Wrightsville Beach March 31, 2011
Eric Anderson, of Wilmington, NC, with a 34 lb. African pompano he hooked while vertical jigging 60 miles off Wrightsville Beach in 160' of water. He was fishing with Capt. Rick Croson of Living Waters Guide Service.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that bluefish are starting to show up in the waterway and some of the area creeks, an excellent sign that spring fishing is getting underway. The blues will take an interest in just about any fast-moving lure anglers can cast.
Some speckled trout have also been showing up just off the ICW near Wrightsville Beach. They’ll fall for Billy Bay or Storm shrimp imitations or a variety of other soft plastics.
Red and black drum are feeding in many of the mainland creeks. Anglers can target both with fresh shrimp on bottom rigs or cover more water by working Gulp baits or other soft plastics until they find the fish.
Surf anglers are hooking up with a handful of sea mullet, and the action should only improve as the water temperatures climb. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs will get plenty of attention from the mullet.
Anglers returning from the Gulf Stream found schooling false albacore in the 20 mile range off Masonboro Inlet last week, and a few have been reported closer to shore off Kure Beach. As the water temps rise, the albacore will move closer to the beaches, and anglers can target them by trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or casting metal jigs to schools of fish feeding on the surface.
Boats making the run to blue water recently have found plenty of action. Those trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures are decking some wahoo and blackfin tuna, along with some yellowfins at spots to the north.
Vertical jiggers are hooking blackfins, amberjacks, cobia, African pompano, and more.
Jon, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that Gulf Stream trollers hooked up with some wahoo, blackfin tuna, and the first few dolphin of the year last week. One local boat also landed a mako shark. Rigged ballyhoo and skirted trolling lures are top choices for the blue water gamefish. Boats out of Morehead City also put a handful of yellowfin tuna on the docks last week.
Some king mackerel have been reported as well, but the fish are still 40+ miles from land. As warmer water moves to the beaches, the kings will follow.
Inshore, the red drum bite is still solid on nicer days. Anglers are finding the fish feeding in the shallows from Topsail to Bald Head Island, and tempting them to bite soft plastic baits. Big Bite Baits have outproduced other soft baits for several anglers lately.
Striped bass fishing is still going in the Cape Fear River, with some days offering a better bite than others. Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, Gulp baits, and swimbaits are all effective weapons when the stripers are biting.
Woody Coombs, Dan Spencer, Sam McKenzie, and Todd Helf with a trio of wahoo they hooked while high-speed trolling with large jet heads while trolling north of the Same Ol' aboard the "Salvation."
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream jigging is still going strong when the weather moderates enough for anglers to make it to the break. Big numbers of big amberjacks are feeding around bottom structure in 150-200’ and deeper, and anglers have been weeding through them to connect with some African pompano and cobia in 150-180’ lately. White trevally, rainbow runners, and a smorgasboard of other unusual surprise fish are feeding in the same areas.
Schools of blackfin tuna are feeding a bit further offshore, in 225-300’, and anglers can hook them while working long jigs over marks in the middle of the water column.
Heading in from the break, working 2 oz. Roscoe jigs around structure in 120’ has been producing some impressive triggerfish catches lately.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that anglers are finding action with red and black drum in the ICW near Wrightsville Beach. Most of the fish are feeding around docks in the area, and fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are producing the lion’s share of the action. Interestingly, the reds are outnumbering the black drum by a significant margin.
Charlie, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few sea mullet and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp. Last week’s warm weather led to a solid sea mullet bite, particularly in the evenings, so anglers can expect the mullet to turn on again when the weather improves.
Some red and black drum should join the other bottom feeders as the water temperatures creep up over April.
The water is 56 degrees.
