Wrightsville Beach – July 2024
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that king mackerel are on the beach, with the local piers already recording a couple of catches.
Some tarpon are being spotted and hooked up off the local piers, with anglers back in the river seeing some smaller tarpon.
A bunch of keeper and under-keeper spanish mackerel are just off the beach.
Inshore, red drum action has been a bit scattered, but flounder have been absolutely everywhere.
A few sheepshead are being caught, though not many large ones.
Off the beach, structure in the 20-mile range is holding black sea bass and plenty of amberjacks.
Offshore trolling efforts are producing blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo, and the mahi bite has been steadily picking up.
Ben, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that red drum action has been good in the backwaters and out along the ICW. Anglers fishing docks are doing well with live menhaden on Carolina rigs. Back on the flats, artificial baits have had more successes. Z-Man scented PaddlerZ and Gulp shad both make great options, with topwater plugs doing well in the early mornings.
Flounder are around in great numbers, and they’re hitting the live bait setups intended for redfish.
Sheepshead are being caught around dock pilings and out on the jetty.
Outside the inlet, plenty of bluefish and some spanish mackerel are around. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers are a go-to tactic, with deep diver plugs and casting to surface-feeding schools with metal jigs also having success.
King mackerel action has been best out in the 15-23 mile range. The productive tactics include live menhaden, Drone spoons, larger deep diver plugs, and cigar minnows.
The deep-water grouper action (scamps and reds) has been good in the 110’ area. Anglers out there are also seeing triggerfish, hogfish, and a few black sea bass.
Offshore trolling is producing blackfin tuna, mahi, and some blue marlin.
Warren Elmore (age 7), of Kure Beach, caught this sheepshead in the Cape Fear River using Fish Bites. He was fishing with his brother Roy.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are the top target now that menhaden are showing better in the area. Fishing the menhaden live or cut around docks has been the best tactic. Some reds are scattered around points and oyster bars both in the creeks and along the ICW. The topwater bite early has been fantastic.
A few speckled trout are around, and they’re mostly caught with topwater plugs in the morning (until 8:00 am at the latest). Once the sun is up, the trout are pushing deep.
Flounder are staged up around most any structure inside, with live bait being the best strategy.
Sheepshead fishing has been great for anglers that pick up some live fiddlers to fish around structure.
Anglers on the jetties are catching red drum and sheepshead.
A bunch of spanish mackerel are out along the beaches, and scattered king mackerel is always an option through these summer months, though most seem to be pushed out for now.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that red drum are holding in really small groups or even in singles around oyster bars on high tides. Carolina-rigged cut baits have been the top producing setup.
There has been a good topwater bite in the early mornings for both red drum and trout.
Sheepshead fishing has been solid, with scattered large fish (6+ lbs.) mixed in with several 3-4 lb. catches.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been a little slow. Some fish are around, but the sizes have been smaller and the schools scattered.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that topwater action has been excellent for anglers getting on the water early. The topwater efforts are seeing a bunch of red drum with scattered speckled trout. The bite has been best on higher tides up against grass lines, especially those with nearby oyster structure.
After that first early hour or two, anglers have had success switching over to soft plastics or spinner baits, as well as Carolina-rigged cut menhaden, and docks will be the main spots to target.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged around some of the deeper docks (10-18’) and the rock jetties. Fiddler crabs on either Carolina rigs or knocker rigs work well for both species.
Thomas McRea, of Wilmington, caught this 7 lb. sheepshead in the ICW behind Wrightsville Beach using a fiddler crab. He was fishing with Capt. Luke Moser of Coastline Charters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that summertime trips are mainly about bottom fishing action over deeper structures. Anglers targeting the 150-400’ range are catching a wide variety of scamp grouper, red grouper, hogfish, triggerfish, yelloweye snapper, and other subtropical grouper species.
Anglers looking for some jigging action are hooking a bunch of amberjack and African pompano in the 150-175’ range.
The nearshore reefs and wrecks (75-90’) are also seeing a bunch of amberjack.
Trolling action has been best for billfish, with lots of blue and white marlin around some scattered sailfish. Efforts should start in the 100+ fathom area.
Running deep (1500-1700’) is producing quality swordfish.
Ben, of Southern Run Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel have been around in pretty good numbers around the inlets and along the Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. The majority of schools are holding in the 20-30’ depth range and are being caught by trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or casting jigs when they are active on the surface.
King mackerel are starting to show up a little better in the 10-15 mile range. The kings are hitting live baits or dead cigar minnows.
Bottom structure in the 60-110’ range is loaded down with gag grouper and American red snapper.
Amberjack have been plentiful around public reefs such as the Dredge Wreck and the Schoolhouse.
Evan, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers out in the early morning have caught the occasional speckled trout.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing a ton of pinfish and some spadefish.
Anglers sight-casting plugs are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel, and anglers live baiting have hooked into tarpon and a bunch of sharks.
