Added on Monday, October 31, 2022  Fish Post

Wrightsville Beach – November 2022

Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that good numbers of false albacore are around for anglers looking for sight-casting action, and schools of spanish are also mixed in off the beaches.

King mackerel are scattered just about everywhere, with catches both shallow and out over structure offshore.

Bottom fishing anglers are finding a good gag grouper bite out in the 15-mile area.

Offshore anglers are catching strong numbers of wahoo as cooler water starts to push more fish into the area. Trolling around the offshore structure is also producing blackfin tuna, scattered mahi, and a couple cobia.

Back in the surf zone, anglers are seeing bottom fish action ramp up, with catches of spot and good-sized Virginia mullet.

Inshore fishing is starting to produce better numbers of speckled trout. Anglers are getting strikes on a variety of baits, including topwater plugs and soft plastics, and live bait is also a great choice when you can find some.

Red drum are pretty scattered right now as they transition to more cooler water patterns. A few large drum (to 40”+) have still been sporadically caught out near the jetties and on nearshore structure.

Ben, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that speckled trout fishing has been good for anglers targeting deeper banks near the area’s inlets. There are a wide variety of lures getting strikes, such as topwater plugs, D.O.A. shrimp, and Rapala X-Raps.

Red drum fishing has been decent, with anglers having success fishing Carolina-rigged mullet and topwaters. Most of the bait mullet has disappeared, so look for these reds to start transitioning back into bigger schools over the next few months.

Surf anglers have been catching red drum with mullet on fish-finder rigs, and bottom rigs with Fish Bites has produced sea mullet and pompano.

Nearshore anglers are still seeing good numbers of spanish mackerel off the beach. Both trolling Clarkspoons or sight casting Big Nic jigs at these schools is producing strikes.

King mackerel fishing has been mostly scattered anywhere from the beachfronts out to 20 miles.

Nearshore bottom structure in the 10-15 mile range has been holding some grouper that have moved shallower.

Anglers running offshore have been finding good wahoo action alongside blackfin tuna and scattered sailfish.

 

Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing has dramatically improved. The specks have been crushing topwater baits during the low light times of day (early and late). Anglers are having success targeting grass banks or oyster bars both in mainland creeks and around the inlets. Tide hasn’t seemed to make much of a difference, with moving water either way being important. These trout are not being picky, as they are striking at both hard and soft plastic baits (such as Vudu shrimp or Z-Man products).

Red drum fishing has been solid, with action being found by the same anglers fishing topwater plugs early for the trout. These reds will begin to school up soon and stage up around structures such as docks and oysters. Carolina-rigged cut or live baits will help put some fish in the boat.

The sheepshead bite is hot right now for anglers fishing crabs tight to inshore hard structures.

Anglers looking to run off the beach are finding schools of false albacore and spanish mackerel busting on bait.

 

Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that anglers are finding some speckled trout success now, but the action is still hit or miss as the area’s water temperatures transition. The trout being caught are mostly good-sized (17-20”) and hitting both topwater plugs and soft plastics. Anglers will have success targeting cuts with a bit of current around the area’s inlets.

Red drum have been a bit scattered, with the fish moving around a lot as the mullet runs taper off. Anglers are catching reds anywhere from the creeks out into the ocean.

Off the beach there are some big red drum still around as they finish migrating through the area. Deeper structures and reefs outside the inlets have been producing the bulls.

King mackerel are being caught trolling over live bottoms from the beachfronts to out farther offshore.

 

Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that Gulf Stream runs are being rewarded with an improving wahoo bite, but there’s been a real mixed bag in terms of sizes. Action on some good-sized blackfin tuna (to 20 lbs.) is also improving.

There is decent action on sailfish, and it should get a little better as things cool down. Scattered late season white marlin and mahi also round out the offshore trolling bite.

The offshore bottom fishing has been strong, with catches of red grouper, scamps, and plenty of triggerfish.

Swordfishing has been excellent out in the 1500-1700’ range. It has been a great class as well, with fish to 280 lbs. being brought up.

Closer to the beach, anglers are finding some gag grouper on structure in the 75-90’ range, and king mackerel fishing has been good in the 7-20 mile range.

Ben, of Southern Run Fishing Charters, reports that the offshore wahoo bite is really starting to heat up in the 160-200’ range. Trolling both high speed lures and ballyhoo have been effective.

The grouper fishing action has been on fire in the 30-mile range. The best action for gags has been in the 60-75’ range using dead cigar minnows or live pinfish.

King mackerel have finally made an appearance, with good numbers showing up in the 5-10 mile range. Dead bait trolling has been very effective for this 10-15 lb. class of fish (with some larger “smokers” in the mix). Most of the bigger fish have been caught on live pogies.

 

Patrick, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that sight casting anglers have been catching some smaller spanish mackerel and bluefish.

A few king mackerel are being caught, and the bite should continue for a bit longer. Warmer water temperatures still have many of these kings holding out in the 5-mile range, though.

Bottom fishing has been producing Virginia mullet.