Wrightsville Beach June 23, 2005
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports dolphin are moving inshore. There’s been a good bite around the Schoolhouse and a scattered bite around the wrecks as close as 7 miles. Gulf stream has slowed somewhat, but there are some dolphin and wahoo with an occasional tuna or billfish.
Those trolling for kings are picking up a few cobia, and the Masonboro jetties have been a good place to find one as well. Kings are anywhere from the 5 Mile Boxcars, out to 10 Mile Rock, Dredge Wreck, and 30/30 (and most spots in between). Bottom fishing is still good in the 20 to 30 mile range. Reds are still pretty consistent in the waterway and creeks.
Some bigger flounder have been caught in Masonboro Inlet, so flounder fishing should improve this week. Bluefish and spanish are still biting very well off the jetties and along the beach on yo-zuris and clark spoons being trolled.
Russell, at Tidal Market, reports cobia fishing has been hot this week from Masonboro out to the tideline and by those trolling for kings in the 5 to 20 mile areas. A few scattered dolphin are moving nearshore as well. Kings are still mostly small, but they are providing good action 5 to 30 miles out. Capt. Parsons landed a sailfish this week at the break, so look for them to being moving inshore as the waters warm.
Blues and spanish are still thick off Masonboro Inlet by pulling spoons. Flounder and red drum are in the waterway and bigger creeks.
Matt, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports a 23 lb. king mackerel landed by Larry Croom on June 17. A few small flounder are coming off the bottom, and sand fleas could get you a citation size Virginia mullet. Several cobia have been hanging around the pier, but only one hookup-Rick Britt managed to land a cobia weighing 57 lbs. The cobia have also hit the gotcha plugs on small reels, which are getting spooled rather easily. The pluggers are also hooking up with plenty of blues and a few spanish.
Seth, at Intracoastal Angler, reports redfishing is getting very good at the mouth of creeks into the waterway and down in the Cape Fear River. Flyfishing or using live baits has been most effective. Trout are still being caught in the New River and the lower end of the Cape Fear River. Flounder fishing still hasn’t picked up as it should have, but fish are slowly getting bigger as more live bait shows up. Nearshore, the spanish and kings are still very good, with plenty of cobia around to keep things interesting. Not much to report from the gulf stream with most boats fishing up at Big Rock.
Lewis, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports excellent red drum fishing from the river, mostly on artificials. There are also a few fish along the waterway docks and in the bigger creeks off the waterway. Flounder are still pretty slow for this time of year, but fish should be moving inshore as more bait shows up.
Spanish and blues are hitting clark spoons and yozuri plugs from the inlet out. Cobia have been on the jetties, as well as the nearshore wrecks, in good numbers. Further out (from 5 mile areas all the way to the Tower) has been good for kingfish. Dolphin are scattering nearshore, with the bite slowing in the gulf stream. Stream trips are yielding dolphin with an occasional wahoo, tuna, and billfish.
