Wrightsville Beach October 26, 2006
Chris, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore the redfish are biting well in the inlets and creeks on live baits and Gulps.
Flounder are stacking up in the inlets; they’re eating the mullet leaving the creeks. Speckled trout are picking up in areas near the inlets and in the Cape Fear River.
Bluefish are thick around the inlets, with a few spanish mackerel still lingering in the mix.
King mackerel have been reported from the beach out to Frying Pan Tower and anywhere in between that has structure or bait.
Dolphin have been thin as of late, but there have been a few reports with them as close as 30 miles.
Grouper are moving nearshore, with gags in the 12 mile range and reds from 25 miles on out.
And the gulf stream has been producing wahoo with an occasional sailfish.
Jot, at Fortune Hunter Charters, reports that redfish are being caught in the creeks and waterway mostly on live bait. The bigger reds are still occasionally being caught around the inlets.
Flounder in the 1 to 4 pound range are biting very well in the creeks, with a few larger fish coming from the inlet.
Small trout are showing up in the creeks and deeper channels.
Bluefish are thick outside the inlets, with a few spanish still mixed in. And a few big kings are still being caught along the beach and outside the inlets feeding on the small bluefish.
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports that the fishing has been good with a wide variety of fish to catch. Kings and dolphin are stacking up in the 25 mile range, with the dolphin being found on weedlines.
Red and scamp grouper are being caught very well in the 30 mile range, or as close as you can find 100 foot of water. The gag grouper are venturing closer to shore, but they have been slow to bite as of late. Live bait may get a bite when dead or chunks are not working.
Flounder, and especially gray trout, are biting on the nearshore hard bottoms. Both jigging and live bait will get the grays.
Inside, the speckled trout turned on near the area inlets with the passing cold front, and redfish continue in their fall patterns in both the backwaters and the surf.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports that trout, reds, and flounder are all biting well in and around area inlets. The drum are running the surf fairly well, while the flounder are in the inlet channels.
The speckled trout are hitting topwaters and Mirrolures in the creeks and channels adjacent to the inlets. Most of the fish have been 17 to 19 inches, with a few 22 to 23 inchers around.
Off the beach, the gray trout are biting well at nearshore reefs like John’s Creek. The king mackerel in the 12 to 15 pound range are biting at most of the artificial reefs, and they get heavier if you travel out to the 20+ mile areas.
James, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that the plug casters have been getting big bluefish (around 5 pounds). A few spanish have been mixed in with the blues.
Flounder, from just keepers up to 5 pounds, are eating finger mullet, and the mullet can be netted from the beach near the base of the pier.
A few spot runs have taken place over the course of the week, but the spots are not around in full force yet.
Sheepshead are still hanging around the pilings, but no one is fishing for them. Black drum and puppy drum have also been visible cruising the surf line, but not many have been caught.
