Wrightsville Beach July 30, 2009
Capt. Clint Richardson with a sailfish that fell for a naked ballyhoo 20 miles off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing aboard his boat, the "Finatic," with Charles Booth.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding some solid action with flounder and red drum along the ICW, in the marshes and creeks, and near the inlets. Finger mullet have started showing up (particularly to the south of the area), and live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are producing most of the action with the flatfish and reds. Gulp baits will also attract attention from both species.
Sheepshead are feeding around the docks and other structure in the ICW, and anglers are hooking them on fiddler crabs pinned to small, strong live bait hooks.
Anglers live-baiting along the beaches hooked a few tarpon last week.
The king bite along the beaches has slowed down a bit over the past few weeks, but anglers slow-trolling with live pogies are still finding some decent action with the kings.
Spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches as well, and anglers are hooking them on trolled Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and while casting metal lures to the schools of fish.
The sailfish bite has been decent as well, with most of the fish coming from 15-25 miles offshore. Live baits and dead ballyhoo will fool the sails when anglers can find them.
The dolphin bite is still good in the 20-30 mile range when boats can make it out. Live baits and dead ballyhoo or cigar minnows will both produce action with the dolphin.
Bottom structure in 90-100’ has been hosting a solid red grouper bite lately with a variety of other bottom feeders mixed in. Live baits, cut baits, and cigar minnows on bottom rigs will all produce action with the groupers, and anglers can also work vertical jigs to hook up with the fish.
Tim Darnell, from Wilmington, with a 9.5 lb. sheepshead caught on a piece of dead shrimp near the Wildlife Boat Ramp in Carolina Beach. Weighed at Island Tackle and Hardware.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers had some good action with sailfish and dolphin 10-30 miles off the beach last week. Rigged ballyhoo are producing most of the bites from the sails and ‘phins.
The red drum bite on the flats has still been hot behind Wrightsville and the other barrier islands in the area. Topwater plugs are attracting attention from the fish early and late in the day. Most anglers are hooking up with the reds while casting soft plastics and other subsurface baits in rootbeer and chartreuse hues.
There are still plenty of flounder feeding around ICW structure and in the marshes. Anglers can fool the flatties with Gulp baits or live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of red drum all over the area creeks and marshes. Topwater plugs, gold spoons, and Gulp baits have all been producing action with the reds.
When the winds allow boats to get offshore, there’s been an excellent bite 5-7 miles off the beaches. Anglers are hooking amberjacks on topwater plugs at all the structure 5+ miles offshore (some to 60 lbs.).
Gag grouper have been feeding strong recently at structure in the 7 mile range out of Topsail Inlet. Anglers are hooking the gags on bottom rigs baited with cigar minnows.
Light-lining while bottom fishing has been attracting the attention of passing king mackerel, dolphin, and cobia.
Declan and Kieran Schwartz with a pair of king mackerel (their first) hooked just off Wrightsville Beach while slow-trolling live pogies with their father, Chris.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the king mackerel bite has been solid lately 15-25 miles from the beach, with the best action to the south. Live pogies are the best baits for the kings
Some sailfish and dolphin are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are hooking them on live baits while trolling for the kings and while pulling rigged ballyhoo at faster speeds.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding a good king mackerel bite in the 10-15 mile range out of Masonboro and New River inlets. A few dolphin are still mixed in with the kings. Dead cigar minnows are fooling both fish.
The big sharks have moved inshore, and anglers are hooking them while fishing live and cut baits near shrimp boats culling their catches.
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that anglers are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beaches while trolling Clarkspoons, but the recent winds have dirtied the water and slowed down the bite a bit.
Some large sharks have moved into the area, and anglers can hook up with them by fishing live and cut baits while chumming near the beaches.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have had some excellent luck with big whiting over the past week. Most of the fish are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
The unusual nighttime spanish mackerel action that began on the Fourth of July is still going on, and anglers are finding fast action with the spaniards while casting Gotcha plugs during the first two hours after sunset.
Live baiters had good king mackerel action before the water got dirty late last week, averaging around three fish a day. Some smaller cobia and blacktip and hammerhead sharks have been taking an interest in the live baits as well.
