Added on Thursday, May 8, 2008  Gary Hurley

Wrightsville Beach May 8, 2008

Chris, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder fishing is getting better by the day, with most of the action around the inlets. Anglers are landing good numbers of the flatfish for this time of year, and around half of them have been keepers. A live mud minnow fished on a Carolina rig will get attention from the flounder, and anglers can also cast Gulp baits or other soft plastics with good results.

The local creeks and docks should still be holding good numbers of red drum. Live baits or Gulp baits should prove as effective on the drum as they are on the flounder.

The rising water temperatures that are improving the flounder bite are slowing down the Wrightsville-area speckled trout action.

Surf and pier anglers are hooking up with whiting and some pompano.

Spanish mackerel are already beginning to feed around the Masonboro Jetties. Boats are hooking up with the spanish by trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.

A few king mackerel are also running along the beaches. Several have already been caught on the pier, but the main body of kings is still feeding 10-12 miles and further offshore.

The grouper bite has been good around structure in the 25-30 mile range over the past few weeks. Cigar minnows and spanish sardines will produce good results with the groupers, and anglers are also hooking up with grouper, other bottom fish, and pelagic species while jigging near the structure.

Out in the Gulf Stream, dolphin fishing has improved greatly over the past few weeks, and boats are also landing some wahoo. The yellowfin tuna, however, still haven’t appeared in any numbers. Ballyhoo paired with trolling lures will draw strikes from the Gulf Stream predators.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito are feeding alongside bluefish at structure in the 5 mile range off Wrightsville. Anglers are hooking up with the bonito while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Clarkspoons around the structure and bait marks, and by casting Maria Jigs and other metal lures towards breaking schools and above the structure.

Some large spanish mackerel have shown up around Sheepshead Rock. They’ll respond to the same tactics that interest the bonito.

 

Danny, of 96 Charters, reports that bonito and bluefish (some 8-12 lb. choppers) are feeding at nearshore structure within 5 miles of the beaches. Casting Stingsilvers or other metal jigs around working birds, breaking fish, bait marks, and the structure itself should tempt bites from either of these fish if they’re nearby.

Anglers are catching some speckled trout in the Cape Fear, especially around Snow’s Cut and further downriver.

 

Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that some bonito are still around the nearshore structure. Anglers can catch the fish busting bait on the surface and cast jigs to them around first light in areas with little boat traffic. Otherwise, trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers for the bonito should produce a few in between bluefish bites.

Spanish mackerel are starting to make an appearance and are feeding on the surface around the nearshore structure as well.

Bluefish (from 1 lb. to the upper teens) are feeding everywhere from the inshore waters out to structure in 80+’.

Pier and dock fishing inshore is producing good numbers of flounder and red drum. Docks near creek points have been the most productive, especially on outgoing tides.

Topwater casting in the creeks, particularly the ones further north, is producing some speckled trout and reds in the evening hours.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that king mackerel fishing has been fantastic around structure 18-20 miles off the beach over the past week. Limits of kings have been commonplace, and anglers fishing butterfly jigs have been producing the limits quickly.

Some amberjacks and Atlantic bonito are mixed in with the kings.

Deep jigging around bottom structure in up to 200′ has been productive lately, with anglers catching big amberjacks, and red, scamp, and gag groupers.

Traditional bottom fishing with bait has also been effective, producing groupers, amberjacks, hogfish, triggerfish, beeliners, and other bottom fish.

Out in the Gulf Stream, dolphin and wahoo are making up the majority of the catch right now. Ballyhoo under Blue Water Candy skirts are accounting for most of the bites in the blue water.

 

James, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that the bluefish bite has been steady over the past few weeks. Anglers are catching blues ranging from bait-sized to 10+ lb. choppers. The smaller fish are falling for Gotcha plugs, while most of the larger blues are taking an interest in bottom rigs and king mackerel baits.

Bottom fishermen are catching whiting and a few puppy drum on shrimp.

The pier saw its first king and spanish mackerels landed last week, and it won’t be long until both species are around in full force.

The water temperature is 67.2 degrees.