Added on Thursday, June 12, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach June 12, 2008

Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that boats making the run to the Gulf Stream recently have reported a solid wahoo and dolphin bite. Some blackfin tuna are mixed in, but the yellowfins still haven’t shown up. The bite has been spread out over the past week, but the reports from the Same Ol’ area have been better than those from further south around the Steeples.

Ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures will draw bites from the Gulf Stream predators.

Some dolphin have moved inshore of the Stream, and boats have hooked up with decent numbers of gaffers as far inshore as 23 Mile Rock lately.

Grouper fishing has been excellent around ledges and other bottom structure in 100-120′ of water. Boats are connecting with gag, scamp, and red grouper (some especially nice reds recently). Baits like cigar minnows and northern mackerel will attract attention from the grouper, and anglers are also hooking up with plenty while working butterfly jigs near the structure.

Boats are finding the best action with king mackerel at spots 8-25 miles offshore. Most of the fish are snakes with a few up to 20 lbs. thrown in. Both dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows are producing well with the kings, and some pogies are showing up in the river, giving anglers the option to troll live baits.

Cobia are feeding around the Schoolhouse, WR4, and other offshore structure. Boats are also seeing a few nearshore, but they’ve been hesitant to strike most baits.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent along the beaches, around the inlets, and at nearshore structure lately. Trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers should prove deadly on the spanish.

Inshore, the flounder bite continues to improve, with anglers catching good numbers of fish in the creeks, marshes, and inlets. There are still a good number of undersized fish around, but more and more keepers are in the mix every week. Live baits fished on Carolina rigs are top flounder producers, but they’ll also fall for Gulp baits as well.

Red drum fishing has been excellent in the creeks, marshes, and docks off the ICW. Topwater plugs have been producing well with the reds.

The trout bite has slowed down, but anglers are still landing some specks in the river, with the bigger fish biting better at night.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that bottom fishing for red grouper and other fish has been productive at structure 40+ miles offshore. Cigar minnows and cut baits are producing the best results with the groupers.

Good numbers of dolphin (up to 15 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas, and anglers deploying a light line with a cigar minnow while bottom fishing will likely be rewarded with a few dolphin to add to the box.

King mackerel are feeding well at nearshore structure in the 5 mile range. Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and cigar minnows will attract attention from the kings. Some pogies have also shown up inshore, so anglers may have the option to fish live baits.

The spanish bite is still excellent along the beaches and at spots out to a few miles offshore. Trolling Clarkspoons or Deep Divers will produce results on the spanish.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that fishing for red drum in the marshes and around docks has been good in the evening hours. Spinnerbaits like the Redfish Magic have been the most productive lures recently.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been excellent in the marshes behind Topsail and Figure Eight. Slurp jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are both fooling the reds.

There are plenty of flounder feeding in the marshes now as well, and they’ll fall for artificials like the reds, but live finger mullet are even better baits.

Some ladyfish are starting to show up in the inshore waters, and they’re feeding mostly at night.

The spanish mackerel bite remains hot just off the beaches with plenty of bluefish and a few snake kings thrown in.

Boats are beginning to see some cobia (including a few to 50+ lbs.) off Masonboro and on the inlet tide lines.

 

Dan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good lately, with anglers hooking most of the fish on Gotcha Plugs.

Bottom fishermen are landing a few whiting on shrimp.

Anglers are also hooking up with some flounder on live mud minnows and artificials.

Live-baiters landed several kings and a barracuda last week.

The water temperature is 77.7 degrees.