Wrightsville Beach – March 24, 2016
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports good numbers of sea mullet being caught in the surf. Fishbites and fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are doing the trick. The fish are being caught on both sides of the tide, and night fishing has been the most productive. One angler fishing near Wrightsville Beach reported catching nearly 100 mullet on a single tide using Fishbites. The water temperatures in the surf zone are hovering around 60 degrees.
Red and black drum fishing continues to be steady along area docks. Live mud minnows and Gulp are producing bites from the reds, and red and black drum are being fooled with fresh shrimp fished on both bottom rigs and jig heads. There are still some red drum in the surf zone, but the fish are beginning to stage towards the inlets. The deeper creeks near the inlets are beginning to hold the reds that are returning to the marsh.
There have been some decent catches of speckled trout around Figure Eight Island. The specks are being caught on live mud minnows, Gulp, and MirrOlures.
The black sea bass fishing continues to be constant. The bigger bass are beginning to move further off the beach, with the majority of keeper bass found in 80+ feet of water. Stingsilvers, Blue Water Candy jigs, and cut bait are producing plenty of action with the bass.
In the same range, the false albacore are crashing glass minnows, with acres of albies being spotted on the surface. King mackerel fishing has been good in the 35-40 mile range, and the fish are holding in high 60 to 70 degree water. Cigar minnow, trolled with skirts are the best bet for the kings.
The Gulf Stream is still producing excellent wahoo fishing, with some 70-80 lb. fish brought back to the docks. Blackfin tuna fishing has been up and down, and the fish are being found in deeper water than the wahoo. Some nice sailfish are beginning to show back up, too. The sails are being caught incidentally while trolling for wahoo, and skirted ballyhoos and diving plugs are producing the bulk of opportunities.
Joe Alafogiannis, from New York, with a 25 lb. African pompano he caught while deep jigging with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that red and black drum are being found along docks on the waterway. Fresh shrimp fished on bottom rigs and jig heads prove to be the best method right now. The first hour of the incoming tide and the last hour of the outgoing have been the best times to target the drum.
Riley Inman, from Wilmington, with a striper he caught (and released) in the Cape Fear River. The fish fell for a pink 4 Saltwater Assassin soft plastic.
Bluefish are beginning to make their return to shore, with the jetties holding a few blues in the 1-2 lb. range. The bulk of the fish, though, are in the 10 mile range offshore, in the same waters as the false albacore.
Meredith Clark (age 8) with a 34 striped bass she caught and released while fishing the Cape Fear River with her father Ryan.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that speckled trout are taking more interest in soft plastics as of late. Blue Water Candy plastics and hard baits like Rapala X-Raps, Yo-Zuri crystal shrimp, and MirrOlures are catching a mix of keeper and throwback trout.
Red and black drum are being caught in the inlets and creeks. The red drum are falling for the same artificials, including Falling Tide spinnerbaits.
Dave Hannah, of Wilmington, with an almost 10 lb. dogfish he hooked and released while fishing off Johnny Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports steady wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing in the Gulf Stream. Ballyhoo rigged with a sea witch has been the best bet for the wahoo, and fishing smaller baits for tuna is key.
King mackerel fishing is solid around the tower area, and the fish are falling for trolled cigar minnows and spoons. The kings are preferring bait-rich waters in the 66+ degree water.
Phil Egan with his personal best, an 80 lb. wahoo caught on a skirted ballyhoo while fishing the Gulf Stream out of Wrightsville Beach.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports lots of false albacore in the 15-40 mile range. Larger sea bass are being found on the bottom in the same areas as the albacore, with cut bait and jigs getting the best attention. Pinkies and grunts are being found in waters 85’ and deeper.
Jeffery Scott with a 5.5 lb. trout he caught fishing around Wrightsville Beach with live shrimp.
The Gulf Stream has seen a mix of wahoo, blackfins, African pompano, and amberjacks. The pelagics have been taking a mix of trolling lures and ballyhoo, and the jacks and African pompanos have been eating a variety of jigs.
Charlie Dougall, of Wilmington, with a black drum she caught on a jig head with cut shrimp. The fish was hooked in a creek near Wrightsville Beach while fishing with her step-father Cameron Francisco.
Warren, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports really good sea mullet fishing. The mullet are being caught on Fishbites and fresh shrimp. The better fishing for them has been in the evenings and night time on a rising tide.
Blow toads are being caught throughout the day on both sides of the tide, and skates and stingrays are providing some pullage when the sea mullet bite has slowed.
The water temperature has been rising to 63 degrees during the day, and it won’t be long before the bluefish start showing up in numbers on the pier.
Tony Greene, of Hope Mills, with a redfish he landed near the Wrightsville Beach jetty.
