Wrightsville Beach July 22, 2010
Will Rose and Jason Cronin, of Wilmington, with a red drum, a bluefish, a 23" speckled trout, and a flounder they hooked in the marshes near Wrightsville on Carolina-rigged finger mullet while fishing on the "C Skipper" with Jason's dad.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that not many boats have made it to the Gulf Stream lately, but those who have are finding decent numbers of gaffer dolphin. A few billfish (mostly sailfish and white marlin) have been mixed in, and they’ll all take an interest in ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures.
Sailfish are feeding inshore of the Stream, and anglers found some around WR-4, 23 Mile Rock, and other spots in the 20-30 mile range recently. Live baits like pogies and naked ballyhoo will both attract attention from the sails.
Dolphin and king mackerel are feeding in the same areas and on in to the 10-20 mile spots as well. Live baits are producing most of the action with them.
Bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of gag grouper at bottom structure in 60-90’ of water.
Red and scamp grouper and a host of other bottom species are feeding in 100’ and deeper. Cigar minnows and cut baits will fool all the groupers.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are still feeding along the beaches, especially when anglers can find clean water. Trolling with Clarkspoons and other lures or casting small metal jigs to schools feeding on the surface is the way to connect with these nearshore pelagics.
Large sharks are also feeding close to shore, and anglers can hook them while drifting with large cut baits and fishing behind shrimp boats.
Inshore anglers have been finding some excellent flounder fishing lately. The best action has been in the inlets, the creeks, and spots off the waterway, with a decent bite at nearshore structure as well. Live pogies and finger mullet are producing most of the flatfish action.
The red drum bite has been up and down recently, with some solid fishing and some slow days in the mix. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits have been fooling the lion’s share of the reds, and anglers are finding them feeding in the bays, creeks, and marshes.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding at inshore structure like dock and bridge pilings, and they will pounce on live fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the flounder bite is still excellent inshore, with anglers hooking flatfish in the creeks, the inlets, along the ICW, and in the Cape Fear River. Carolina-rigged live baits and Gulps will fool the flatties.
Red drum are on the feed in the bays and backwaters off the Cape Fear River, and they’ll take an interest in live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures.
Mike Supa, of Wilmington, with a 36" gag grouper that fell for a bait-tipped jig at some bottom structure 35 miles off Wrightsville Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite was still solid when the winds let boats get offshore last week (with most fish teenagers and some to 20+ lbs.). Most of the action was taking place 9-12 miles off the inlet in around 60’ of water, and finding and working bait concentrations has been key to finding the fish.
Dead cigar minnows have been as or more productive than live baits this season for the kings.
Spanish mackerel fishing got a little trickier last week, but anglers were still able to put together some nice catches while trolling Clarkspoons. The bite was best to the north, but anglers found some fish feeding tight to the beach in around 12’ of water off Wrightsville, too.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the red drum and flounder bite is still on inshore, but anglers have to work hard at multiple spots to put together decent catches. Most of the action is coming in the inlets and from docks off the ICW, and live finger mullet and peanut pogies are fooling the fish.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that tarpon have been the big story recently, with live baiters fishing the end of the pier seeing double digit numbers of fish and getting 2-4 bites per day.
Red drum are also feeding near the pier, and anglers have been able to sight-cast baits to them in the early mornings lately. Fresh crabs, shrimp, mud minnows, and cut baits have all been fooling the reds (from slot-sized to well over).
Some black drum, spot, croaker, and whiting are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
The spanish mackerel bite has slowed a bit, but anglers are still landing a few while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
The water is 84 degrees.
