Wrightsville Beach July 15, 2010
Gregory Beadham and Gage Rushing, from Wilmington, with Gregory's first red drum, a 26 incher he landed while on a fishing and tubing trip with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has been consistent lately. Anglers are finding the fish in the inlets, the creeks, and around inshore structure. Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulp baits will fool the flatties.
Black drum are making a showing throughout the area. Anglers reported good catches from the surf and the Cape Fear River last week. The drum will take an interest in shrimp.
The red drum fishing’s been a little hit-or-miss lately, but anglers in the know are still catching decent numbers. Live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and a variety of other lures will fool the reds.
The spanish mackerel bite slowed up a bit last week, likely due to the shifting winds. Some stable weather should return the spaniards to feeding normally.
Anglers did find some solid king mackerel action around 10 miles off the beaches last week. Some dolphin and a few sailfish are mixed in. Live pogies and cigar minnows or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will tempt bites from all three.
Amberjacks are schooled up around the Schoolhouse and similar high-relief structure. They’ll take an interest in live baits, vertical jigs, and, on occasion, topwater plugs.
Bottom fishermen reported some solid catches of red and gag grouper around structure in the 35 mile range last week. Some gags are feeding a bit closer to shore, at spots 10-20 miles out. Cigar minnows, sardines, cut baits, and more will appeal to the grouper.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the billfish bite is on in the Gulf Stream, though not many local boats have made the trip lately. Boats to the north and south of the area reported excellent white marlin and sailfishing last week, with a few blue marlin mixed in, so the fish should be at local Gulf Stream spots like the Same Ol’ and Steeples as well. Pulling dredge teasers and dink ballyhoo is the best way to capitalize on the white marlin and sailfish action.
Dolphin are also feeding in the Stream and on in towards the beaches (with some reported as close as 5 miles last week). Anglers can hook up with the ‘phins while trolling live or dead baits.
The king mackerel bite has been on fire to the south lately, and live baits are producing the largest fish.
Spanish mackerel are feeding in Masonboro Inlet and nearby along the beach. They’ll take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons or other lures.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been steady in the marshes and bays. They’ll strike topwater plugs early and late in the day, and gold spoons and soft plastics are effective when they don’t want to hit on top.
Flounder fishing has been solid both around Wrightsville and in the river recently. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktails.
Seth Goodrich, of Richmond, VA, with an 18" speckled trout that fell for a bucktail/Gulp bait combination in a Wrightsville Beach marsh.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream trolling lately has been producing some scattered dolphin, but decent billfishing in 600’ and deeper. Anglers are seeing white marlin and sailfish in the deep water, and hooking them on skirted ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures.
Bottom fishing in the 35-50 mile range has been producing decent catches of scamp and red grouper lately. Cigar minnows and other baits will fool the grouper.
Closer to the beaches, gag grouper are feeding in the 10-20 mile range and will fall for cigar minnows as well.
Slow-trolling with live pogies, cigar minnows, and squid 10-15 miles off the beach has been producing plenty of action with teenager (some larger) king mackerel, some dolphin, and an occasional cobia. Some sailfish have been in the same areas.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has improved a bit lately, and anglers are finding some dependable action while trolling and casting in 15-40’ of water just off the beaches.
The red drum bite has been excellent in the inlets, around ICW structure, and in Snow’s Cut lately. Live pogies and finger mullet are the most effective baits.
Flounder are in most of the same places as the reds, with the best action in the inlets and at the nearshore reefs lately. Pogies and finger mullet will attract attention from the flatfish as well.
Clem Doniere, from Wilmington, with a sailfish caught and released about 10 miles off Topsail trolling a cigar minnow on a spinning reel with 15 lb. test. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Lashin on a 20' skiff.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite in the 10 mile range remains solid, and there are more dolphin mixed in than in previous weeks. Some sailfish are feeding in the same areas.
Dead cigar minnows are attracting attention from the kings and dolphin.
The spanish mackerel bite has been best a bit further off the beaches lately, in 35’ and deeper.
Sharks are patrolling the nearshore waters, and anglers can catch them virtually at will by fishing behind culling shrimp boats with large cut baits.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live-baiters had a solid week, landing a number of king mackerel and getting several cobia and tarpon bites.
Plug casters are catching spanish mackerel (some to nearly 5 lbs.) on Gotcha plugs early and late in the day.
Sheepshead are feeding near the pilings, and anglers are hooking them on sand fleas and other baits.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with some red and black drum, pompano, whiting, and spot.
The water is 84 degrees.
