Wrightsville Beach July 12, 2012
Michael Ragazzo with a 7 lb. red drum that bit a Gulp bait near a Figure Eight Island dock.
Ryan, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of red drum inshore around the creeks, marshes, docks, and inlets. Live baits are a good bet for the reds, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft plastics, topwater plugs, and a variety of other lures.
The flounder fishing has also been good in many of the same areas, with drifting the inlets producing big numbers and fishing around inshore structure putting larger fish in the boat. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and menhaden will tempt bites from the flatfish, and Gulp baits are also a solid bet.
Out in the ocean, bluefish and spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and just off the inlets. Anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons and small daisy chains, or they can stop and cast small metal jigs to schools of fish they spot working the surface.
Bottom fishermen are still connecting with plenty of gag grouper and black sea bass at structure in the 20 mile range. Squid, cigar minnows, and a variety of other baits pinned to bottom rigs will put them in the boat.
Dolphin continue to move towards the beaches, and anglers reported action with dolphin and some king mackerel at spots 10-12 miles offshore last week.
Larger dolphin and kings are feeding further offshore, with decent action around 23 Mile Rock. Live menhaden and cigar minnows (or dead cigar minnows) will tempt bites from the ‘phins and kings.
Gulf Stream trollers are still connecting with some dolphin and wahoo, along with decent numbers of billfish. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are responsible for most of the action in the Stream, but anglers can also hook up on baitless skirted lures.
Randye Rice, of Carolina Beach, with a 38" king mackerel that bit a live menhaden on a Carolina rig at the Liberty Ship off Wrightsville Beach.
Jon, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the billfish bite is still consistent for local boats fishing the Gulf Stream, with several seeing multiple white marlin along with some sailfish last week. Trolling naked “dink” ballyhoo behind dredge and daisy chain teasers is the best way to tempt bites from the bills. Dolphin and wahoo are mixed in with the billfish, and they’ll take naked or skirted ballyhoo.
Some sailfish have moved inshore of the Stream, and anglers have been seeing and hooking a few 20-30 miles out lately. Ballyhoo or live baits will tempt bites from the inshore sails.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront, where anglers can hook big numbers of both while trolling Clarkspoons or casting small metal jigs to fish working the surface.
Inshore, the drum bite has been consistent around the creeks, flats, and in the inlet. Live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and a variety of other offerings will tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are feeding around inshore structure and in the same spots as the reds, and Gulp baits or live finger mullet, mud minnows, and menhaden will tempt them to bite.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that bottom fishing has been solid at structure in the 80-90’ depths lately. Gag grouper have been the primary targets, and they are falling for live baits, cigar minnows, sardines, and more. Black sea bass, pinkies, triggerfish, and other bottom dwellers are in the same areas and will pounce on squid and cut baits or small vertical jigs.
Some king mackerel and dolphin are falling for live and dead baits that anglers are light-lining while bottom fishing in the same areas.
Closer to the beaches, flounder are feeding at structure from the inlets to the 60’ range. Gulp-tipped bucktails are producing fast action with the flatfish.
Margaret McClain, of Wilmington, with her first flounder, an 18.5" fish that fell for a Gulp Jerkshad while she was fishing near Wrightsville Beach with Chandler Turlington.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite remains consistent within a few miles of the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons around working birds, bait concentrations, and fish feeding on the surface will put the spaniards in the boat.
Sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats in the same range, and they will eagerly bite large cut baits.
A few king mackerel and some large spanish (to 5+ lbs.) are feeding at spots in the 10-15 mile range. Live and dead baits will tempt them to bite.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are catching spanish mackerel and some smaller kings at spots from the inlets to 8 miles offshore. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights are producing most of the action with the spaniards.
Gag grouper, black sea bass, pinkies, and other bottom dwellers are looking for meals at structure in the 20-25 mile range. Squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and cut baits will tempt bites from all the bottom dwellers.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, and blues on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut baits.
Some flounder are taking small live baits fished under the pier.
The water is 82 degrees.
