Wrightsville Beach June 2, 2005
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports excellent catches of dolphin in the gulf stream but very few tuna and wahoo and an occasional sailfish. Closer in around the 20 to 30 mile areas there are some very nice grouper up to 20 lbs. to be caught. Cobia are being seen around the liberty ship and nearshore wrecks but few caught. The kings are still small and right on the beach with most fish around 25 to 30 inches mixed in with the spanish mackerel. Spanish and blues are just outside the inlet and are hitting clark spoons and diving plugs. The flounder are still slow to move in but there are some smaller fish being caught with an occasional 3 to 4 pounder thrown in. No mullet around but they will take a live mud minnow. Redfish are stirring in the creeks and are starting to respond to topwater baits so try early and late for them.
Stewart, at Intracoastal Angler, reports the spanish and blues are still being caught up outside the inlet and down the beach to John’s Creek. Inshore, the best bet has been the flounder action picking up and the redfish becoming more active in the creeks and waterway. The best action has been from the gulf stream with excellent catches of dolphin and 80% of them were over 20 lbs. with a few over 30 thrown in. The Thunder released a sailfish over the weekend but no other billfish reported.
Lloyd, at Bug em Bait Co. reports lots and lots of dolphin from the gulf stream but not many tuna or wahoo. Blues are right outside the inlets with an occasion 6 to 7 lb. fish caught. Spanish are also outside the inlet and down the beach on the nearshore reefs. Many anglers are spotting cobia but few reports of them being caught so have your favorite cobia bait ready if you are out along the beaches. Very few king mackerel reports except the occasional fish coming from the gulf stream and the juveniles mixing in with the spanish. Inshore, its time for flounder and red drum in the inlets, waterway, and creeks. No mullet or pogies to be found unless you run to the river.
Rick, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports bluefish are biting very well on gotchas sometimes two at a time. The big chopper bluefish are biting cut baits on the end and are running 6 to 11 lbs. The best times for the spanish has been around sunset but they may be slowing down some with all the bluefish around. A few citation size Whiting have also been caught by bottom fishermen.
