Wrightsville Beach May 26, 2005
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports the nearshore bite has turned on with spanish mackerel, bluefish, and snake king mackerel in the 24 to 30 inch class. Trolling yozuri plugs and clark spoons on light tackle has been the most effective tactic. The inlets are starting to cover up with flounder but most are still small. Puppy drum are starting to be more aggressive in the creeks but there is still a lack of bait around. There are a few larger kings scattered offshore and in the 20-30 mile range the grouper have been the best bite with fish in the 15 to 18 lb. class being brought in. Further off, in the Gulf Stream, the dolphin action is getting hotter with fish up to around 25 lbs. Wahoo, 25 to 40 lb. yellowfin, and small blackfins are rounding out the catches and don’t overlook the billfish that are beginning to arrive.
Seth, at Intracoastal Angler, reports trout and redfish in both the Cape Fear and New Rivers while reds are scattered in the creeks and waterway in between. Nearshore the spanish and snake kings are giving trollers a good time and the bluefish are everywhere. Bonito have moved on but the Cobia have arrived on the wrecks nearshore. Gulf stream is seeing very good catches of dolphin up to around 25 lbs. and several blue marlin sightings with a few being caught south towards Georgetown hole.
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier reports bluefish with a few spanish mackerel on plugs while the king rigs have caught some 10 lb. bluefish and hooked up on a few cobia but none landed. No kings yet. Good sea mullet bite with some citation size fish weighed in. Flounder are still small but there are a few keepers to be had.
Lewis, at Bugem Bait Co, reports fishing finally improving with lots of dolphin from the stream as well as tuna and wahoo. No real king reports except the snake kings that are mixed in with the spanish on the beach out to 10 miles. The grouper bite is around the 30 to 40 miles reefs and ledges and some cobia have been caught off the dredge wreck. The surf has been good with small flounder, bluefish, whiting, sheepshead, and black drum. Inside the flounder are still small with an occasional keeper but the drum are beginning to bite better and there have been scattered speckled trout reports from creeks behind Wrightsville Beach.
