Wrightsville Beach – June 9, 2016
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder fishing inshore is providing a good mix of keeper and undersized fish. Waterway creeks and near the inlets are producing the best bite. Most anglers are using mud minnows, finger mullet, and menhaden on Carolina rigs while drifting or anchored.
Red drum are being reported by anglers fishing behind Figure Eight. Fish in shallow water can be caught with topwater plugs, spoons, and a variety of soft plastics fished on lightweight jigheads. Live bait under a popping cork or pinned on a jighead has also been effective. Docks and deeper holes are giving up reds using live or cut bait fished on a Carolina rig. Using cut shrimp in these same locations can catch black drum as well.
Sheepshead fishing has improved with increasing water temperatures. Fiddler crabs, shrimp, and sand fleas have all been working on these fish. Most anglers are using Carolina rigs with a 2/0 live bait hook.
Surf anglers are catching bluefish, spanish mackerel, pompano, sea mullet, croaker, flounder, and a few drum from local beaches. Pompano are being caught with shrimp or sand fleas fished on a bottom rig.
Fishbites have been a good choice for the variety of small fish in the surf. Bluefish and spanish mackerel are eating casting jigs, especially early in the morning and near the inlets, and 1-2 oz. sizes are most effective.
Boaters are experiencing a great spanish mackerel bite. Anglers have been catching big numbers in anywhere from 15′ of water out to 60-65′.
A lot of keeper sized flounder have moved into the ledges and wrecks just off the beach. Live bait, such as mullet or menhaden, are getting the bites.
Large gray trout are also being caught in these same areas. The grays will eat live bait fished the same way, and they can also be caught on diamond jigs and Hopkins spoons.
Cobia fishing has been very good the last couple of weeks. Most fish are being caught right along the beach at the jetty and near artificial reefs.
The king mackerel bite was sporadic last week with only a handful of fish over 20 lbs. being reported, mostly in the 10-20 mile range. The small kings have been biting fairly well in the 8-15 mile range.
Mahi have pushed into the 10-20 mile range with the warmer water, and the bite should only improve. Gag grouper are biting in the 20 mile range, favoring dead cigar minnows on Barefoot crab decoy jigs or the Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs. Along with the gags, keeper sea bass have been plentiful in the same range.
Further out, there has been scamp and large red grouper in water that is in the 120+’ range. Similar offerings will work for these fish, but also try live pinfish or cigar minnows on bottom rigs.
Gulf Stream fishing has been very good when seas allow anglers to make the run. Mahi and blackfin tuna (with the occasional wahoo) are still being reported in good numbers. The boats that are fishing the deeper water have been seeing good numbers of billfish, mostly consisting of blue marlin and sailfish. Trolling skirted ballyhoo with Jr. Ilanders and Blue Water Candy sea witches and Jags has been the most productive.
Mary Jo Cameron, of Wrightsville Beach, with a red she caught on a Gulp curly tail
Trevor, of ProFish NC Charters, reports that the flounder fishing inshore has been hot. Creek mouths and areas near Rich’s Inlet are holding good numbers of fish. Z-Man plastics fished on Blue Water Candy jigheads are bringing most of the flatfish to the boat. Larger flounder are being found on nearshore artificial reefs.
Most AR’s are holding banded rudderfish and black sea bass. Jigging is providing the best action on both species.
Cobia are being found in the area, and the bite should continue for the next week or so.
The spanish mackerel fishing has been very good, and the fish are being found in all their usual places.
Max Safikov and Ed Kovacic, of Concord, with a 28 lb. false albacore they caught at The Box Cars on a Dronespoon behind a #2 planer.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that flounder are biting well, both inshore and off the beach. Nearshore wrecks and artificial reefs out of Wrightsville Beach have been holding solid amounts of flatfish. Live menhaden and Blue Water Candy bucktails tipped with Carolina Bug plastics have been working well over the past week.
Cobia are holding near the inlets and eating live baits well, with menhaden getting most of the bites.
Red drum are taking a liking to live and cut baits. Topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk have been providing solid topwater action. Less active fish are being caught using cracked blue crab and menhaden.
Buck Baker, Brian Baker and Kevin Cook with three cobia caught off Wrightsville Beach while fishing with Capt. Jot Owens, of Jot It Down Charters.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel fishing has been on fire around Wrightsville. Planers and spoons have been fooling most of the spanish.
There has also been a good amount of bluefish in the mix.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the 25-40 mile range has had the best fishing, where mahi and king mackerel action has been strong. A few sailfish are also in these areas.
The Gulf Stream waters have become very hot, and that has slowed the fishing down a bit. Mahi and blackfins are providing some action. There has been a fair amount of blue marlin and sailfish to play with lately.
Bottom fishing has been excellent over the past week. Gag grouper, scamps, grunts, pinkies, triggerfish, and sea bass are all being landed. These fish are falling for a variety of jigs fished close to structure.
Brian, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug anglers are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel off the end of the pier, with red and white Gotcha plugs working best.
Cobia are being caught on king rigs. There have been a few keeper fish, but most have been throwbacks.
The flounder are biting well as of late, with many fish right on the edge of the 15” mark.
Sea mullet are providing some action after sunset, and fresh cut shrimp on bottom rigs are producing the bites.
The water temperature is 76 degrees.
