Wrightsville Beach July 2, 2009
James Blanton, from Wrightsboro, NC, with a 35 lb. king mackerel that fell for a live pogy at AR-382.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the inshore red drum bite was excellent up near Topsail last week. The fish are feeding in the marshes, and there should be plenty around Wrightsville. Topwater plugs have been working well lately, but anglers can also hook up with the reds on spinnerbaits, Gulps, other lures, and live baits.
A few chopper bluefish are still around, as an 11 lb. blue that fell for a topwater up at Topsail last week goes to show.
Anglers are catching good numbers of flounder throughout the inshore waters, particularly in the marshes and near the inlets, but many are still undersized. Live baits like finger mullet or peanut pogies on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties, but anglers can also tempt them with Gulp baits.
The red hot king mackerel and dolphin bite at the 10 Mile Rock and Boxcars last week has slowed, as the water changed a little and the fish pushed offshore. The good news is that there is still excellent fishing for both species in the 12-20 mile range for anglers willing to venture a little father from the beaches. Both live pogies and dead cigar minnows are fooling the fish. And a few cobia have been reported from the same areas.
Anglers saw and released several sailfish last week as well, with confirmed releases from the 30/30 and Dredge Wreck. The sails will fall for the same baits as the dolphin and kings, and a dredge or other flashy teaser in the trolling spread will help lure these inshore billfish towards the boat.
Bottom fishermen found excellent action with some big gag and scamp groupers last week at structure 30-40 miles off the beaches. Cigar minnows, live baits, cut baits, and vertical jigs will all attract attention from the groupers.
Kevin Branch, Carlton Price, and Harrison Masters, from Lumberton, NC, with a 67 lb. cobia that Masters landed on a flounder setup after an hourlong fight at the Masonboro Jetties.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the nearshore dolphin bite is still going strong, with good reports from the 10 mile area last week. Live pogies and frozen cigar minnows are both attracting attention from the dolphin and from snake kings feeding in the same areas. A few cobia have been mixed in.
Bottom fishermen and divers reported that big numbers of gag, red, and scamp grouper have moved into the 35-38 mile area. They’re holding on wrecks, ledges, and other structure, and anglers are hooking up with them while vertical jigging and dropping bottom rigs baited with cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits.
The Gulf Stream bite was a little bit slow last week, but anglers still caught a decent number of dolphin and released some sailfish, white, and blue marlin.
Inshore, anglers have found a solid red drum bite in the backwaters behind Masonboro Island. Topwater plugs are fooling good numbers of the reds and making for exciting strikes even when they miss the hooks.
The speckled trout bite in the lower Cape Fear area remains good, and anglers have caught big numbers in the Elizabeth River and around the Pfizer dock lately. Live shrimp underneath floats and D.O.A. clacker rigs are producing most of the trout action.
Lahana Tucker with a pair of dolphin (her first) she hooked at the 10 Mile Boxcars while trolling with her brother Joe Manor. The 'phins fell for frozen cigar minnows on Hank Brown Rigs.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that red drum fishing in the bays near North Topsail has been excellent lately. Most of the fish are mid-slot sized, but some schools of upper/over slot fish are around as well. The majority of the reds are feeding in 2’ of water or less, and anglers are hooking them consistently on topwater plugs.
When the seas are nice enough to go offshore, the dolphin, king mackerel, and gag grouper are feeding within 7 miles of the beaches. Live pogies will fool the dolphin and kings, and anglers are hooking the gags on baited bottom rigs and while vertical jigging.
Blacktip and spinner sharks have arrived nearshore in force, and fishing behind shrimp boats or chumming within a mile of the beaches has been producing plenty of fish (a few up to 100 lbs.).
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that the dolphin and king mackerel bite was excellent around structure 10 miles off Wrightsville last week. Live pogies are fooling the fish, and anglers can even sight-cast to some of the cruising dolphin with topwater poppers.
Some cobia are in the area as well, and anglers should be ready to pitch a bait in case a curious cobe swims up to investigate the boat.
The spanish mackerel bite is solid just off the beach, and anglers are catching the fish on trolled Clarkspoons, along with plenty of bluefish.
Ken, of Swell Rider Charters, reports that the grouper bite has been hot lately in 90-120’, where anglers are doubling over rods on gags, scamps, and reds. It’s also been an excellent class of fish (many gags 15+ lbs.), although some of the scamps have been undersized. Squid, cigar minnows, and cut mackerel are producing the lion’s share of the bites.
Plenty of dolphin are in the same areas, and anglers are hooking up with them while light-lining with cigar minnows where they’re bottom fishing.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that anglers are still catching some dolphin and king mackerel, but the bite slowed a bit when the wind went east last week. Live pogies are still drawing some bites from both fish as long as anglers can find a tide line or rip to fish along.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking a few black drum and whiting on shrimp.
Some flounder are falling for live finger mullet fished on the bottom.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs have been hooking up with some scattered spanish mackerel.
The water is 82.1 degrees.
