Wrightsville Beach – May 8, 2014
Dak Millis, of Wilmington, with a healthy speckled trout that struck a Rapala X-Rap in the Cape Fear River while he was fishing with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing good numbers of smaller speckled trout around local creekmouths and marsh banks near the inlets. A variety of artificials will fool the specks, but Live Target Shrimp and MR17 MirrOlures have been particularly effective lately, especially when laced with scents like Pro-Cure.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks and around ICW docks. They’re biting topwater plugs when they’re feeding shallow, and Gulp baits on jigheads in deeper water and around the docks.
Black drum are also looking for meals around dock pilings and bulkheads, and the crustacean lovers have a tough time turning down shrimp or chunks of peeler crabs.
Flounder are becoming more numerous inshore, but most are still undersized. The ratio of keepers will improve as the weather warms up, and anglers can fool the flatfish with live mud minnows or Gulp baits on jigheads.
Surf casters are connecting with some sea mullet and drum, but the bite’s not as good as a few weeks back. Plenty of bluefish have shown up, however, so there’s still good action in the surf (with some choppers to 8+ lbs.).
Spanish mackerel have shown up off Wrightsville, with a few caught on the pier last week. Boaters are hooking bigger numbers while trolling Clarkspoons and small daisy chains to the south.
Atlantic bonito are chasing bait around the Liberty Ship, Five Mile Boxcars, and other nearshore structure. Anglers can troll for the bonito (pulling the same things as for the spanish) or cast metal lures like Epoxy Jigs and Sea Striker Jigfish to schools of the speedy bonito feeding on the surface.
Lindsey Dober with a dolphin that she hooked while trolling near the Same Ol’ Hole with Jon Wood and her father Bruce.
King mackerel have moved into the 20-30 mile range, where anglers are hooking them on dead cigar minnows, Drone spoons, and sea witch/strip bait combos. The kings will move closer to the beach as May wears on.
Not many reports have come in since the opening of grouper season, but it’s likely the best action for gags will be around structure in the 30 mile range right now, with red and scamp groupers further offshore at spots in 120’ and deeper. Live, dead, and cut baits or vertical jigs will tempt bites from the grouper.
Plenty of black sea bass are in the same areas and will bite cut baits, squid, or jigs.
Beeliners and triggerfish are schooled up at spots 45 miles and further off the beach, where anglers can hook big numbers on squid.
Tom and Justin Staab with blackfin tuna that bit topwater poppers in the Gulf Stream off Wrightsville Beach while they were fishing with Capt. Rick Croson of Living Waters Guide Service.
Gulf Stream trollers are reporting some decent action with wahoo and blackfin tuna, along with some of the first gaffer dolphin of the year. The Same Ol’ and Swansboro Hole produced the best wahoo action last week, both for anglers trolling ballyhoo and those pulling baitless high-speed lures. The blackfin are falling for smaller lures, naked ballyhoo, and topwater poppers.
The gaffer dolphin action to the south has been excellent, so the dolphin fishing should crank into high gear soon.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding action with spanish mackerel off Wrightsville Beach. Trolling Clarkspoons is producing the majority of the fish.
Atlantic bonito have shown up along nearshore structure just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking them while trolling and casting small metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface.
King mackerel have moved into the 20 mile range, where anglers are hooking them on dead cigar minnows and while trolling spoons.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with a variety of bottomfish while dropping baits to structure in the 20-30 mile range. Black sea bass, beeliners, porgies, and more are biting squid and cut bait on the bottom rigs. Anglers are also hooking some amberjack in the same areas, along with a few cobia. Live baits are better choices for the jacks and cobia.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and other lures from the pier. Some spanish mackerel have been mixed in.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet on shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are also coming over the rails, and anglers are landing a few keepers in between the short fish. Live mud minnows are solid choices for the flatfish.
The water is 65 degrees.
