Wrightsville Beach May 9, 2013
Richard Gilligan, of Wilmington, with a 6.9 lb. speckled trout he hooked on a topwater plug in the Cape Fear River. Weighed in at Tex’s Tackle.
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that surf casters are hooking bluefish (with a few big choppers in the mix) at Wrightsville. A few puppy drum are mixed in, and both are taking an interest in cut baits on bottom rigs. Sea mullet and other panfish are also feeding in the breakers and biting shrimp.
The water’s still warming inshore and the fish are still in transition. Red drum are moving from their winter haunts around docks into the marshes and creeks along the ICW. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite live baits, soft plastics like Gulps, topwater plugs, and other baits and lures.
Some big speckled trout are coming out of the Cape Fear River, and anglers are picking up a few specks around Wrightsville as well. The specks are reportedly also taking an interest in topwaters, with soft plastics and suspending hard baits also effective.
Flounder are moving into the marshes and hanging around the inlets. Live mud minnows or scented soft baits will attract attention from the flatfish.
Sheepshead have also just begun to show up inshore at Wrightsville. Anglers can find them feeding around hard structure like bridge and dock pilings and tempt them to bite fiddler crabs or sea urchins.
Offshore anglers are still connecting with plenty of wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo along the break.
Some cobia are taking an interest in vertical jigs that anglers are working offshore, meaning it’ll likely be a few weeks before they show up around the inlets and nearshore structure.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are hooking some black drum and puppy drum in the Wrightsville Beach surf. Shrimp and cut baits are getting attention from both.
Josh Brindley with a 65 lb. wahoo that bit a Blue Water Candy Mini Jag atop a ballyhoo near the Steeples while he was fishing on the “High Life.”
Bluefish are also feeding in the surf zone, and some large choppers are in the creeks and ICW. The blues will strike a wide variety of baits and lures.
The first few spanish mackerel of the year have been caught at nearby beaches, so it shouldn’t be long before the main body of fish arrive and kick off the year’s spanish action.
Anglers making the long run to the Gulf Stream are still connecting with wahoo (including a 110 lb. fish weighed in this week) and blackfin tuna, with a few yellowfins in the mix as well. Skirted ballyhoo are the best bets for anglers looking to hook up with the blue water pelagics.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that it’s been tough to get to the Gulf Stream lately due to the wind and waves, but the fish are still there and feeding when boats can make it out. Wahoo, blackfin tuna, and a few yellowfin tuna have all been landed by local boats in recent weeks, with both artificials and skirted ballyhoo tempting them to bite.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with a variety of species of fish around Wrightsville and just to the north. Flounder, speckled trout, red drum, and bluefish have all been around and biting soft plastic baits pinned to jigheads, and Pro-Cure scents in shrimp and mullet flavors are a strike-enhancing addition to the plastics.
With the high winds and fronts moving through recently, the best action has been in deeper water (4-12’), which can be tough to fish when the tide’s moving hard. Casting upcurrent and letting the tides sweep the bait along on or near the bottom is the best bet for a natural presentation and, hence, the most bites.
Jim Chase with his first false albacore, hooked on a soft plastic bait in Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Trevor Smith of ProFishNC Charters.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that king mackerel have been feeding around 23 Mile Rock, where anglers are hooking them on trolled cigar minnows, strip baits, and Drone spoons. Some false albacore have been mixed in and falling for the same baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are looking for meals within a few miles of the beaches. Smaller Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and torpedo weights are the best bets for both the blues and spanish.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that red and black drum are still feeding under area docks and providing consistent action. Shrimp are the best bets for the crustacean-loving black drum, and the reds have been responding well to cut bluefish recently.
A few spanish mackerel have already been caught in the area, so it shouldn’t be long until the summer fishing kicks into gear.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that that there’s been some excellent bluefish action off the pier over the past few weeks, but primarily when it’s been somewhat calm. Anglers are hooking the blues on Gotcha plugs and other casting lures.
Some black and red drum are feeding near the breakers and taking an interest in shrimp and cut baits.
Sea mullet are also feeding around the pier, with the best action at night. Double-drop bottom rigs baited with shrimp are the way to go for the mullet.
The water is 66 degrees.
