Wrightsville Beach October 27, 2005
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore there are lots of small blues everywhere. Spots are running in the waterway and down the surf, and some pompano have been reported at Topsail, Wrightsville, and Fort Fisher.
Flounder are also in the surf, as well as inside eating live mullets. You can also find redfish and speckled trout in the creeks, waterway, and at the jetty.
Blues and spanish are along the beach out to about six miles. Gray trout are around Sheepshead Rock and other inshore structure.
Nearshore, a few kings were reported near the beach, but most are from 5 to 25 miles out. There were some dolphin reported on a weed line around 23 Mile Rock.
The grouper bite has been excellent from 20 to 35 miles off. Sea bass are showing up as close as 10 miles.
The gulf stream action has been mostly wahoo, along with dolphin and a few nice kings. Some tuna (both blackfin and yellowfin) have been reported, with most catches coming from north of here.
Russell, at Tidal Market II, reports that red drum fishing continues to be strong in the surf, the jetties, and in most creeks. Speckled trout are showing up in the same places. Flounder have been slow, with most fish coming from the inlets on live bait.
Spanish, blues, and kings are nearshore, and wahoo are biting in the gulf stream.
Rick, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that the spots are running and biting hard. Fishbites fake bloodworms have been the best bait. Some pompano and Virginia mullet are mixed in and biting as well. Bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs on the end, as well as cut bait on the bottom.
Seth, at Intracoastal Angler, reports flounder, redfish, and speckled trout are all biting well in the creeks, inlets, and jetties. Some bigger trout have been caught behind Topsail.
Offshore, the kings are in the 10 to 17 mile range, and those fishing a little further out are finding wahoo that have made their way inshore from the stream.
The far side of the stream has been best for the billfish bite of marlin and sailfish.
Lewis, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports good red drum fishing from the inlets back into the creeks and down the river. Speckled trout are showing up in creeks from Carolina Beach to Topsail. Flounder are in the creeks, inlets, and along the surf. Bigger flounder should be holding on nearshore reefs.
Big bluefish and spanish are along the beach and out to the tide line, which has been as far as 15 miles out due to the heavy rains. Kings are biting 10 to 30 miles out, with better fishing from the 23 Mile Rock area.
Grouper fishing has been excellent, with some boats limiting out. Most fish are coming from 15 to 25 miles out.
The gulf stream has been fair for wahoo, blackfin, yellowfin, and sailfish.
Dave, at NasOut Bait and Tackle, reports that the spots are slowly trickling in. They can best be found around the ICW creeks and the Wrightsville Beach jetties. The bigger schools should be in next week.
Red drum, sea bass, and speckled trout seem to be in the inlets, on the jetties, and in the creeks more than usual for this time of year. Flounder, however, aren’t in good numbers right now. The best bet is probably behind Masonboro Island, and expect most fish to be only just over the legal size limit.
