Wrightsville Beach June 3, 2004
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that very few boats made it to the stream this week due to weather. Those that did go came back with a few dolphin and king mackerel. Small dolphin (up to 12 lbs.) and snake kings are biting cigar minnows at WR4 and 23 Mile Rock. Those dropping live and dead baits around the Dredge Wreck got a few amberjacks and cobia this week. Closer in, there was a good spanish mackerel bite around Rich’s Inlet, and the chopper bluefish (8 to 10 lbs.) are still biting at night around the rocks of Masonboro Inlet. Red Drum are biting live minnows around Masonboro and Carolina Beach inlets. All the area inlets and creeks have flounder biting, but finding keeper size fish is still a little tough.
Lewis, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports scattered but big yellowfin tuna. They are ranging in weight from 40 to 60 lbs. There are also a few wahoo and a good dolphin bite. The dolphin have been running up to 25 lbs. Grouper are biting from the 23 on out, and closer in there have been a few cobia caught in the Liberty Ship area. There is not much to report on the king mackerel this week, and the spanish mackerel bite has been on and off. The sizes of the spanish are getting smaller. Bluefish are still mixed in with the spanish. Flounder are biting well in inlets and creeks on mud minnows, but most of the fish are undersized. Red drum are starting to eat mud minnows and can be caught around docks.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports that anglers are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel out on the end on Gotcha plugs. There were no king mackerel to report this week, but a few throwback flounder are biting. Mud minnows have been the best bait for these flounder.
Tyler, at Intracoastal Angler, reports that redfish are starting to cooperate in the river, and speckled trout have been caught around the inlets in the Topsail area. The sheepshead bite is beginning to pick up, so the big fish should show anytime. Spanish fishing has slowed, but they are still just off the beach. If you were able to make it offshore, there was very good dolphin fishing this week.
