Wrightsville Beach May 13, 2010
Doug Efting, of Wilmington, with a 28 lb. wahoo that fell for a ballyhoo behind a blue/white Ilander while he was trolling the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville Beach with Micah Cox on the "Say When."
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are finding some action with red drum around docks and on the flats. They’re not aggressively pursuing topwaters yet, but anglers are catching some of the fish on MirrOlures, Gulp baits, and gold spoons.
Flounder are showing at a variety of spots inshore, and there’s been a pretty decent bite in Rich’s Inlet recently. Live peanut pogies are producing most of the action.
Bluefish, spanish mackerel, and a few remaining Atlantic bonito are feeding between the beach and the 5 mile areas. Trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers is producing plenty of action, and anglers are also hooking up by casting to breaking schools of fish in the 3-5 mile range.
The flounder bite has been excellent around structure in the ocean in 30-50’ of water. Bucktails and Gulp baits are attracting plenty of attention from the flatties.
There still aren’t too many good king mackerel reports, but the water in the 10-30 mile range is around 70 degrees. It shouldn’t be long before anglers see some spring kings.
Bottom fishermen have had success with some fat red grouper and triggerfish at structure in 100’ and deeper. Cigar minnows and other baits along with vertical jigs will fool the bottom feeders.
The dolphin bite has turned on in the Gulf Stream (with most fish slingers, but some decent gaffers in the mix). A few wahoo and billfish are also prowling the blue water for meals right now. Skirted ballyhoo are top baits for all the Gulf Stream predators.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that dolphin are beginning to show up in the Gulf Stream. There are still some wahoo mixed in, and anglers released a few billfish last week as well. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling the ‘phins and other blue water gamefish.
Bottom fishermen have had some decent days since grouper season opened up May 1, but the bite hasn’t been on fire.
Some cobia have been reported in the 5 mile range out of Wrightsville over the past week.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and on out to structure in the 5 mile range. Trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or Clarkspoons or casting metal lures to breaking fish will put both species in the boat.
Anglers are catching a lot of flounder in the marshes and a few in the surf, mostly on Gulp baits and live mud minnows. Many are still small, but the number of keepers is improving.
Matt Rowe with a 27", 5+ lb. spanish mackerel he hooked in 45' of water just off Masonboro Inlet. The big spaniard fell for a pink Yo-Zuri Deep Diver while he was trolling with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Fishing Charters.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the dolphin bite is turning on in the Gulf Stream, and good numbers of fish were found at the Steeples and the Nipple last week. Skirted ballyhoo are fooling some of the dolphin, and anglers are also hooking up while casting lures like large Slug-Gos and Yo-Zuri Sashimi Sliders at fish they’ve sighted.
A few wahoo are still in the mix in the Stream, and boats also released several billfish last week.
Deep jigging in 120-160’ of water is still producing plenty of big amberjacks (some to 90 lbs. lately) and a variety of groupers (scamp, yellow edge, red, and gag). Blue Water Candy Roscoe jigs have produced the best results lately.
Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent, and anglers even caught good numbers while trolling Clarkspoons inside the inlet last week.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent off Wrightsville lately (with some fish to 5+ lbs.). The action’s been best between the inlet and the Liberty Ship, and trolled Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Clarkspoons have been the most effective baits lately.
A few Atlantic bonito are still around off New River Inlet, and anglers also caught some kings in the 10-20 mile range off New River last week.
Josh Stephenson with a 25" red drum he hooked on a live mud minnow while dock-fishing in Banks Channel.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that the red and black drum bite is still solid around docks in the ICW, but increasing numbers of pinfish are making fishing for the black drum with shrimp challenging. Live and cut baits will fool the reds and keep the pinfish at bay.
A few flounder are beginning to feed inshore, and the flounder bite should break wide open over the coming weeks.
Off the beaches, there are plenty of spanish mackerel within a few miles of shore. Trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or casting to breaking fish will produce action with the mackerel. A few Atlantic bonito have been mixed in with the mackerel around 5 miles off the beach.
There are plenty of schools of pogies moving along the beaches now, and anglers have seen some cobia amongst them.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching plenty of bluefish from the planks on Gotcha plugs. Good numbers of spanish are in the mix early and late in the day, and a cobia was sighted from the pier last week.
Bottom fishermen are picking up a handful of flounder (with a few keepers in the mix) and some whiting.
The water is 65 degrees.
