Wrightsville Beach March 7, 2013
Frank Dalli, of Raleigh, and Nick Savvas, of NY, with 39 and 35 lb. African pompano that bit vertical jigs in 120-150′ of water while they were fishing off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.
Chandler, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that blue water anglers are still finding plenty of action with wahoo and blackfin tuna when they make the long run to the break. Local hotspots like the Same Ol’ and Steeples have both been productive when the warm water moves over the break. The wahoo bite should get even stronger as winter turns to spring. Both traditional ballyhoo/lure combinations and high-speed artificials will attract attention from the wahoo. Trolling smaller baits and lures or working vertical jigs and topwater poppers around fish that anglers spy on the surface or depth sounder will put the blackfins in the boat.
Amberjacks are schooled up around high-relief structure in the same areas, and they will pounce on vertical jigs.
Not many people have been fishing between the beach and the Gulf Stream due to bottomfish closures and cool water temperatures, but there have been scattered schools of false albacore not far off the beach for anglers looking for some hard battles.
Inshore, some schools of red drum are working the flats behind the barrier islands, and scattered fish are feeding around ICW docks. They’re a little hesitant to bite right now, but scented soft plastic baits and fresh dead shrimp seem to help them get over their shyness.
Anglers are also picking up a few flounder and speckled trout inshore, but they’ve been scattered and tough to get on consistently.
All the inshore action should improve as the weather and water temperatures warm up over the next month.
Striped bass are still feeding in the Cape Fear River near downtown Wilmington, where diving plugs and soft plastic baits are the go-to lures.
Robbie, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are still connecting with decent numbers of striped bass while fishing the Cape Fear River near downtown Wilmington. Most are falling for diving plugs and soft plastic baits fished around channel edges and shoreline drop-offs.
Further downriver, the speckled trout bite has been decent in the creeks and around grass islands and oyster bars. The specks will take an interest in a variety of soft plastic baits or suspending hard lures like MirrOlure MR17’s, Rapala X-Raps, and Yo-Zuri 3D Shrimp.
Black and red drum are schooled up in the backwaters closer to Wrightsville, but they’ve been finicky lately, and the clear, shallow water they’re feeding in means they’ve generally seen boats by the time anglers see the fish. Cut baits fished still on the bottom will often draw bites from the drum when they’re unwilling to strike artificials.
Jason Fralin with a 23″ striped bass that bit a 4″ D.O.A. shrimp near a Cape Fear River dock while he was fishing with Capt. Trevor Smith of ProFishNC Charters.
Offshore, trollers are still connecting with some solid catches of wahoo around local blue water hotspots like the Steeples. Ballyhoo paired with dark-colored lures will tempt bites from the ‘hoos.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers are hooking some tautog around nearshore structure within 10 miles of the beaches. Huge numbers of black sea bass are feeding in the same areas, but they must be released as they’re closed to harvest until June 1. Both the sea bass and ‘togs are falling for small (1-2 oz.) vertical jigs.
When the weather allows a run to blue water, working vertical jigs around high-relief structure is producing plenty of action with big amberjacks. Some African pompano are mixed in with the jacks, and both are taking an interest in vertical jigs.
Blackfin tuna are feeding in many of the same areas (some to 30+ lbs.). Anglers can hook them while trolling smaller baits and lures, working vertical jigs, or casting topwater plugs to fish chasing bait on the surface.
There’s also still a decent wahoo bite for anglers making the trip to the Stream, with most of the fish falling for skirted ballyhoo.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are hooking bottomfish like ringtails, black sea bass, dogfish, and flounder at nearshore structure right now. The sea bass must be released as their season is closed.
March is typically an excellent month for king mackerel for boats willing to run 40+ miles to find them. Wherever anglers can find bait and water temperatures in the upper-60’s, the kings shouldn’t be far off. Trolled Drone Spoons, sea witch/strip combos, and cigar minnows will all attract attention from the mackerel.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that dogfish and skates are making up most of the catch for pier anglers right now.
Once the water hits 60 degrees, anglers should see a springtime run of sea mullet and pufferfish. Both will fall for shrimp and other baits on double-drop bottom rigs.
The water is 53 degrees.
