Wrightsville Beach March 29, 2012
Capt. Stu Caulder, of Gold Leader Guide Service, with a 28", 6.75 lb. speckled trout he caught on a D.O.A. Shrimp in the lower Cape Fear River.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the rising water temperatures have the spring fishing heating up inshore around Wrightsville Beach. Red drum are still holding along ICW docks, and while the fish have seen a good bit of angling pressure in the better-known locations, anglers should still be able to get the fish to bite scented soft plastics like Gulp baits or cut mullet.
Anglers are finding good numbers of speckled trout around Masonboro Inlet, both while fishing from the surf and boats (with some large specks in the mix). The classic 52 series MirrOlures and soft plastics like Storm Shrimp are producing most of the action with the specks.
Flounder are beginning to go on the feed inshore, and with plenty of warm weather in the long range forecast, the bite will only improve over the coming weeks. Anglers looking for live baits can still find some finger mullet in the local backwaters, and the flatfish will also take an interest in Gulp baits and other soft plastics.
Surf anglers are starting to connect with some pufferfish and sea mullet in the deeper holes along the beachfront. Bottom rigs baited with cut shrimp will tempt bites from both tasty bottom dwellers.
Off the beaches, anglers are seeing some false albacore in the 6-10 mile range out of Wrightsville. Anglers can find the albacore by searching for schools of bait and working birds. The Atlantic bonito haven’t made a showing yet, but they should be feeding at nearshore structure within a few miles of the beaches very soon. Casting small metal jigs at fish feeding on the surface will tempt bites from the bonito and albacore.
Ocean flounder fishing is getting better, with the best action coming from spots in 55’ and deeper, though anglers still have to weed through the black sea bass to get to the flatfish. Using 1-2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are tough to beat for the offshore flounder.
King mackerel are feeding along the 70 degree temperature break out in the ocean, and anglers can hook them while trolling cigar minnows, spoons, or diving plugs.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are finding plenty of action with wahoo while trolling both ballyhoo and high-speed lures (with some fish to 80 lbs.). Blackfin tuna action is hit-or-miss, with a good bite some days and slower fishing on others. A few yellowfins (more than in recent years) have been caught already this spring, and some gaffer dolphin and sailfish are also in the mix.
Jacky Dufour with a large blackfin tuna that bit a vertical jig near the Same Ol' Hole while he was fishing with Capt. Chip Baker of Offshore Experiences Sportfishing.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the flounder bite is good and getting better, with reports of good catches coming from the local creeks. Live baits are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks as well, and they’re even biting topwater plugs, a strong sign for late March that the spring bite is going to be early. Anglers are also finding some reds still feeding under ICW docks, but they’ve gotten very wary and will spook easily. A few black drum are in the same places.
A few speckled trout are also biting in the local creeks, and they’ll take a variety of lures when anglers can find them feeding.
Bluefish are beginning to show up in the creeks and inlets, and it won’t be long until they’re feeding all over the inshore waters and biting just about everything.
Some Atlantic bonito were reported nearshore out of Wrightsville last week, and the conditions are right for them to show up in force any day.
Gulf Stream trollers are still catching plenty of wahoo and some blackfin tuna, and the first gaffer dolphin of the year are also making an appearance. Trolled ballyhoo will tempt bites from all three. This is also an excellent time of year to target blue marlin by trolling larger lures and baits a little deeper than where anglers are looking for the meatfish (out around 100 fathoms).
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the Steeples, Same Ol’, and other local Gulf Stream spots are alive right now. Trolling, popping, and jigging are all producing excellent results.
Trolling skirted ballyhoo and baitless lures is producing bites from blackfin tuna, wahoo, and some of the first gaffer dolphin of the year.
Dropping vertical jigs to fish marks on the depthfinder is attracting attention from the tuna, wahoo, and dolphin. African pompano and amberjacks are also falling for the jigs.
And when the blackfins are chasing flying fish on the surface, nothing beats casting topwater poppers (which usually produces the larger citation-class fish).
Keith, of Raleigh, with a hogfish that struck a 4 oz. Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig inshore of the Same Ol’ Hole in 130’ of water. He was fishing out of Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s been a good red drum bite around docks off the ICW and behind the barrier islands. The fish are a little finicky, so fresh shrimp on jigheads have been producing better results than artificials lately.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the red drum are on the feed in the ICW and in the Cape Fear River. Cut shrimp and mullet are tough to beat for the spring reds, but topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and a variety of soft plastics will all get attention.
Speckled trout are feeding well in the lower Cape Fear River, and soft plastics or suspending hard baits will tempt them to bite.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that pufferfish and sea mullet are making up most of the catch from the pier right now. Bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp are the best bet for both panfish.
A few bluefish are falling for cut baits on bottom rigs and Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
The water is 64 degrees.
