Wrightsville Beach March 11, 2010
Charlie Baird, of Wilmington, with a 22" speckled trout he hooked on a 3" Gulp shrimp in Whiskey Creek.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are finding a few speckled trout in the area creeks and bays. Gulp baits and soft shrimp imitations will fool the specks that are around, and the bite will be improving as spring progresses and the water temperature rises.
Red drum are schooling in the surf off the barrier islands, and anglers who can locate the schools should find fast fishing for the mid to over-slot reds. Gulp baits, swimbaits, MirrOlures, and a host of other soft and hard baits will fool the reds. Over the coming weeks, the schools of reds will begin moving back into the inlets and feeding in the marshes, bays, and creeks, where the same lures will fool them.
Some smaller reds and black drum are holding in the deeper holes of the inshore creeks.
Offshore, the black sea bass bite has been solid at structure 20+ miles off the beach. Dogfish and undersized bass seem to be dominating the catch closer to shore. Bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will attract plenty of attention from the sea bass, and anglers can also hook up on lighter tackle by jigging Shore Lures and other metal jigs near the structure.
False albacore are feeding in the same areas where anglers are finding the bass, and anglers can hook them on the same metal jigs or while trolling spoons.
Boats making the trip to the Gulf Stream are finding some wahoo and blackfin tuna action, and the bite should only improve as spring progresses. Local anglers are also waiting with baited breath to see if the area will have a showing of yellowfin tuna this year. If they appear, it should happen within the next month. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures like Blue Water Candy Witches and JAGs will produce action with the blue water fish.
Anglers are also hooking some wahoo and blackfins while jigging at Gulf Stream spots like the Same Ol’ and Steeples.
Kevin Bloome, of Wilmington, with one of many striped bass he hooked on soft plastics in the Cape Fear River while pre-fishing for the Cape Fear Riverwatch Striper Tournament with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that red drum are schooling in the surf around several of the area inlets. Gulp baits, other soft plastics, and MirrOlures are all excellent choices for the surf reds.
Some black drum are feeding in deeper holes inshore. Structure like bridges and docks are good places to look for them as well. Cut shrimp on bottom rigs will fool the black drum.
Offshore, anglers are vertical jigging to hook up with good numbers of amberjacks and some blackfin tuna at bottom structure near the break.
Anglers trolling the Stream are hooking blackfins and some wahoo as well, and the blue water bite should only get better over the next few weeks. Some yellowfin tuna may show up as well, and April marks the beginning of the best blue marlin fishing of the year in the area. Both skirted ballyhoo and naked trolling lures will fool the ‘hoos, tunas, and any early billfish that are around.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream trolling has been producing decent catches of blackfin tuna and wahoo when boats get the weather to run to blue water.
Anglers vertical jigging at Gulf Stream hotspots like the Same Ol’ Hole are finding virtually nonstop action with amberjacks, along with some blackfin tuna, African pompano, cobia, and a variety of other species.
Some king mackerel are out in the vicinity of the break, but they haven’t been schooled up as tightly as usual for this time of year.
There’s still a good sea bass bite at bottom structure in the 20-30 mile range. Most of the larger bass seem to have moved out to this area, as the inshore bite has been dominated by dogfish and throwbacks.
Marissa Salvitti and Harley Lawson, from Wilmington, with a catch of speckled trout (the largest 5.8 and 5.2 lbs.) they hooked on paddletail grubs inshore at Wrightsville Beach while fishing with Capt. John Renn of In The Mouth Charters.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that sea bass are feeding at bottom structure from 5-30 miles offshore. The inshore end of that range has seen more undersized fish and dogfish lately, with most of the larger fish further offshore.
Inshore, the red drum bite is on in the surf. The fish should begin moving in the inlets soon when the water temperatures get over 50 degrees. Good numbers of bluefish should begin showing up inshore and in the waterway around the same time.
Once the water crests into the higher-50’s, anglers should be alert for the annual appearance of the Atlantic bonito. When these nearshore tunas arrive in the area, anglers can find them at spots like the Liberty Ship off Wrightsville Beach and Diver’s Rock off New River. Casting metal jigs like Shore Lures or trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will draw bites from the bonito.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that anglers are finding action with schools of red drum in the surf off the barrier islands and around the inlet shoals.
Some speckled trout are feeding in the creeks, and anglers may also run across some trout in the inlets.
The coming week of 60-70 degree weather should help the water temperatures climb out of the 40’s and kick the inshore bite off for the year.
Warren, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are still catching some dogfish from the pier.
The water is currently 50 degrees, and as it warms up into the mid-higher 50’s, anglers will begin to see some action from bluefish, whiting, black drum, and more.
