Wrightsville Beach July 16, 2009
Nate Evick, from Wilmington, with 15" and 22" flounder that fell for bucktail/Gulp bait combinations 15 minutes apart in the marsh inshore of Wrightsville Beach.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that finger mullet have shown up inshore, and the puppy drum and flounder fishing is improving steadily.
Plenty of the flounder are still undersized, but the average size is getting better by the week. The creeks and areas near the inlets are excellent places to begin looking for the flatfish.
The reds are also working the creeks, and anglers are hooking them on hardbaits like MirrOmullet 16MR’s and Rapala Skitterwalks.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding just off the beaches and around the inlets. Anglers can hook up with the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights, or by pulling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
The king mackerel bite was excellent along the beaches this past week, and anglers put a number of big kings on the decks of the area piers. Live baiting with pogies, bluefish, and other baits is the best method to hook up with the kings. Kings are also feeding near structure and bait concentrations from just offshore out to the 30 mile range.
Some cobia are scattered in with the kings along the beaches and offshore, and they’ll take an interest in live baits, too.
The dolphin action has moved offshore, but boats are still catching decent numbers while pulling both live and dead baits in the 15+ mile areas.
Some sailfish are mixed in with the kings and dolphin as well, and they’re falling for both live and dead baits. The sail bite should only improve as the summer wears on.
The grouper bite has been best in the 30-40 mile range lately, and anglers are catching gags, scamps, and reds—along with other bottom feeders—while dropping cigar minnows, sardines, cut baits, live baits, and vertical jigs.
Amberjacks are schooled up on wrecks and other high-relief structure, and anglers can hook them on topwater poppers when the fish get worked up enough to feed on the surface.
Chris Schwartz with a dolphin he hooked at 10 Mile Rock on a live, naked pogy. He was fishing with Jason Parker.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are finding a lot of red drum inshore around Wrightsville Beach. The reds are falling for soft plastic baits and topwater plugs, and fly fishermen have been getting in on the action, too.
Plenty of flounder are also showing up, and most anglers are hooking the flatties on Gulps and live finger mullet.
There have been huge numbers of pogies just off Wrightsville Beach, and big numbers of spanish mackerel are feeding on them. Anglers can hook the spaniards on metal casting lures or while trolling spoons and diving plugs.
There’s still some hot action with pelagic species 10-20 miles off the beach. Anglers trolling live and dead baits in that range are hooking up with king mackerel, dolphin, a few cobia, and an occasional sailfish.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that the backwaters behind Topsail are producing some excellent red drum fishing right now (with most of the fish mid-slot sized, but some much larger). The fish have been very susceptible to topwater plugs lately, and Johnson Sprite spoons are also drawing plenty of bites.
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that dolphin and king mackerel are still feeding between the 10 mile areas and spots in the 20 mile range. Live pogies will fool both fish, and anglers are also seeing a few sailfish scattered about the same areas.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches and will fall for trolled Clarkspoons.
Sharks are feeding along the beaches and inside the inlets, and anglers caught a variety last week including bonnetheads, duskies, and blacktips.
Inshore, speckled trout are falling for topwater plugs near the grass islands in the river.
Ken, of Swell Rider Charters, reports that fishing’s been excellent in the 30 mile range recently. Bottom structure in that area is playing host to gag, red, and scamp groupers, along with a variety of other bottomfish like sea bass, triggers, and beeliners. Squid, cigar minnows, and Boston mackerel will produce action with the bottom feeders.
A lot of king mackerel and dolphin are in the same area, and both will fall for a sardine or a cigar minnow pinned to a weightless light-line. The dolphin are more likely to be around when anglers are seeing good numbers of flying fish in an area.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that there’s been solid king mackerel and dolphin action in the 10-15 mile range off Wrightsville lately. In addition, a few cobia and sailfish are in the mix as well. Live pogies will fool all these fish, and anglers should have no trouble getting some, as there have been schools all over the beachfront lately.
Spanish mackerel are feeding around the pogy schools near the beaches.
Dan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live baiters had a good week with king mackerel, averaging around 5 a day (with the largest going 28 lbs.).
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Bottom fishermen are catching some nice pompano (up to 1.5 lbs.) and some bluefish.
The water is 82 degrees.
