Wrightsville Beach – July 2, 2015
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers have seen some solid action with king mackerel, dolphin, and cobia while trolling 7-20 miles off Wrightsville over the past week. Both live baits like menhaden and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo are attracting attention from the three predators.
Not many anglers have been fishing further offshore due to the wind lately, but some sailfish have been reported in the 25-40 mile range.
Bottom fishing has been producing plenty of action with gag grouper and black sea bass at spots starting 25 miles out. Red and scamp grouper along with other smaller bottomfish are looking for meals at spots in the 40 mile range. Live, dead, and cut baits are all solid choices for the bottom bouncers.
Closer to the beachfront, the spanish mackerel bite has gotten a bit scattered due to all the heat. Some anglers are finding active pods of the spaniards, though, and hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures behind planers, inline weights, and birds.
Inshore, the flounder and drum bite remains good around the inlets and in the creeks and marshes. Casting topwater plugs early and late in the day is tempting bites from the reds in the shallows. Anglers are hooking both the reds and flatfish on Gulps and live baits fished on the bottom in deeper water.
Brittany Brown with an over-slot red drum she hooked while fishing in the Cape Fear River with her fiance, Carter Pigford of Cape Fear RV and Marine.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are still finding action with red drum and flounder inshore around the inlets and structure like docks. Live and cut baits have been outproducing artificials for both fish recently.
Good numbers of the reds are also feeding around the Masonboro jetties, where live and cut baits are also producing results.
Ron Randall with a dolphin that struck a cigar minnow under a pink Blue Water Candy skirt 23 miles off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Tom Gordo on the “Hi-Def.”
The flounder bite remains good on nearshore structure in the ocean when it’s calm enough for anglers to get out. Both live baits and bucktail jigs will produce results with the ocean flatfish.
Some large spanish mackerel are feeding around the same structure and will take an interest in live baits fished on the surface on light wire leaders.
Barracuda are looking for meals at the wrecks and around buoys in the ocean. Live baits and tube lures are leading to some exciting battles with the ‘cudas.
Sal Vasi, of Houston, TX, with a ladyfish that struck a Heddon Spook topwater plug in the ICW near Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with king and spanish mackerel from the 20’ depths just off the beachfront to 10 miles offshore (depending on the day). Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights are fooling the spanish, and the kings are biting larger spoons and dead baits like cigar minnows. Some dolphin are mixed in with the kings and also biting dead baits.
Amberjacks are schooled up around wrecks from 5-10 miles off the beaches. Live baits are the best bets for anglers looking to tussle with the jacks.
Harrison Hall and Jacob Thompson prepare to release an estimated 75 lb. tarpon Thompson battled after it struck a live bluefish off the end of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers continue to hook king mackerel and dolphin while trolling around spots in the 20 mile range off Masonboro Inlet. Ballyhoo, cigar minnows, strip baits, and spoons have all been producing results on both fish.
The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down considerably along the beachfront, but persistent anglers are still putting some in the boat.
Liza Herring with a 42 lb. cobia she landed on light tackle while trolling for spanish mackerel off Masonboro Island.
Ron, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live-baiters have landed barracuda and tarpon in the past few days. Some large spanish mackerel are also falling for live baits off the end of the pier.
Anglers are hooking smaller spanish and some bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting small live baits.
The water is 82 degrees.
John Squire and Brody Brown with a 55.5 lb. dolphin they landed after it struck a Black Bart Tuna Candy at the Same Ol’ Hole.
