Wrightsville Beach – October 8, 2015
Chase, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers have been hooking some large (some citation 40”+) red drum from the ends of Johnnie Mercer’s and Crystal piers during the swell and wind the area experienced as Hurricane Joaquin passed offshore over the weekend. Most are falling for cut baits fished on the bottom.
The area’s inshore fishing will likely take some time to recover after the high amounts of rainfall over the previous week, but fall action should be getting good once the water cleans up a bit.
The speckled trout bite was beginning to turn on in advance of the storm, and anglers should be able to find action with the specks at many of their typical fall haunts around Wrightsville’s bridges, creeks, and inlets once the fresh water is flushed out. Live baits and a wide variety of soft and hard artificials will attract attention from the trout.
Anglers were also seeing an improved red drum bite in advance of the weather, and the reds should be feeding around ICW creeks and docks and inlets once things settle down. Live and cut baits or scented soft plastics are top choices for the reds. Anglers may also be able to tempt them to bite topwater plugs in the morning and late afternoon hours.
Spanish mackerel were schooled up off the beach before the storm, and boaters should be able to find them within a few miles of land when they can find clean water. Trolled Clarkspoons will put the spanish in the boat, and anglers can also cast metal jigs to fish they spot feeding on the surface.
King mackerel will likely be a bit further offshore, where slow-trolling with live and dead baits will tempt them to bite.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream typically experience some of the year’s best wahoo action in October. Once the seas calm down, trolling skirted ballyhoo around local Gulf Stream hotspots should put some ‘hoos in the box and possibly fool some blackfin tuna.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers should see some solid king mackerel action by the middle of October, with the fish likely feeding in the 10-20 mile range. Trolling dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo on light tackle will provide some exciting action with the kings.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore should be chasing bait closer to the beachfront. Anglers can troll Clarkspoons for all three fish or search for working birds and fish feeding on the surface and cast metal lures on light spinning gear into the action.
Bottom fishermen should see improved action and targets like gag grouper and black sea bass moving closer to the beaches as the water cools over October. Both will pounce on cigar minnows, cut baits, and a variety of other offerings.
Paige Gorchess, of Hampstead, NC, with a citation 5 lb., 8 oz. flounder that bit a live finger mullet on a jighead near Wrightsville Beach while she was fishing with her father.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that anglers should be able to connect with some large red drum around the area’s inlets and nearshore hard bottoms right now. The reds will bite live or cut baits.
Flounder have been holding at the nearshore reefs and hard bottoms and should still be around when the water calms down. Live finger mullet are top choices for the flatfish.
False albacore had shown up before the blow last week and will likely be feeding within a mile of the inlets once the water calms down. Anglers can search for the fish chasing bait on the surface and cast small, shiny jigs into the action to hook up.
Inshore, speckled trout should be moving into their usual fall locations, and the bite should turn on after some tide changes flush the fresh water from recent rains out to sea. Soft plastics and hard baits like Rapala X-Raps are the way to go for the specks.
Quinn Herring with a 45″ red drum she caught and released after it bit a live finger mullet near the south end of Wrightsville Beach.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some large red drum from the end of the pier (36-46”). Most are biting cut spot and mullet fished on the bottom.
Anglers had some spanish mackerel and bluefish action when the water was clean last week, and the fish should be back after a few tide cycles clear the ocean some. Gotcha plugs and other casting lures are fooling both.
A 23 lb. barracuda also fell for a live bait off the pier last week.
Some small cobia are biting bottom rigs, and anglers have seen some larger cobes from the pier lately as well.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and black drum on shrimp and bloodworms.
The water is 76 degrees but may go up once the sun returns.
