Wrightsville Beach November 11, 2010
Josh Estep and Harley Lawson with a 60 lb. wahoo they hooked on a homemade daisy chain while trolling near the Same Ol' Hole aboard the "Doctor M."
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the flounder bite is still pretty solid in the inlets, the surf, and at nearshore structure in the ocean. Live baits are top choices for the flatties, but anglers can also fool them on Gulps or other soft plastics on bucktails and jigheads.
The speckled trout bite has been excellent in the creeks and around inshore structure, particularly close to the inlets, recently. Anglers are catching big numbers (though many of the fish are on the small side) while casting Mirrolures, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live shrimp and other baits. There’s also been a pretty decent speck bite in the surf, where most of the fish are falling for MirrOlures.
Anglers are finding action with red drum from the backwater creeks to the inlets and surf (with some citation-class fish reported from the jetties lately). They are hooking them on a wide variety of baits including topwaters, Gulps, live finger mullet, and more.
Not many boats have been offshore lately, but the king mackerel bite is likely moving further and further off the beaches as the water temperatures fall. The good news is that once anglers find the kings this time of year, they’re often quite easy to catch as they feed hard before winter. Live baits, dead cigar minnows, and lures like Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Drone spoons will tempt bites from the kings.
Offshore, again, not many boats have made the run lately, but the wahoo bite is likely still in full swing when anglers can make it out to the break. Trolling ballyhoo rigged under skirted lures will fool the ‘hoos.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the speckled trout action has been excellent lately, with the best action coming from the inlets and creeks. MirrOlure 17 and 18MR’s, soft plastics on jigheads, and Billy Bay or D.O.A. shrimp rigged under popping corks have all been producing results with the specks. The trout bite has been solid in the surf, too, and anglers are catching the fish day and night.
There’s still a good flounder bite going inshore. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits are top flounder foolers, and the fish are feeding in the creeks, the inlets, and around inshore structure.
Woody Beddoes with a 28", 8 lb. flounder he hooked on a white grub while fishing a private dock on Banks Channel.
Anglers are still finding plenty of action with red drum throughout the area, from Topsail down to the lower Cape Fear River. Live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and a host of other lures will attract attention from the reds.
Surf and pier anglers are reporting some decent fishing for whiting and spot, mostly while baiting up with shrimp.
The Gulf Stream trolling bite is still hot when boats can make it out. Wahoo are providing the bulk of the action, but there are some blackfin tuna and sailfish in the mix as well. All will fall for rigged ballyhoo and baitless trolling lures.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the incessant wind has made an offshore trip a rarity lately. When anglers can make it out, though, there have been decent numbers of amberjacks feeding right on the break, where they’ll take an interest in vertical jigs.
Bottom fishing off the break has been producing some action with scamp grouper.
Blackfin tuna seem to be showing up strong for the fall/winter (with most fish 18-25 lbs.), and anglers caught big numbers while working topwater plugs recently.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been good behind Masonboro, and interestingly, trolling has been outperforming casting lately.
Red drum are feeding around the Masonboro jetties (most over-slot to 40” with a few inside the slot). Anglers are hooking good numbers of the reds while fishing live finger mullet off the jetty tips.
Johnny Caldwell, from Fayetteville, NC, with a 29" red drum he hooked on a D.O.A. popping cork rig while on a kayak fishing charter at Fort Fisher with Chris Tryon of Hook, Line, and Paddle Outfitters.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that the flounder bite has been excellent recently. Anglers have been catching big numbers (sometimes double-digits) on live shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows.
Plenty of bluefish are feeding around the pier, and they’re falling for a variety of baits.
Bottom fishermen have been decking just a few spot, but big numbers of whiting (many 1-2 lbs.) on sand fleas. A few pompano have been in the mix as well.
The water is 65.8 degrees.
