inlets, and then tempt them to bite topwater plugs and soft plastic baits.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas as the reds and trout, as well as at nearshore structure in the ocean. The flatfish will bite scented soft baits like Gulps or live finger mullet and mud minnows.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers saw some solid fishing before last week’s rains, and the action should hold up once the water settles down a bit.
The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent off Masonboro Inlet, but anglers may have to do some hunting to find an active school of fish as last week they were feeding on the beach one day and a few miles out the next. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights are the best bets for the mackerel.
Sharks have been feeding in the same areas as the spanish and will happily devour a large cut or dead bait.
Bottom fishing is improving in the 70-80’ depths. Anglers dropping baits to structure in that range are connecting with gag grouper and some healthy black sea bass, grunts, and other smaller fish. Sardines, cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will all attract attention from the bottom dwellers.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that there’s still a fairly strong speckled trout bite going on inshore around Wrightsville Beach. The fish are feeding around the inlets, in the creeks, and near structure like docks, and they’re biting topwater lures, suspending hard baits, and soft plastics.
Mike Rhein with a 26 lb. red grouper that fell for a vertical jig at some bottom structure 40 miles off Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Warren Barton on the “Rockhound.”
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and will pounce on all the same baits. Anglers can also cast cut and live baits around ICW docks for good shots at some drum hookups.
Flounder are looking for meals near the inlets and around inshore and nearshore structure. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden are tough for the flatfish to turn down.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder and a few red drum on live baits fished on the bottom.
Croaker and other panfish are biting shrimp and bloodworms at night.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas.
And plenty of sharks are feeding around the pier at night and biting dead and cut baits.
