Wrightsville Beach October 23, 2008
Glenn Kross, of New Jersey, with a 63" fork length by 37" girth amberjack estimated at 130-140 lbs. He caught the fish while vertical jigging in 360' of water off Wrightsville Beach with Arlen Ash and Chip Baker of Tex's Tackle.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the water’s cooling off and triggering some hot fall fishing. Bluefish and some spanish mackerel are feeding heavily in the inlets and just offshore, and anglers on shore and in boats are hooking up with both while casting Gotcha plugs, Shore Lure Glass minnows, and other metal lures. The spanish will soon be moving out of the area, but the bluefish action should remain hot for some time.
Spot are running in the surf, off the piers, and in the ICW, and bottom rigs baited with Fish Bites bloodworms will attract plenty of action from the tasty panfish.
Flounder and red drum are still feeding in the creeks, inlets, and marshes, and they’ll fall for live baits, Gulps, and other lures.
The speckled trout bite is heating up for fall, with some of the best fishing still in the Cape Fear, although anglers are also finding specks from Topsail to Carolina Beach. Live shrimp are hard to beat for the trout, but they’ll take an interest in a variety of lures as well.
King mackerel are feeding along the beaches and at nearshore structure throughout the area, with some especially good action off Southport. Live baits like pogies are top choices for the kings, and they’re abundant along the beaches as well.
Bottom fishermen hauled in some solid catches of grouper last week. The bite was good at structure in the 35-40 mile range, where anglers are hooking the red and gag grouper on cigar minnows, live baits, and by vertical jigging.
Boats making the journey to the Gulf Stream lately have found a decent wahoo bite, along with some sailfish and blackfin tunas. Trolling ballyhoo beneath skirted lures will draw strikes from these blue water predators.
Jim Ryan with a 44 lb. cobia caugth at the Masonboro jetties on a 4 oz. diamond jig. Weighed in at Tex's Tackle.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s been some good speckled trout fishing inshore lately, with the fish feeding in the creeks off the ICW behind Masonboro Island, around Carolina Beach, and in the Cape Fear. Live shrimp are top choices for the specks, but they’ll also show interest in other live baits like mullet, topwater lures, and soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel have been feeding wildly at nearshore structure and around the inlets over the past week. Casting Maria jigs at fish feeding on the surface has been producing plenty of action with the spanish.
Gag grouper are beginning to feed a bit further inshore than in the summer months, and bottom fishermen are landing some keepers inside 20 miles on cigar minnows.
King mackerel are feeding along the beaches and are also holding around the structure where anglers are bottom fishing.
Cory Norville with a 28.2 lb. wahoo caught around the Grouper Hole while he was fishing with his dad Curt on their 20' Bertam.
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that speckled trout and red drum are feeding off the ICW, the inlet channels, at residential docks, and in Page’s Creek. Live shrimp and finger mullet will get their attention, but anglers can also connect with the fish while casting topwater plugs and soft plastic baits.
The flounder bite has been good behind Masonboro Island. Carolina-rigged finger mullet are top baits for the flounder.
Willis, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen landed a number of citation-sized pompano this week, with cut shrimp a top bait.
Some spot are coming over the rails in the evening hours. Bloodworms and artificial bloodworms are producing the best action with the spot.
Bottom fishermen are also landing a few red drum, although the bite hasn’t yet gotten as hot as it was last fall.
Plug casters are taking some spanish mackerel (many 2-3 lbs.).
Live baiters landed double digit numbers of king mackerel last week, with most in the teens.
The water is 73 degrees.
