Wrightsville Beach June 21, 2012
Austin Anderson, of Wilmington, with a 36" gag grouper he hooked on a live pinfish 40 miles offshore of Topsail Inlet while fishing with Brian Dressler on the "Class Act."
Ryan, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding a solid flounder and red drum bite inshore in the area. The reds are feeding in the marshes and around docks and other structure. Topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live baits will all tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are in many of the same areas as the reds, with more action around creekmouths on falling tides. Gulp baits and live mud minnows, finger mullet, or menhaden are the way to hook up with the flatfish.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding in the inlets and just offshore. Anglers can tempt them to bite trolled Clarkspoons and squid rigs or cast metal jigs to working birds or schools of fish feeding on the surface with success.
Surf casters are reporting some pompano at Wrightsville, primarily while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Gag grouper are feeding at bottom structure within 20 miles of the beaches, along with plenty of black sea bass and other bottom feeders. Live baits or dead sardines, cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will tempt bites from the grouper, and smaller live, cut, and dead baits will put the bass in the box.
Jon, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers have seen and hooked some cobia around Masonboro Inlet and at nearshore structure lately. Live and cut baits are tempting most of the fish to bite.
Bottom fishermen are encountering gag grouper and sea bass at structure in the 20 mile range, where live baits and a variety of dead and cut baits will tempt them to bite.
Maria Bodack, of Great Neck, NY, with a 29" red drum she caught and released in the surf of Figure Eight Island after the red ate a shrimp.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting continued action with dolphin, along with a few wahoo and blackfin tuna. Some billfish are also feeding in the blue water, and skirted ballyhoo or baitless trolling plugs will tempt bites from all the pelagic predators.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent around Masonboro Inlet and just offshore of the beaches recently. Trolled Clarkspoons have been the most effective baits, with gold and silver models alternately the favorites last week. Pulling the spoons deep behind planers and trolling weights is producing most of the action.
Schools of menhaden have finally shown up off Wrightsville, and anglers found several cobia shadowing the bait last week. The cobes have a tough time turning down a live menhaden, and bucktail jigs with large soft plastic trailers will often tempt them to bite as well.
Gag grouper are feeding heavily at spots 10-20 miles off the inlets. Dead cigar minnows and sardines on bottom rigs are top choices for the gags. Plenty of sea bass are in the same areas, and they will take an interest in squid and cut baits.
Trolling live and dead baits at spots 30-40 miles out is attracting attention from some king mackerel and dolphin.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good over the past week when boats can find clean water within a few miles of the beaches. The fish have been around even when the water’s dirty, but it’s been much tougher to tempt them to bite. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights is the way to tempt bites from the spanish.
Some cobia have been showing up around the jetties and at nearshore structure not far from the inlet lately, and live baits or large bucktail jigs will often tempt them to bite.
Kevin Neely, of Wilmington, with a hogfish he hooked offshore of Masonboro Inlet while fishing with Capt. Mark Gorges of Seaward Action Charters.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live-baiters finally landed a king mackerel from the pier last week (16.5 lbs.).
Plug casters are connecting with some spanish mackerel in the mornings and bluefish in the mornings and evenings while working Gotchas from the pier.
Some sea mullet and bluefish are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs in the evening hours.
The water is 80 degrees.
