Wrightsville Beach June 24, 2010
Rob Schneider, his son Will, and Dave Jackson with a 50 lb. wahoo that fell for a green plug just before a storm while they were trolling in 130' near the 272 Ledge. They were on a Father's Day trip with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters out of Wrightsville Beach.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are finding some action with flounder and red drum in the creeks, along the ICW, and at the Masonboro jetties, but the action hasn’t been red hot in any particular area lately. Live baits pinned to Carolina rigs and Gulp baits on jigheads will get attention from the flounder and reds.
The spanish mackerel and bluefish bite is still on along the beaches, and anglers are hooking them both while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, and while casting metal lures at breaking schools of fish.
The king mackerel and dolphin bite is spread out between 10-30+ miles off the inlet. Most of the dolphin have been on the small side, but some gaffers are scattered throughout the range, with more the further anglers work offshore. Both live baits and dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will attract attention from the kings and dolphin.
Some cobia are mixed in as well, and anglers caught decent numbers from 5-20 miles out last week.
Plenty of amberjacks are schooled up around the Schoolhouse and at other similar high relief structure, and anglers can hook them on vertical jigs or live baits.
Bottom fishing in the 30-35 mile range has been producing solid action with red, scamp, and gag grouper. Both vertical jigs and a variety of baits will fool the fish.
Gulf Stream trollers found larger dolphin than the inshore fish last week, and several sailfish were also reported. A few stray wahoo are still in the blue water mix as well. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are top producers on the Stream predators.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are landing some small dolphin and king mackerel at areas like the Schoolhouse and other structure 15-25 miles out. Both live and dead baits are producing action.
Amberjacks are schooled up at higher relief structure in the same range, and anglers are hooking up with them on vertical jigs. Several cobia have been reported coming up to investigate the amberjacks that anglers are fighting, so it pays to have a rod ready with something to pitch to a curious cobia.
Matthew Colonna, Mark Bedell, and James Hargrove with a warsaw grouper Hargrove hooked on a 6.5 oz. Crippled Herring jig while fishing some bottom structure 50 miles off Wrightsville Beach aboard the "In My Dreams."
Along the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite is still going strong. Anglers are hooking the spaniards both while trolling Clarkspoons behind trolling weights and planers and while casting small metal jigs at schools of fish feeding on the surface.
Tarpon are cruising along the beach off Southport, and some have been sighted on this side of the cape as well.
Inshore, the red drum bite’s been excellent in the marshes and bays off the ICW and river. Topwater plugs have been producing some action in the mornings, and anglers are hooking the fish on soft plastics a bit later in the day.
Some fat trout have been landed in the lower Cape Fear recently.
Flounder fishing has been hot inshore lately, and fish are moving onto the nearshore reefs as well. Live pogies and other baits will attract attention from the flatfish.
Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that dead-bait trolling in the 10-12 mile range has been producing solid action with king mackerel and dolphin lately (and a few gaffers are starting to be mixed in).
Some large spanish mackerel (to 6-7 lbs.) are in the same areas and falling for cigar minnows on dead bait rigs as well.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the flounder bite has been excellent inshore lately (with fish to 6 lbs. over the past week). Most of the action has been around the inlets and in the Cape Fear River. Live pogies are attracting most of the attention from the flatfish.
The red drum bite has been good as well, especially around ICW docks on the falling tides. Pogies will tempt strikes from the reds, too.
Off the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite has been a bit spotty, but some are still around and feeding along the beaches.
Some cobia, tarpon, and sharks are cruising along the beaches looking for meals, and they will take an interest in live pogies or other baits.
King mackerel and dolphin are feeding in the 10-20 mile range and will fall for both live and dead baits.
Gordon Reddick and Frank Perez with a pair of over-slot red drum they hooked just off Wrightsville Beach on cut pogies while fishing with Capt. Jeremiah Hieronymus.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are still catching some spanish mackerel early and late in the day on Gotcha plugs, with good numbers of bluefish mixed in as well.
Large red drum are cruising under the pier daily, but it’s been difficult to tempt them to bite lately, possibly due to extremely clear water.
Bottom fishermen are catching good numbers of flounder, but most are on the small side.
The water is 84 degrees.
