Wrightsville Beach – October 9, 2014
Justin Bland, of Wrightsville Beach, with a red drum that struck a Gulp bait beneath a popping cork around a local dock.
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are beginning to see the fall speckled trout bite materialize around Wrightsville Beach. Most of the fish are coming from areas near the inlets, with the best fishing in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs are fooling good numbers of the fish, but anglers are also hooking up on soft plastics and suspending hard baits.
The flounder action has been steady recently, with good numbers of keeper fish around Wrightsville and some larger fish coming from deeper docks and boat basins in the area. Live finger mullet and Gulp shrimp have been producing the best results on the flatfish lately.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around seawalls and bridge and dock pilings. Anglers can hook the sheeps on live fiddler crabs and sand fleas dangled close to the structure.
Red drum are feeding throughout the area, with schools working the local flats and many fish feeding on the abundant mullet in the inlets and surf zone. Topwater plugs and soft plastics are fooling most of the reds in the shallows, with live and cut baits getting the job done in the inlets and surf.
Surf casters are also hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working metal casting jigs around the inlets and near bait pods in the surf.
Spot and sea mullet are also feeding in the breakers and biting shrimp and bloodworms.
Spanish mackerel action in the ocean has been solid lately, with the best fishing around the inlets and nearshore reefs. Most of the fish are falling for trolled Clarkspoons (large size 1 spoons are good bets now as the fish are feeding on mullet along with their smaller forage). Anglers are also hooking up on lighter tackle while casting diamond jigs and other metal lures when the fish are feeding on the surface.
Jared Ziegler, a Marine from Wake Forest, NC, with a wahoo that struck a high-speed bait while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Gardner aboard the headboat “Vonda Kay” out of Wrightsville Beach.
False albacore are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are hooking good numbers on the same casting jigs when pods of fish are chasing bait on the surface.
King mackerel are also on the feed, and anglers have found good action from the beach to the 15 mile range in recent days. Live baits are producing the most action, but anglers are also hooking good numbers of fish on ballyhoo and cigar minnows pinned to dead bait rigs.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid gag grouper action at spots starting in the 70’ depths, and plenty of sea bass, grunts, and smaller fish are feeding in the same areas. Live, dead, and cut baits will all produce results with the bottom dwellers.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting stellar wahoo action around the Same Ol’ and Swansboro Hole lately. The best bite has been around suspended bait in 30-40 fathoms of water, and ballyhoo paired with larger, dark-colored trolling lures are fooling the majority of the ‘hoos. Trollers are also picking up some blackfin tuna and dolphin and releasing a few sailfish in the same areas.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that anglers have had some incredible wahoo fishing lately off Wrightsville. Limit catches aren’t uncommon, and the fish have been running large (many over 50 lbs.). Skirted ballyhoo are fooling the majority of the ‘hoos. Big numbers of blackfin tuna are also feeding along the break (some 30+ lbs.) and biting trolled baits and topwater poppers that anglers are casting.
Dropping jigs to structure along the break is producing fast action with some large amberjacks.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of rod-bending fun with false albacore and spanish mackerel just off the beach at Wrightsville. Both are biting metal casting jigs on spinning rods and a variety of flashy patterns on fly gear.
King mackerel are feeding along the beachfront as well and biting live baits.
Dak Millis, of Wilmington, with a citation red drum he caught and released while fishing just off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.
More kings are feeding 10-20 miles out and biting dead cigar minnows as well as live baits.
Bottom fishing in the 10-20 mile range is producing plenty of action with gag grouper, black sea bass, and other fish. Cigar minnows, sardines, and cut baits are fooling the bottom feeders.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of wahoo while trolling the local Gulf Stream hotspots right now. Most are falling for ballyhoo paired with skirted trolling lures.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beachfront. Anglers can hook the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures and the kings on live baits or rigged ballyhoo.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers live-baiting from the end of the pier have been landing an average of a cobia a day recently.
Plug casters are connecting with plenty of spanish and bluefish while working Gotchas.
Some large pompano are also falling for the Gotcha plugs and bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Bottom fishermen are also seeing some sporadic runs of spot and sea mullet.
