Wrightsville Beach – May 28, 2015
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are still connecting with plenty of dolphin when making the run to local Gulf Stream hotspots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole. There’s also some continued billfish action, as local boats have been reporting encounters with blue and white marlin on many recent trips. Most of the billfish have been in the 100 fathom range and deeper, but a few are inshore to the 50 fathom depths. The dolphin and marlin will both take an interest in skirted ballyhoo or baitless trolling plugs.
Brian Bellamy with a king mackerel that he landed while trolling 10 miles of Wrightsville Beach with Don Bellamy.
There have also been some dolphin inshore to the 10 mile range, and anglers can expect more to follow as long as clean water stays in the same area. The inshore ‘phins will fall for the same offerings or live and dead baits that anglers are trolling for king mackerel.
The king bite has been solid 4-10 miles off the beachfront recently (though most of the fish have been on the small side). Anglers are hooking them while trolling spoons, cigar minnows, and live baits like menhaden. A few larger kings are cruising just off the beachfront and falling for live baits.
Cobia are making appearances from the beachfront to a few miles offshore. Anglers who spot one can cast bucktail jigs, large soft plastics, or live baits to the fish to hook up.
Jessica Tinney, of Wilmington, with her first fish, a spanish mackerel that bit a #0 Clarkspoons in 50′ of water off Wrightsville Beach while she was fishing with Chandler Turlington.
Bottom fishermen are reporting a good gag grouper bite at spots in the 85’ range and deeper. Live baits are fooling some of the larger fish, but cigar minnows, mackerel, and a variety of cut baits will also attract plenty of attention. Black sea bass, red porgies, grunts, and other bottom feeders are looking for meals in the same areas, and they’re biting squid and smaller cut baits.
Flounder fishing is improving on the nearshore wrecks and reefs off Wrightsville. Live baits on Carolina rigs or Gulp-tipped bucktail jigs are the way to connect with the flatfish.
The flounder bite has also been decent in the inlets and nearby marshes and creeks. Live baits or smaller Gulps will get the job done inshore.
A few speckled trout have also been hooked around the inlets on live baits and artificials recently.
Red drum are looking for meals in the marshes and around inshore structure like docks, where they’ll fall for live and cut baits.
Preston Smith (age 8), from Wilmington, with a mahi caught 50 miles out of Masonboro Inlet. He was fishing on the “Leisure Time” with Greg Humphries, Shannon Welsh, and father Jason Smith.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s still some solid king mackerel action in the 10 mile range off Wrightsville Beach. The fish have been responding well to fast-trolled Drone spoons recently, but dead cigar minnows and live baits may be a better choice if they’re finicky.
Dolphin have moved inshore of the Gulf Stream, and anglers reported a number of encounters around 23 Mile Rock last week. The ‘phins will also bite cigar minnows or live baits, but rigged ballyhoo can be trolled faster, allowing anglers to cover more ground in search of active fish.
Amberjacks have moved inshore as well, and anglers are finding schools around structure starting in the 10 mile range. The jacks will bite live baits or fast-moving artificials like vertical jigs and, sometimes, topwater plugs.
Closer to the beaches, anglers have seen some decent spanish mackerel action over the past week but it’s been hit-or-miss. Some days are producing solid catches, and anglers must work hard to put a few fish in the boat on others. Most of the spaniards are falling for Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and cigar weights.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers are seeing good flounder fishing in the Cape Fear River, ICW, and around nearshore structure in the ocean. Most of the flatfish are taking an interest in live baits like small menhaden fished on Carolina rigs with weights appropriate to the depth and current present.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding along the beachfront and falling for trolled spoons and metal jigs cast at schools of fish chasing bait on the surface.
Anglers are seeing decent numbers of cobia off the local inlets and along the beachfront, where they’re cruising on top and shadowing menhaden schools. Live baits or large bucktail jigs and soft plastics will attract attention from the cobia.
The red drum bite has been decent recently in the ICW and in creeks off the waterway. Live peanut menhaden are fooling the majority of the reds at present.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of dolphin action when running to the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville Beach. Some are starting to move inshore of the ‘Stream as well. The dolphin are taking an interest in ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures like sea witches.
Closer to the beaches, there’s been some solid king mackerel fishing for anglers trolling in the 10-20 mile range. Dead cigar minnows, Drone Spoons, and sea witch/strip bait combos are fooling the kings.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that there’s been a good spanish mackerel bite off the pier in the early morning and later evening hours over the past week. Gotcha plugs are fooling most of the fish.
Anglers soaking small live baits on the bottom are hooking some flounder (a few keepers but most undersized).
Those fishing live baits from the end of the pier are seeing several cobia on most days and also hooked a king mackerel last week.
The water is 77 degrees.
