Wrightsville Beach June 25, 2009
Scott Williams with a 35 lb. dolphin he hooked 65 miles off Wrightsville Beach in 150' of water. He was fishing on the "Maysea."
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding some excellent action with a variety of pelagic fish at spots in the 10-25 mile range. King mackerel, dolphin, and sailfish are feeding around bottom structure and bait pods in those areas.
Most anglers are live-baiting for the kings with pogies (and there have been plenty around inshore and along the beaches lately). Most of the kings are schoolies, but anglers have been hooking some larger fish around the 30/30 and spots 25+ miles out.
Live baiters are picking up some dolphin, too, but most boats are targeting the dolphin while trolling faster with cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs.
The sails are taking an interest in both the live and dead baits, but anglers are seeing a lot more than they’re hooking. Amberjack are schooling around the 30/30 and the Schoolhouse, and they’re beginning to push into the 10 mile areas. Live baits will tempt strikes from the AJ’s.
Bottom fishermen have been catching good numbers of gag grouper and a few reds at bottom structure in the 25-35 mile range. Live baits, cut baits, and cigar minnows will produce action with the groupers and other bottomfish.
The spanish mackerel bite has been solid just off the beaches, with most boats reporting the best catches around half a mile offshore. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights will attract bites from the spanish.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been good in the creeks and around the inlets. Anglers are hooking most of the fish on Carolina-rigged live baits like finger mullet and peanut pogies, but Gulp baits will also produce action with the flatfish.
Jamie Ezzel, from Wilmington, with a 47", 33 lb. gag grouper he hooked at the Same Ol' Hole on a butterfly jig.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that boats are releasing a number of sailfish from 8-23 miles off the beach. Dolphin and king mackerel are feeding in the same areas.
Most anglers king fishing are slow-trolling pogies, and they’re seeing a few sails. Anglers trolling dead baits like ballyhoo at higher speeds are encountering more sailfish and dolphin. Dredges or other flashy teasers increase anglers’ odds of seeing a sail.
Boaters are seeing a few cobia as well, both when king/dolphin/sailfishing, and when bottom fishing. Tossing a bucktail out to a cobe that swims up to inspect the boat will often produce a strike.
Some schools of spadefish have been reported around nearshore structure, and it shouldn’t be long until they’re here in better numbers. The best way to hook up with the spades is by chumming with cannonball jellies and using small pieces of the jelly for hook baits.
Inshore, the flounder bite is solid, but anglers are still reporting about a 1/3 ration of keepers to throwbacks. Finger mullet or mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs are the way to go for the flatties.
Speckled trout are on the feed in the lower Cape Fear River and the backwaters around Southport. Live shrimp or D.O.A. and Billy Bay artificials beneath popping corks are producing most of the action with the specks.
The red drum bite is on in the Wrightsville surf, and anglers reported hooking good numbers last week on bottom rigs baited with sand fleas, cut baits, and Gulps.
Kenny Shepard with a 27", 9 lb. puppy drum he hooked underneath a dock in Pages Creek on a live finger mullet.
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that the nearshore fishing’s still excellent. The dolphin and king bite is solid in the 10 Mile area (schoolie kings and 10 lb. class dolphin), and anglers are reporting fish even closer to the beaches. Live pogies are drawing strikes from both fish.
Some larger kings (20+ lbs.) are feeding around the Schoolhouse, and there are also a few dolphin and plenty of amberjacks in the same area. The jacks will take an interest in topwater plugs or live baits.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just outside the inlets and along the beachfront.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that king mackerel and dolphin are feeding heavily in the 10-20 mile areas off Wrightsville (with the dolphin mostly gaffers to 25 lbs., and the kings mostly smaller schoolies). Live pogies are producing action with both, and smaller baits on double rigs have been the hottest lately.
The spanish mackerel bite is on closer to the beaches, and anglers trolling Clarkspoons are landing limits.
Inshore, the red drum bite has slowed down a bit since last week, but there are still some fish feeding around local docks and in the marshes. Live baits like pogies or small croakers or Gulps will get attention from the reds.
Stuart, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching some black drum, whiting, and small flounder while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
The water temperature is around 80 degrees.
