Wrightsville Beach July 26, 2007
Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore fishing for flounder and red drum is excellent. With daytime temperatures well above 90 degrees, the best fishing has been early and late in the day. Anglers can find the drum and flounder feeding in tidal creeks and near the inlets, and Carolina-rigged live baits will produce plenty of bites, as will Gulp baits on jigheads.
Surf and pier fishermen are landing whiting, pompano, and black drum. Shrimp and sand flea baits should draw strikes from these bottom feeders.
Tarpon are feeding along the beach and near the jetties. Anglers can target these giant gamefish by anchoring up and fishing with live pogies and mullet on the surface and/or dead or cut baits on the bottom. If you don’t want to anchor up, then you can slow troll with live baits.
Boats are catching plenty of spanish mackerel by trolling Clarkspoons and diving plugs, but most of the spanish have been on the small side lately.
Kings are feeding from the beach to the offshore hotspots, and nearly everyone chasing king mackerel is trolling live pogies right now. Many of these fish are smaller snakes and teens, but anglers are occasionally hooking up with larger fish (between 20-40 lbs.).
Dolphin have been reported as close as two miles from the beach, but the main body of fish is farther offshore. Live baits, cigar minnows, and ballyhoo will tempt the dolphin to bite.
Sailfish are still feeding throughout the area 10+ miles off the beach. Rigged ballyhoo and live baits are the top choices for anglers trying to hook a sail.
The grouper bite remains steady, and some gags are holding on structure just 10-12 miles offshore. Boats looking for red and scamp groupers should be heading at least 30 miles out of the inlets.
The Gulf Stream bite is fairly slow, but boats are catching some nice wahoo.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that anglers are still catching some fat red drum and flounder in the creeks around Topsail and further north. There have been a few fish feeding around Figure Eight, but Wrightsville-area inshore fishing has been rather slow this week.
Target the drum and flounder by drifting live mullet and shrimp on float rigs or casting Gulp baits on jigheads.
Further north, the trout fishing is excellent in the New River, with plenty of specks in the 3-4 lb. range falling for live shrimp.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that king mackerel are feeding well right on the beaches. Many fish are small, but there are also some 15-30 lb. kings around. Live pogies are the top king baits right now.
Plenty of tarpon are showing up around Masonboro Inlet, but they aren’t easy to hook. Boats should try fishing live and dead baits for the best chances of battling one of the leaping monsters.
Nearshore shark fishing has been productive recently.
The nearshore reefs and ledges are still holding plenty of triggerfish and sea bass, and both will bite squid or Gulp baits.
Sailfish are still on the feed at spots 10 miles or so off the beach.
The inshore flounder bite has been solid over the past week, with good flatfish catches coming from Rich’s Inlet, Topsail Inlet, and the Cape Fear. Small live baits on Carolina rigs are the best flounder baits.
At night, inshore anglers can target ladyfish around lighted docks where they’ll be feeding on shrimp and other small prey. Smaller lures that match the size of their forage work best for the ladies.
James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder on live baits.
Shrimp and sand fleas fished on bottom rigs are attracting attention from pompano.
Bluefish are biting both plugs and a variety of natural baits.
Live baiters fishing from the end of the pier have had plenty of action this week. Large spanish mackerel (up to 5 lbs.) are hitting the king rigs, along with barracuda, tarpon, and kings. Last week’s largest king weighed 35 lbs.
The water temperature is 84 degrees.
