Wrightsville Beach March 27, 2014
Buddy Ester and Carla Auman with the results of a double topwater hookup, 31 and 33″ striped bass they hooked in the Cape Fear River while fishing with Duane Auman. The fish were released after the photo.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that Wrightsville Beach anglers have been finding action with red drum inshore and in the surf zone recently. The fish are schooled up in the surf near the inlets, where anglers casting metal spoons and soft plastics on heavy jigheads are hooking good numbers of fish.
Inshore, reds are schooled up around deeper docks in the ICW and closer to the inlets. Some black drum and a few healthy speckled trout are mixed in with the reds, and anglers may find the fish feeding in shallower water on warm, sunny afternoons. They’re not too active in the cooler weather, so scented baits like Gulps or other soft plastics laced with Pro-Cure Super Gel will help convince the fish to bite. Fishing slowly is key to success, and peeled shrimp on jigheads or Carolina rigs fished still on the bottom will produce at times when the artificials don’t.
Anglers are seeing some larger speckled trout with the reds and feeding in some of the creeks, but they remain closed to harvest until June.
Out in the ocean, black sea bass are feeding at bottom structure not too far off the beaches, but anglers may have to travel 20+ miles to put together decent numbers of keepers. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits and small vertical jigs or bucktails will all tempt bites from the bass.
Capt. Trevor Smith, of ProFishNC Charters, with a sheepshead he hooked at some nearshore structure off Wrightsville Beach.
False albacore are feeding in the 20 mile range off Wrightsville and should be moving closer to the beach as warmer water moves closer, too, later in the spring. Anglers can find the falsies feeding on the surface or under working birds, and then cast small metal lures like the new Hogy Epoxy jigs to tempt them to bite.
Further offshore, bottom fishermen are connecting with big numbers of triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, and more, both on baited bottom rigs and vertical jigs.
Jigging along the break is producing plenty of action with amberjacks and blackfin tuna along with a few cobia and African pompano in 170-200’ of water.
Anglers trolling the blue water are hooking more blackfins, some wahoo, and a few early dolphin. Ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that anglers are finding some solid red drum action in the lower Cape Fear River, where mid-upper slot fish are feeding in the shallows and biting Gulp baits, spoons smeared with Pro-Cure, and shrimp under floats or on Carolina rigs.
Lower-slot reds are schooling in the creeks around south Topsail, and they will respond to the same offerings.
More reds (in a variety of sizes) are feeding beneath docks near the local inlets and will pounce on Gulps or shrimp fished tight to the bottom.
Some flounder are starting to take an interest in the Gulp baits while anglers are chasing reds as well.
A few small bluefish have shown up at the Masonboro jetties, and more should be on the way as the water temperatures climb a bit.
Large schools of false albacore are feeding 5-10 miles off the inlets. Anglers can find the fish from a distance by looking for terns diving into the water and hook the speedy tuna relatives on small metal casting jigs.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers trolling the blue water off Wrightsville Beach are connecting with some wahoo and blackfin tuna on skirted lures, ballyhoo, and diving plugs.
Some blackfins are also falling for topwater poppers when anglers spot them feeding on the surface.
Working vertical jigs along the break is producing plenty of action with amberjacks, African pompano, cobia, and more.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s been some good striped bass action in the Cape Fear River on many recent days. Most of the fish are falling for soft plastics that anglers are working around ledges and deeper structure, but trolling diving plugs is producing a few fish as well.
Red drum are schooling in the surf around the local inlets, and anglers who find the schools can hook good numbers while casting spoons or soft plastic baits.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that there’s been some solid action with black sea bass and dogfish around structure in the 10 mile range off Wrightsville. Bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits will produce plenty of bites from both fish.
False albacore are feeding in the same areas and will bite trolled lures or casting jigs.
Commercial boats have been finding some king mackerel action when there’s some warmer (upper-60’s) water in the 40 mile range, but the water and fishing have been a bit inconsistent.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that skates have been producing the majority of the action off the pier lately.
Anglers should begin seeing some action with sea mullet and pufferfish once spring warms the water up towards the 60 degree mark. It’s currently 54 degrees.
