Added on Thursday, March 13, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach March 13, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that blackfin tuna are making up the majority of most boats’ Gulf Stream catches right now. Good numbers of wahoo have also been landed, and yellowfin tuna season is right around the corner, with several positive reports coming in from the Morehead City area. A few blue marlin have even been hooked already this year by boats venturing to the blue water. Ballyhoo rigged behind skirted lures will tempt bites from any of these Gulf Stream predators.

Kings have been holding 40+ miles offshore all winter, although commercial boats have been targeting them more than the recreational fleet. Anglers in search of kings should troll cigar minnows around 67-70 degree temperature breaks to locate the schools, which will be moving closer to land as spring progresses.

The grouper bite has been decent 30 miles and further offshore, and gags should be moving back inshore a little after spawning.

Inshore, anglers are hooking up with red drum and speckled trout in creeks, on the flats, and around docks. Gulp baits fished on jigheads should attract attention from both species.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers making the run to the Stream are catching blackfin tuna, and the yellowfins will be feeding in full force soon. Several blue marlin have been seen already this season as well.

Deep jigging near the edge of the Gulf Stream has produced some quality gag grouper and amberjacks recently. Scamp grouper and other bottom fish are feeding a bit closer to shore, in 100’+, but the red grouper bite has been strangely slow lately. Butterfly jigs have been out-producing baits for most of the quality bottom fish.

King mackerel are holding 45 miles offshore in around 110′, but they’ll be moving a little closer to the beaches as the 68-70 degree water they prefer moves inshore over the next month. Anglers can expect to see kings feeding around the Schoolhouse within the next 3 weeks.

Inshore, anglers are landing a few flounder and speckled trout from creeks in the Hampstead/Topsail area.

Around Wrightsville Beach, some red drum (mostly 17-20″) are feeding beneath boat docks. Gulp baits should draw strikes from any trout, flounder, and drum in the area.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are feeding on flats and in the backs of creeks, where a few flounder are mixed in. The flats between Figure 8 and Topsail are good places to look for the drum right now.

Some drum are also holding underneath boat docks on the ICW, and as spring warms the water, the schools of drum on the flats will move to the docks and creeks where they spend the summer.

Warmer water temperatures will also bring speckled trout out of the deep holes where they spent the winter into area creeks.

Off the beaches, the best sea bass fishing has been in the 20 mile range, but anglers will soon be able to find a mixed bag of sea bass, tautog, and gray trout holding on the nearshore reefs, where a jigging spoon will entice them to bite.

Once the water temperature reaches the 60’s, anglers should start to see Atlantic bonito around nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship.

Grouper fishing has been good 40+ miles offshore, but further in the dog sharks seem to be dominating the bottom structure.

 

Danny, of 96 Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with red drum, striped bass, and speckled trout in the Cape Fear River around downtown Wilmington and further north. They’ll strike a variety of lures, but Rattletraps and swim baits are two of the best.

Some red drum are also holding in the surf zone and in the backs of creeks.

Spring’s warmer weather should improve both the drum and speckled trout bite in the area.

Black sea bass stayed at nearshore structure through January, but have since moved offshore.

 

Dan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are seeing a few whiting, but dog sharks are making up the majority of the catch right now.

Once the water temperature (which is currently around 60 degrees) gets up to around 62, bluefish should show up, and the whiting bite will improve.