Wrightsville Beach June 20, 2013
Max Weavil with the 14.2 lb. bluefish that set a new pier record at Wrightsville Beach’s Johnnie Mercers Pier. It struck a smaller bluefish on a king mackerel rig off the end of the pier.
Chandler, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with flounder and red drum in the inlets and back in the marshes right now. Both are taking an interest in live baits and scented soft plastics like Gulps, and anglers can also tempt the reds to take topwater plugs and a variety of other artificials.
Sheepshead have shown up around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure inshore (with some citation 8+ lb. fish around). Anglers can fool them with fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits.
Out in the ocean, spanish mackerel and bluefish are still on the feed within a few miles of the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons, daisy chains, and other flashy lures is the way to hook up with them, and the cleaner the water that anglers can find, the better the chances.
There are still cobia following menhaden pods and cruising the surface within a few miles of the beachfront, and anglers can cast bucktail jigs or live baits to fish they spot on the surface.
King mackerel have moved inshore to the 5-10 mile range, with plenty of action further offshore as well. Live baits (like menhaden and cigar minnows) or dead baits will tempt them to bite.
Anglers are also finding dolphin from the 20 mile range on offshore and fooling them with live and dead baits. Sailfish have shown up in the same range and will bite the same baits.
Bottom fishermen are reporting excellent grouper action at structure in the 40 mile range, where they’re connecting with gags, scamps, and reds on live and dead baits and vertical jigs.
Gulf Stream trollers are still finding plenty of dolphin feeding in the blue water, with a few blue marlin encounters reported out of Wrightsville recently as well.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that the red drum and flounder action in the inlets, marshes, and creeks remains consistent. Anglers can fool both fish with live baits or Gulps.
Ladyfish are beginning to show up around the inlets, and they’re biting the baits and lures that anglers are casting for the reds and flatfish.
Sheepshead have shown up around the bridges, docks, and other inshore structure, and live fiddler crabs are the way to tempt them to bite.
Some cobia are still shadowing bait balls along the beachfront, and anglers can sight cast bucktail jigs or live baits to the fish to hook up.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite is still going strong off Wrightsville, and the fish have been tight to the beach in 15-25’ of water this past week. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and torpedo weights is putting the spaniards in the boats.
Cobia are still feeding around menhaden pods just off the beaches.
Ken Frank, Carl Sigley, and Glen Moore with grouper, a king mackerel, dolphin, and a cobia that they hooked (along with more kings and black sea bass) while trolling and bottom fishing near 23 Mile Rock with Capt. Lynn Perry of Shearwater Charters.
King mackerel have moved in closer to shore, with a consistent bite in the 10 mile range last week. The bite has been best in the early morning hours, and live or dead baits will fool the kings.
Dolphin have also moved closer to the beaches, with decent numbers reported 20-30 miles out last week. A few sailfish are in the same areas, and both will take an interest in rigged ballyhoo or live baits.
Lynne, of Shearwater Charters, reports that there’s been good action with king mackerel, dolphin, and some cobia for anglers trolling spots in the 20 mile range recently. Ballyhoo and cigar minnows have both been producing the action.
Bottom fishing in the same range is producing some gag grouper and plenty of action with black sea bass, grunts, and other bottom dwellers. Whole sardines are tempting most of the grouper bites, while the smaller fish are falling for squid and cut baits.
Amberjack are schooling up at the artificial reefs and live bottoms in the same areas, where anglers can tempt them to bite live baits or a variety of lures.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are starting to find some flounder at nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship. They’re not too abundant yet, but anglers should be able to find a few while dropping live baits to the bottom.
Some gray trout and bull red drum are showing up in the same areas, particularly further south. They’ll also take a hearty interest in anglers’ live baits.
Barracuda are holding on the artificial reefs, where they can be targeted by casting tube lures to hook up with the speedy fish.
Anglers are still finding some cobia around bait balls and nearshore structure, so keep a bucktail jig or live pitch bait ready in case one is spotted.
Spanish mackerel action is still going strong, with the best bite in around 30’ of water last week.
Some summer speckled trout have been feeding around all the area inlets, where they’ll bite live baits or a variety of soft plastics.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that live-baiters fishing from the end of the pier landed several king mackerel and a cobia in recent days.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish while working Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some keeper flounder on live baits and sea mullet and small blacktip sharks on shrimp.
