Wrightsville Beach July 22, 2004
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports king mackerel from the 5 Mile Boxcars to 10 Mile Rocks on out to the 30/30. Out at the 23 Mile Rock, there are catches of small dolphin, kings, barracuda, sailfish, and a few grouper. Not much to report from the gulf stream. Amberjacks are around the Dredge Wreck hitting live baits, and cobia are scattered around area reefs. Spanish fishing has been slow this week, and a few red drum are being taken around the jetties on live or cut baits. Tarpon are being seen on the shoals at Bald Head. Pompano dominate the catch in the surf with some 2.5 to 3.5 lb. fish being caught. Flounder are biting even better, and mullet has become the choice of bait.
Dickie, at Tidal Market II, reports flounder and red drum in the inlets hitting live baits. The reds are also mixed in with the speckled trout down in the Cape Fear River hitting live baits or artificials. No sheepshead to report this week. In the 10 to 30 mile areas, there are kings to 20 lbs., peanut dolphin to 12 lbs., and some nice big spanish mackerel. All are hitting live menhaden. Amberjacks are around the 23 Mile Rock, Dredge Wreck, and the Schoolhouse, and there were a few tuna and wahoo reported from the gulf stream.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports a 2.3 lb. flounder was caught along with some smaller flounder mixed in. Nothing reported off the end, but bottom fishing has produced a few sea mullet, blues, spots, and pinfish.
Lewis, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports kings and dolphin from the WR4 and 10 Mile Rock hitting menhaden, ballyhoo, or cigar minnows. Cobia are also still lingering around. A few reports of some scattered gray trout, along with flounder, at John’s Creek. Inside, the flounder bite has been very good in creeks and inlets now that the mullet are growing in size.
Tyler, at Intracoastal Angler, reports 5 to 10 lb. dolphin as close as 5 to 10 mile reefs. They’re mixed in with the king mackerel. Lots of sailfish are being seen, but few have been caught. Tarpon fishing has been steady off the Cape Fear shoals. Flounder are biting inside and along the nearshore reefs with mullet and menhaden producing fish. Trout, redfish, and flounder are in the river, and the reds are also in the inlets and in the surf. Ladyfish are arriving under lighted docks at night, and they should keep improving as the summer goes on.
