Wrightsville Beach – July 23, 2015
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that more dolphin seem to be moving into the 20-30 mile range off Wrightsville, and boats are putting together some solid catches while dragging skirted ballyhoo in the area.
The king mackerel bite has also been excellent 5-10 miles offshore, where anglers are hooking the fish on dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows, live baits, and a variety of artificial trolling lures.
Spanish mackerel are feeding a bit closer to the beach and pouncing on Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and inline sinkers.
Flounder fishing around nearshore structure in the ocean seems to be improving. Anglers are hooking the flatfish on live baits and Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs.
There’s been plenty of flounder action inshore as well, where the fish are feeding in the inlets and around structure like docks. Live baits and Gulps will get the job done inshore as well.
Annemarie Crumrine, from Ocean Isle Beach, with a 17 lb. king mackerel that bit a skirted cigar minnow 12 miles off Wrightsville Beach.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing some excellent spanish mackerel action in 20-30 of water off Wrightsville recently, with solid fishing on the tidelines of the inlets as well. Trolling #0 and #00 Clarkspoons behind planers and inline weights is the best way to connect with the spaniards.
The king mackerel bite remains consistent 3-10 miles off the beach (with some days producing better fishing at 5 miles than further off). Dead cigar minnows and lures like Drone spoons have been fooling good numbers of the kings.
Jeff Drake and “The Law” fishing team took first place at the 2015 SHARE King Mackerel Tournament with a 68.76 lb. two-fish aggregate weight landed over the event’s two fishing days. This 40.12 lb. king mackerel was the crew’s largest.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers are still seeing some action with dolphin and blackfin tuna, along with an occasional wahoo, while trolling the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville. Both rigged ballyhoo and baitless lures are fooling the blue water predators.
There’s also a decent billfish bite a bit further off the break than most of the meat action (usually around 100 fathoms). Blue and white marlin along with a few sailfish are biting rigged baits and trolling plugs in the deeper water.
Bottom fishing inside the break is producing plenty of bites from triggerfish, beeliners, gag, red, and scamp grouper, and more. Live, dead, and cut baits will all attract bites from the bottom feeders.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers continue to connect with some large speckled trout in the early morning hours. The fish are feeding near inlets and grass and shell banks and biting topwater plugs.
A few red drum are in the same areas and biting topwaters as well. Anglers are also hooking plenty of reds while soaking cut and live baits around docks in the ICW and connecting channels.
Flounder are feeding around the docks, and they’re looking for meals in the inlets and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Both live baits and bucktail jigs will fool the flatfish.
Large spanish mackerel are feeding at the same structure out in the ocean and biting free-lined live menhaden and mullet.
Anglers are also seeing barracuda in the same areas and fooling them with live and dead spanish mackerel along with surgical tube lures.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are getting into some solid king mackerel and dolphin fishing while trolling around spots in the 20 mile range at present. Dead cigar minnows, ballyhoo, and artificial trolling lures will fool the kings and dolphin.
The spanish mackerel bite remains good along the beachfront, where anglers are hooking solid numbers of fish on trolled Clarkspoons.
Will, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas and other casting lures.
Bottom fishermen haven’t been seeing much action, but a few slot and over-slot red drum are keeping some interested.
Live-baiters have landed a king mackerel and a barracuda over the past week.
The water is 81 degrees.
