Wrightsville Beach – July 2022
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have been catching red drum that are scattered just about everywhere.
Though you can’t keep them right now, anglers are also catching tons of flounder. Most of the flatfish are being caught with bottom-rigged live baits fished for reds.
There hasn’t been much action out in the surf with warmer water temperatures and plenty of beachgoers around. Anglers getting out early or late, or away from crowds, are landing the occasional pompano and scattered red drum.
Local piers have been catching sheepshead, red drum, spanish mackerel, and a few king mackerel.
Nearshore fishing has been dominated by the spanish mackerel bite. Anglers are finding both good numbers and plenty of large fish mixed in the action.
Schools of tarpon are already being seen rolling nearshore, with anglers targeting them by bottom fishing.
There are still scattered cobia cruising nearshore, but most now are pushed out over the bottom structures and wrecks.
Bottom fishing in the 18-40 mile range has been producing some good-sized grouper.
King mackerel action has slowed down a bit in close to the beach. Most schools are now pushed out into the 5-25 mile range. These fish vary in size from snakes to 35+ lb. fish.
Mahi are out in the 20-30 mile range. There have been a few fish caught in much closer, but this is not a bite you can count on as they get very scattered as they move inshore.
Craig Thompson and Tony Celeste, of St. James Fishing Club, hooked this 60.5″ mahi while trolling skirted ballyhoo at the Steeples.
Ben, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that red drum are in their summertime patterns. Anglers are having the most success while targeting docks and deeper ledges with live or cut menhaden. Red drum are also scattered up on the marsh flats. Weedless soft plastic jerk shads or topwaters are great for targeting these shallow reds.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged up around local bridges and docks. Live fiddler crabs or mud crabs are both great baits for targeting these structure-oriented species.
Anglers on the water early have been able to land a few speckled trout with topwater plugs on deeper ledges through the ICW and mainland creeks. This bite has stopped when the sun comes up and boat traffic picks up.
Surf anglers have been catching a variety of pompano, sea mullet, and black drum while bottom fishing. Bait choices have also varied from fresh shrimp and sand fleas to artificial Fishbites strips in a multitude of flavors.
Anglers fishing on the piers have been catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel with Gotcha plugs. Those rigged with pin rigs and live baits on the end have caught some kings.
Nearshore anglers targeting king mackerel have had success in the 5-25 mile range.
Mahi have been further out, with most anglers starting their efforts out in the 23+ mile range and trolling cigar minnows or ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing in the 15-30 mile range has been producing gag grouper.
Longer trips out into the Gulf Stream have seen gaffer-sized dolphin around weed lines, and pushing out further has produced blackfin tuna, wahoo, and some blue marlin.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore spanish mackerel fishing has been hot. There are plenty of the larger spanish (5-7 lbs.) in the mix. These larger fish are mostly only taking interest in live baits pulled with lightweight wire leader over nearshore structures and along the beach. Trolling Clarkspoons and deep diver plugs are definitely still producing good numbers of spanish, just not the same class of larger fish.
The slow trolled live baits will also entice strikes from a few kings that are hanging around these same nearshore areas.
Inshore, red drum are as active as they are going to be for this time of year. Anglers have found fish busting at topwater baits during first and last light while targeting creeks along the ICW. Spinnerbaits are producing good numbers in these same areas when the topwater bite begins to slow, and these red drum will also be staged up tight to hard structure such as docks and oyster beds. Cut and live baits fished on Carolina rigs work very well in these areas.
There has been a decent summer speckled trout bite going on as well. Most strikes are coming from anglers fishing topwater plugs in the low light hours.
Sheepshead fishing is as good as it gets, with anglers having plenty of success fishing a variety of crustaceans tight to structure and producing nice-sized fish (to 5+ lbs.).
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that nearshore anglers have been catching tons of spanish mackerel. These fish are schooled up just about everywhere from the inlets to out along the surf zone. Casting jigs at surface-feeding frenzies and around bait balls is the top producing tactic.
King mackerel action has been a bit hit or miss inside of five miles, with most schools now pushed further offshore.
Inshore anglers are finding the red drum action pretty sporadic. Anglers are having the most success with topwater plugs and chunk or live baits fished around docks.
A couple speckled trout are being caught early by anglers casting D.O.A. soft plastic shrimp around shell structure and ledges.
Isabelle Ricke, of Raleigh, hooked this redfish on a piece of croaker in the ICW near Wrightsville. She was fishing with Capt. Guion Lee III of Green Creek Outfitters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream trips are producing some good-sized mahi as well as scattered blackfin tuna and billfish action.
Anglers fishing bottom structures out on the break are seeing some excellent scamp grouper action, as well as gag grouper, a variety of snapper species, pinkies, and plenty of other bottom dwelling species.
Structure in the 30-50 mile range is producing red grouper, gag grouper, large vermilion snapper, and scamps. When fishing structure in this range, it is very possible to also hook into king mackerel and the scattered mahi that moved in with cleaner water.
Anglers making the run deep (1600’+) are finding some great swordfish action.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that spanish mackerel have been schooled up well both early and late in the day. There have been quite a few large fish (to 8.5 lbs.) being caught by anglers both fishing live baits and casting metal jigs at surface-feeding frenzies.
Anglers fishing live bait or larger cut baits have landed some sharks, scattered barracuda, and a cobia.
Fishing around the pilings with live crabs or fresh shrimp has produced some keeper sheepshead.
The bottom fishing action has been best in the evenings, and anglers have been landing a mixed bag of croakers, good-sized sea mullet, and scattered red drum.
