Wrightsville Beach – July 10, 2014
Austin Meyd, of Surf City, NC, with a large red drum that bit a live pinfish near Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Jot Owens of Jot it Down Charters.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that not many reports have come in since the hurricane and holiday weekend, but anglers are seeing some excellent red drum action in the marshes. Topwater plugs have been very effective on the reds lately, and anglers can also cast spoons, soft plastics, or live baits with success. More reds are feeding around structure (like docks in the ICW) and biting live and cut baits.
Despite the lack of reports, anglers can expect the pre-storm action to continue once the ocean and inshore waters settle a bit.
Flounder have been feeding near the inlets, along the ICW, and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Live finger mullet and menhaden are top choices for the flatfish, but anglers hook big numbers on Gulp baits as well.
There’s been a summer speckled trout bite in the backwaters and near the inlets, and the specks are taking an interest in topwater lures, suspending hard baits, and soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel have made a post-storm appearance, and anglers continue to catch good numbers on trolled Clarkspoons within a few miles of the beachfront.
King mackerel have been feeding a bit further offshore, with good action 10-20 miles out last week. The kings will bite live baits (like menhaden) or frozen ballyhoo and cigar minnows pinned to dead bait rigs. Menhaden have shown back up in the ocean since the storm for anglers looking for king baits.
Caroline Ciener, of Wrightsville Beach, with a 21″ flounder that struck a live mud minnow off her dock at the north end of the island.
Anglers have also caught good numbers of dolphin in the 20 mile range recently, with most falling for the same baits as the kings.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with gag grouper at spots 15-20 miles out, but the bite remains a bit slower than usual. Those looking for grouper action would do better to fish 30+ miles out, where red and scamp grouper are mixed with the gags and the bite has been better. Live, dead, and cut baits will all fool the grouper, and anglers can also hook up on vertical jigs.
Smaller bottomfish like black sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, and more are feeding in the same areas and will pounce on smaller vertical jigs or squid and cut baits.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing a decent summer speckled trout bite, with most of the action near the inlets and in the marshes. Some are falling for topwater plugs, but suspending lures like Rapala X-Raps are fooling more of the specks.
Red drum are in many of the same areas and around docks inshore. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live and cut baits will fool the reds.
Flounder fishing has been solid inshore around the inlets and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Anglers are fooling the flatfish with live finger mullet and menhaden pinned to Carolina rigs.
Some large red drum are looking for meals in the ocean as well, and they’re biting the same live baits.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel have shown back up since the storm, and anglers saw a good bite in 20-30’ of water just off the beachfront early in the week. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers are accounting for most of the fish.
Tom Mudaro, of Wilmington, with a cobia he hooked 2 miles off Wrightsville Beach on a live bait.
Flounder are feeding around nearshore structure in the ocean and biting live baits and Gulps pinned to bucktail jigs.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers have seen the spanish mackerel bite fire back up after a few slow days following Hurricane Arthur. Most have been falling for Clarkspoons paired with planers and trolling weights.
Not many boats have been offshore since the storm, but anglers are hoping the dolphin, king mackerel, and amberjack action in the 20 mile range is still going.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some flounder and red drum are biting finger mullet on the bottom.
Live baiters have caught several sharks and some cobia over the past week.
