Wrightsville Beach December 6, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore, anglers are hooking up with speckled trout and scattered red drum. The trout are feeding at structure and creeks off the ICW. Live shrimp are the top trout baits, but Gulp baits, soft plastics, Mirrolures, and other artificials will also draw bites.
Trout, reds, and bluefish are also feeding especially heavily in the inlets, where the trout fishing has been very good.
Red drum are schooled up in the surf to the north.
The red and trout bite should continue on into the winter, especially on warm, sunny days when the rising inshore water temperatures trigger the fish to feed.
Anglers are encountering schools of false albacore from the inlets and beaches out to nearshore structure like the Topsail inshore ledges. When boats or beach anglers can get close enough to make casts to the fast moving schools of fish, Stingsilvers and Maria jigs should attract their attention.
Offshore, grouper fishing will get even better over the winter. While gags are feeding at spots as close as 10 miles from the beaches right now, they’ll begin to move further offshore over the coming months. Red and scamp groupers should continue to bite at structure 30+ miles from land.
King mackerel are schooled up and headed offshore, but boats willing to make the run should be able to target them around temperature breaks 40+ miles out over the winter.
The Gulf Stream wahoo bite has slowed down a bit.
Anglers eagerly awaiting the arrival of bluefin tuna will be pleased to know that some have already been sighted off Topsail and several caught off Morehead City, so they could be making an appearance in our waters very soon.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that speckled trout are feeding around docks and other structure off the ICW, behind Masonboro, and in Bradley Creek. Live baits, soft plastics, and Mirrolures should all attract attention from the trout.
Red drum are schooling in the surf off Topsail, Lee Island, and near Rich’s Inlet. Anglers can pull up behind the breakers in boats and sight-cast finger mullet, grubs and Mirrolures to the schools, which are so close to shore that wading anglers can often get in on the action as well. West winds and sunny days make for the calmest and best conditions to target the surf drum.
Tautog are beginning to make their winter appearance on nearshore structure like the Topsail inshore ledges, Liberty Ship, and 5 Mile Boxcars. Fiddler crabs fished close to the structure should attract attention from these crustacean-loving fish.
King mackerel were feeding as close as 10 miles offshore last week, but have probably moved out to at least the 23 Mile Rock area by now, and will continue pushing offshore as the water temperatures fall.
Grouper fishing should stay hot throughout the winter at spots 35 miles and further offshore. Some gags are feeding closer to shore, inside 20 miles, but they’ll likely begin migrating offshore as December comes to a close.
Brent, of Current Adventure Charters, reports that the flats of the Cape Fear River are producing some excellent fishing right now, with anglers landing good numbers of red drum and speckled trout, along with a few flounder while casting skimmer jigs tipped with Gulp baits, bucktails, and spinnerbaits. Anglers are sight-casting to some fish and hooking others while blind-casting.
As the water temperatures fall, the fishing will remain good on the flats, but anglers must slow down their presentation, fishing soft plastic jerkbaits, Gulp Shrimp on light jigheads, or bucktails in the cooler water.
As long as the water temperatures don’t fall below 50 degrees for an extended period of time, red and trout fishing throughout the area should continue to be good well into the winter. Once it gets a bit colder, anglers should try to fish on sunny days and target shallow areas with dark mud bottoms where the sun has had a chance to warm the water a few degrees.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that speckled trout are holding around Rich’s Inlet. Most are running 2-3.5 lbs. and trolling Mirrolures through the area is an effective way to locate the fish.
At nearshore structure like the Topsail inshore ledges and 3-5 mile rockpiles, anglers are hooking up with sea bass, tautog, and a variety of other species. Vertically jigging above the structure should draw plenty of strikes. Good numbers of the bass are over 12”, and anglers landed ‘togs up to 5 lbs. in the past weeks.
King mackerel were holding in the 20-25 mile range last week, but they’ll continue moving offshore as the water cools down. Throughout the winter months, the best fishing will likely be found wherever boats can find the 69 degree temperature break offshore. Drone Spoons and cigar minnows should attract plenty of attention from the kings (when boats can find them).
The grouper bite has been terrific lately, with gags feeding 10-20 miles offshore, and reds around structure in the 30-35 mile range.
The wahoo bite has slowed down a bit in the Stream, but good numbers of nice (20+ lb.) blackfin tuna have been feeding out in the blue water.
Neil, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have been landing bluefish, red drum, and whiting over the past week. Shrimp are drawing bites from all three.
As December progresses, anglers will likely see some good speckled trout fishing when the fish move from the inshore waters out to the beaches.
