Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach June 5, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that cobia are beginning to show up around nearshore structure and live bottoms. Anglers on the pier have had a number of shots at the cobes this week, but they haven’t been very willing to bite. A few have been landed. Live baits, such as bluefish, stand the best chance of getting bites. And anglers can also sight cast bucktails to the fish.

Flounder fishing continues to improve with the rising water temperatures. Anglers are finding the flounder in the creeks, inlets, and channels. There are still a decent number of undersized flounder around, but anglers are beginning to catch some 4-5 lb. fish along with the short ones. Carolina-rigged live baits are top choices for the flatfish, and anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits.

Red drum are feeding in and around the inlets. Smaller schoolie reds are looking for meals in the creeks and around docks. Live baits will get the drum’s attention, and anglers can also use Gulp baits or other artificials.

King mackerel are feeding well from the beaches out to spots in the 10-15 mile range right now. Live baits still aren’t plentiful, but anglers can score action with the kings while trolling dead cigar minnows or diving plugs.

Boats are finding decent grouper fishing within 20-25 miles of the beaches, with plenty of fish further offshore, too. Cigar minnows and spanish sardines are good choices for bait bouncers, and plenty of grouper have been falling for butterfly jigs, too.

Some dolphin have moved inshore of the Gulf Stream, and boats are finding them around 30 miles out. Larger dolphin are feeding out in the Stream, and boats are also hooking up with good numbers of wahoo in the blue water. Skirted ballyhoo will account for plenty of dolphin and wahoo bites.

The blue marlin bite is also quite good right now, with marlin releases reported at a number of Gulf Stream spots lately. The Swansboro Hole seems to have been especially productive for the blues last week.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been phenomenal over the past week. The best action has been at structure 2-5 miles offshore.

Yo-Zuri Deep Divers in pink and orange are convincing most of the spanish to bite.

Several king mackerel have also been falling for the pink Deep Divers lately around the same area.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that red drum fishing has been good inshore lately in the marshes and around docks. Spinnerbaits like the Redfish Magic are consistently fooling the reds.

Jigging nearshore structure like John’s Creek has been productive on a mixed bag of fish. Spanish mackerel, sea bass, flounder, bluefish, croakers, and other species have been falling for lures jigged near the structure. Gotcha plugs have been producing the best results recently.

Amberjacks are still schooled up at structure like artificial reefs 10+ miles off the beach. Live baits should tempt them to bite.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing is still excellent just off the beaches. The fish will fall for trolled Clarkspoons, but anglers trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Rapala Tail Dancers may well catch some kings along with the spanish. Plenty of bluefish are feeding alongside the mackerel.

Boats are running into flying fish just 5 miles offshore, so the nearshore dolphin season looks promising.

Some cobia are cruising the nearshore waters, but only a few smaller ones have been landed so far.

Offshore, the grouper and dolphin bite has been excellent around bottom structure 30-50 miles from the inlets.

Inshore fishing has been excellent, too. Anglers are landing red drum and flounder in a variety of spots on cut baits, live baits, and Gulp.

Anglers are landing black drum and sheepshead around hard structure inshore. Fiddler crabs should attract attention from both species.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been solid near the beach between Mason’s Inlet and Rich’s Inlet.

Kings are feeding well around the Schoolhouse, 200/200, and other structure in that depth range. Anglers can tempt a few fish to bite dead cigar minnows, but live baits will produce better results. Some pogies have shown up in the Cape Fear River near Snow’s Cut, and anglers can also jig up cigar minnows and other baits in the area they’re fishing.

There are also plenty of amberjacks at the Schoolhouse and 200/200, and live baits should prove irresistible to the AJ’s. Some cobia have shown up in the same area, and the boat landed a 35 lb. cobe this week.

Gulf Stream fishing has been excellent lately, with good numbers of gaffer dolphin, some blackfin tuna, and a few wahoo feeding around temperature breaks and weedlines around the break. Further offshore, the billfishing has been excellent as well, and boats are releasing decent numbers of sailfish and blue marlin.

 

James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that a number of cobia were landed last week (the largest weighing 45 lbs.). Live baiters caught several kings as well (mostly teenagers). Live bluefish were drawing the bites at the end of the pier.

Some 6-10 lb. chopper bluefish are also falling for the king rigs.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been very productive this past week (with many fish 2-3 lbs.). Gotcha plugs are producing most of the action.

Keeper flounder are falling for live baits fished on the bottom. And anglers baiting up with shrimp are catching some solid pompano.

The water is 74 degrees.