Wrightsville Beach October 27, 2011
Chuck, Clay, and Chaz Walker, of Wilmington, NC, with a 27 lb. red grouper that bit a cigar minnow at some bottom structure in 120' off Wrightsville Beach.
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that Wrightsville Beach surf casters have been reporting some solid pompano and black drum action while casting shrimp and sand fleas into the breakers.
The speckled trout bite has turned on inshore, and anglers are starting to report some trout showing up in Masonboro Inlet as well. Live shrimp are top trout baits, but anglers can also tempt them to bite Gulps and other soft plastics, as well as suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR 17’s.
Red drum are feeding throughout the inshore waters from Topsail down toCarolinaBeachand theCape Fear River. Anglers are finding the fish on the flats, in the creeks, around ICW docks, in the inlets, and out in the surf zone. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live and cut baits will all attract attention from the drum.
Flounder fishermen are reporting slower action in terms of numbers of fish, but an increase in big fish around Wrightsville lately (with several citation fish weighed in last week). Live baits and Gulps will both attract attention from the flatfish.
Sheepshead are still feeding around pilings, seawalls, and other hard structure inshore. Anglers can tempt the sheeps with live fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits.
Gag grouper have begun to move inshore, and anglers have reported some within 10 miles of the beach recently. Live, dead, and cut baits will all attract attention from the gags.
There’s finally a king mackerel bite worth talking about off Wrightsville, and anglers are connecting with the kings in the 20 mile range. Menhaden and other live baits are top choices for the kings, but dead cigar minnows will also produce results.
Boats making the trip to the Gulf Stream are still finding some excellent wahoo fishing. Blackfin tuna are also in the mix, and anglers released several sailfish last week as well, though they’ll be getting more scarce as the water temperatures continue to fall.
Steve, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that anglers are finding solid speckled trout action from Wrightsville Beach down to Southport. The fish are feeding in the creeks, around inshore structure, and in the inlets. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, but anglers can also find plenty of action while casting soft plastics, suspending MirrOlures, topwater plugs, and other artificials.
Flounder are feeding all over the area as well, and there’s been a good bite of solid fish (2-3+ lbs.) in the creeks lately. Larger flatfish are feeding around structure near the inlets, in Snow’s Cut, and up and down theCape Fear River. Live baits like finger mullet and peanut menhaden are top choices for the flatfish, and they also have a hard time resisting scented soft plastics like Gulps.
Red drum are working the flats, ICW, inlets, and surf. Topwater plugs and soft plastics are the way to connect with them inshore, and live or cut baits will tempt the fish to bite in the fast moving and rough water in the surf and inlets.
Offshore, king mackerel are finally making a showing, and boats reported solid action in the 20-30 mile range last week, with more fish feeding further offshore toward Frying Pan Tower. Live baits (like menhaden) and dead cigar minnows will both attract attention from the mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are catching gag grouper around 15 miles offshore and further. They’re biting live, dead, and cut baits.
The wahoo bite is still on fire when boats can make the trip to the Gulf Stream. Ballyhoo trolled under dark-skirted lures and high-speed baitless lures will both tempt bites from the ‘hoos.
Chris Natale with a 27" red drum he hooked in the Myrtle Grove Sound ICW behind Masonboro Island.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the grouper bite is still solid at structure 10-15 miles out. Live and cut baits are attracting the gags’ attention. Some large flounder are now feeding in the same areas, and they’re a welcome surprise.
False albacore are chasing bait on the surface from just off the inlets out to the 10 mile range. Anglers can find the schools by looking for working birds, and then casting diamond jigs or other small metal lures to fish feeding on the surface.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite is on behind Figure Eight Island, where anglers are picking up good numbers on Gulp baits and other soft plastics. The marshy creeks and channels and deeper holes are where to start searching for the specks.
Some red drum and flounder are mixed in with the trout and will also have a hard time resisting a Gulp bait.
Brandon, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking decent numbers of sea mullet and pompano while baiting up with shrimp.
Flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish on Gotchas.
The water is 70 degrees.
