Wrightsville Beach June 17, 2010
David Burns with his first legal red drum. the 27" fish fell for a live mud minnow inshore at Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Wes Edwards on the "Sugar Momma."
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the flounder bite has picked up inshore and around the inlets, with some of the best action to the north of the area. Many of the fish are still on the small side, but decent numbers of keepers are mixed in. Carolina-rigged live baits and scented soft plastics are producing most of the action.
Some red drum have been reported around the Masonboro jetties lately. Most are falling for cut and live finger mullet and pogies.
The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down for most people, but the fish are still around. They’re feeding on tiny baitfish right now, so trolling #00 Clarkspoons or other tiny lures offers anglers the best odds of hooking up.
The king mackerel bite has been best in the 10-20+ mile range lately, with some scattered fish nearshore and along the beaches. Live pogies or dead cigar minnows are both fooling the fish. They seem to prefer one on one day and another the next, so it’s not a bad idea to head out with both.
Some smaller dolphin and a few gaffers are mixed in with kings on the offshore side of their range, and they are showing a preference for dead baits.
A few cobia are mixed in as well, and live pogies should tempt them to strike.
Gulf Stream trollers are finding action with a 50/50 mix of slinger and gaffer dolphin. Some smaller blackfin tuna and a few billfish (sailfish and white and blue marlin) are mixed in. Skirted ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures are fooling all the Gulf Stream predators.
Bottom fishermen are reporting the best action at least 40 miles out, where they’re finding a solid bite of fat red grouper and triggerfish. Vertical jigs and a variety of live and dead baits will fool both fish.
Closer to the beaches, gag grouper are feeding on structure in the 10-20 mile range. They’ve been holding tight to smaller areas of bottom relief, so anglers must be able to get their boats precisely on top of the fish to hook up.
Steve, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are finding a solid flounder bite in the area’s creeks, mostly while drifting with small live baits on Carolina rigs.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks as well, and anglers are finding the best action around points on the falling tide. Live and cut pogies are getting attention from the reds.
The spanish mackerel bite is still solid just off the beaches, and most anglers are hooking up while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights.
The king mackerel action has been on in the 8-10 mile range lately, and live and dead baits are fooling the fish.
Gulf Stream trollers found an excellent gaffer dolphin bite around the Same Ol’ Hole last week, mostly while pulling skirted ballyhoo. Decent numbers of smaller dolphin are feeding inshore of the Stream.
Capt. Clint Richardson and Mike Lappin with Lappin's first sailfish, which fell for an Iland Sailure near the Same Ol' Hole while the pair were fishing with s Brad Mulehe on the "Over Equiped."
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been some solid trolling action in the 10-15 mile range lately, both out of Masonboro and New River inlets. Anglers pulling dead cigar minnows around bottom structure in that range have been hooking up with good numbers of schoolie king mackerel, some huge spanish (7-8 lbs.), a few peanut dolphin, and even a stray cobia once in a while.
Bottom fishermen are reporting the best grouper bite 30+ miles offshore.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that anglers are picking up quite a few flounder inshore around the inlets and docks. Snow’s Cut and the nearshore reefs are also holding good numbers of the flatfish. Live pogies are fooling most of the fish.
Good numbers of red drum are feeding in the same areas, and they will take an interest in pogies or a variety of artificial lures as well.
The speckled trout bite has been solid in the Cape Fear River lately, especially down towards Southport, with most of the fish falling for artificial lures like D.O.A. shrimp and other soft plastics.
Cobia are still on the prowl near the inlets, and live pogies or bluefish should fool any that anglers see.
The king mackerel bite has been best in the 15-18 mile range lately, with scattered fish between there and the beach.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that trolling in the 15-25 mile range lately has been producing plenty of action with king mackerel, amberjacks, dolphin, and even a few sailfish bites. Structure like the Schoolhouse, 23 Mile Rock, and ledges and live bottoms in the same range have been producing most of the action.
Live pogies have been attracting most of the king mackerel and amberjack strikes, and ballyhoo rigged under Ilanders and other skirted lures are fooling the dolphin.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has turned back on, and anglers are hooking up with the fish while casting Gotcha plugs from the pier. Bottom fishing has been producing some action with fat (6-7 lb.) black drum in the early mornings and some slot to overslot red drum at night. Shrimp are fooling both.
Sheepshead are working the pier’s pilings, and anglers are hooking them on fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other crustacean baits.
Live baiters are averaging a king mackerel hookup every few days.
