Added on Thursday, May 29, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach May 29, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the flounder fishing continues to improve inshore as the water temperature warms up. Fishing a Carolina-rigged live bait or Gulp bait around the inlets, creeks, and marshes should produce results with the flatfish.

Red drum fishing remains good in the creeks and at docks and other structure in the ICW. The reds will fall for live baits, too, or a variety of artificials.

Surf and pier fishermen have found a good run of pompano over the past week. Sand fleas are producing the most action.

Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlets and along the beaches. Anglers can troll Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or cast metal lures to the fish when they’re schooled up and chasing bait.

Some cobia have been seen around nearshore structure already, and it shouldn’t be long until they’re feeding predictably near the beach.

A few king mackerel are also feeding along the beach, but the best king action has been in the 10-30 mile range recently. A few king bait-size pogies are beginning to show up inshore, but the fish will fall for cigar minnows when anglers can’t find live baits.

The grouper bite is still strong around bottom structure 30+ miles offshore. Baits such as cigar minnows and sardines will attract their attention, and anglers can vertically fish butterfly jigs with good results as well.

Dolphin have begun to move inshore of the Gulf Stream, and boats have found good fishing around 40 miles offshore. Amberjacks are also schooled up around structure in the same range. Trolling a variety of live or dead baits will get them to bite. Topwater plugs also offer an exciting way to draw strikes from both the dolphin and AJ’s.

Wahoo are still feeding out in the Stream.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Fishing Charters, reports that there has been good trolling action for spanish mackerel and smaller kings around spots 5-10 miles offshore. Pulling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will get both mackerels’ attention. A few pogies are also showing up around Wrightsville, so anglers may be able to find live baits, too.

The spanish are at times feeding heavily enough to cast metal lures to the breaking schools, and anglers may also be able to hook up on the fly rod.

A few cobia have already been hooked close to the beach. Anglers can look for the fish cruising around nearshore structure and buoys.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been solid around nearshore reefs and ledges off Mason’s Inlet and Topsail. Casting Stingsilvers or Gotcha plugs toward surface feeding fish or jigging them near the structure should produce some bites.

Amberjacks and barracuda are holding near the structure at the Schoolhouse. Jigging live baits up from the structure will produce better results than trolling with dead baits.

AJ’s are also schooled up at structure in the 10 mile area.

Jigging Gotcha plugs and other metal lures at nearby ledges and artificial reefs is producing action with a variety of bottom fish including gag grouper, beeliners, and sea bass.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that king mackerel and amberjacks are feeding around structure from the 200/200 area to the Frying Pan Tower. Fishing live cigar minnows from the bottom will produce better results on the fish than trolling with dead baits. Some pogies have also shown up in the Cape Fear River as well.

In the Gulf Stream, the wahoo and dolphin bite remains good along the break, and there’s been some billfish action out further past the 100 fathom line.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that anglers trolling small Clarkspoons along the beaches are hooking up with plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Fishing cut mullet in the creeks is producing some good red drum action.

Chumming around inshore structure with plenty of barnacles and growth attached is getting attention from sheepshead. A fiddler crab should entice them to bite.

 

James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching flounder, black drum, and whiting in the evening. The drum and whiting will hit cut shrimp, and most of the flounder have been falling for strip baits and curly tail grubs.

Plug casters are hooking up with good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel. The spanish bite has been best in the early mornings.

Live baiters haven’t seen many kings, but a 25 lb. barracuda was landed last week.

The water temperature is 76 degrees.