Wrightsville Beach – November 2023
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are starting to see some speckled trout showing up in the creeks and ICW. In addition, a handful of trout are already being caught in the surf. Not many big fish have been caught yet, but the season is still early. Red drum fishing has picked up some inshore, and live bait has been best for targeting the reds. There has also been a class of upper and some over-slot reds in the surf. These same live baits fished on the bottom will garner attention from the flounder that are still in the area.
Anglers out on the beach or fishing off the piers are catching Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, and some spots (mostly at night). King mackerel action has pushed out into the 10-15 mile range. It’s a mixed bag of sizes out there, from snakes to smokers, and both live baits and dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo are enticing strikes. Grouper season may be done, but big black sea bass are out in that 30-mile range. Offshore runs are producing a handful of wahoo, and blackfin tuna will also start to become more common.
Ryan, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that speckled trout have been moving in with these cooler stretches of weather. Live shrimp has been outproducing all other baits this early in the season, with artificials also working when scouting creeks mouths and structures along the ICW. Red drum are kind of scattered all over the place right now. Cut baits or soft plastics are producing strikes in the ICW, mainland creeks, and around the inlet. Sheepshead are being caught around docks and bridges with fiddler crabs. Plenty of bluefish have been inshore recently.
Connor Waggett, of Wilmington, hooked this 30”, 14 lb. bluefish while fishing near the Masonboro jetties using a finger mullet.
Nearshore fishing has seen catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Both sight-casting and trolling tactics are producing strikes. Success has really been a matter of if bait is on the surface or winds allow for sight fishing. Plenty of king mackerel are being caught with both live and dead bait setups within 10 miles. Structure in that middle (15-20 mile) range was great for targeting grouper during the end of their keeper season, and now anglers have switched over to targeting large black sea bass. King mackerel are mixed in this same middle range. Offshore trolling runs are seeing wahoo alongside plenty of sailfish and blackfin tuna.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that even though it has felt like speckled trout weather, the bite has been a bit slow this early in the season. Topwater plugs are seeing a lot of the action, with fish being found around creek mouths, oysters in the ICW, and structure near the inlet. Spots with some current are more likely going to hold these 17-19” class of fish. Other baits having success (or that will have success in coming weeks) are Z-Man soft plastics, Vudu shrimp, and the hard sub-surface “twitch” baits. Anglers targeting red drum are seeing the best action around boat docks. Off the beach, anglers are still finding false albacore and a few Spanish mackerel as they work their way out. King mackerel fishing is pretty hit or miss off the beach.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the Gulf Stream action is starting to heat up as fall weather patterns settle in. Trolling has been producing wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish. All three of these species will only get better as water temperatures fall even more. Jigging the offshore structures is producing blackfin tuna, amberjacks, and a variety of bottom fish. Moving into November, also look for some African pompano to be caught, and the blackfin tuna will be fired up enough to hit popper plugs. Bottom fishing in the 150-400’ areas is producing triggerfish, scamp grouper, and a variety of the tropical grouper species. King mackerel fishing has been in full swing from the beach on out, with some big fish in the mix. If the weather continues to be mild, this bite could run up until Thanksgiving.
Kendall Seitz, of Wilmington, reeled in this Spanish mackerel from Crystal Pier using a Gotcha plug.
Ben, of Southern Run Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore action has been strong in the 15-20 mile range, with grouper being excellent in the 60-80’ range right up to the season closure. King mackerel are being caught form the beach out to 10 miles. Live bait such as menhaden or threadfin are best for slow-trolling around bait pods along the beach, with live or dead baits working over the nearshore structure areas. Schools of false albacore are mixed in throughout the area, and anglers targeting them will do best by looking for white birds diving on bait.
Wahoo fishing in the Gulf Stream is starting to get fired up in the 250-300’ areas. Anglers have found success with the tried-and-true Ilander and ballyhoo combo pulled at 7 knots. Some nice groups of blackfin tuna are around the Steeples and Same Ole. Skirted ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and tuna feathers are all enticing strikes. Another tactic is to rig a green machine about 15-20’ behind a bird.
Robert, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs are catching Spanish mackerel and really good numbers of bluefish. Some kings are still being caught by live bait anglers. Bottom fishing efforts are producing spot, pompano, pufferfish, flounder, and some red drum.
