Wrightsville Beach September 1, 2011
Capt. Chip Baker, of Offshore Experiences Sportfishing, with a 55 lb. cobia he hooked on a bucktail while flounder fishing some nearshore structure out of Wrightsville Beach. He landed the fish on a Shimano Calcutta 200.
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the area’s waters are still recovering from Hurricane Irene. The storm shouldn’t have disrupted the area fishing too much, and the slightly cooler water temperatures in her wake may trigger the start of some solid fall fishing.
Before the storm, anglers were hooking some pompano and other bottom feeders in the surf at Wrightsville. Shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs are the way to go for the pomps and other surf bottom dwellers.
The spanish mackerel bite should get back on track as soon as the water cleans up. Trolling Clarkspoons or squid rigs around birds and surface activity is the way to find and hook the spaniards, along with plenty of bluefish.
There have been huge amounts of bait (mostly finger mullet) moving through the ICW in the wake of the weather, and this should get the flounder and red drum action inshore back to normal quickly. Targeting both fish in the marshes, creeks, and around the inlets is the way to go, and live mullet, Gulp baits, or a variety of other lures will tempt bites from both species.
Not many have been offshore since the storm, and it remains to be seen how the weather will affect the king mackerel, sailfish, and dolphin action. Anglers were finding all three around 23 Mile Rock last week, with kings also feeding around the 30/30 and other spots in 60-80’+, so those are good places to begin looking for the fish now. Live menhaden and dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo will fool all three.
The wahoo bite was excellent last week, and anglers prospecting for the ‘hoos will likely find them feeding right along the break around the Same Ol’ Hole, Steeples, and other area hotspots.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that the recent storm seems to have set the bait moving en masse around Wrightsville in the past few days, and hopefully this should get fall fishing cranked up over the next week as the waters recover from the storm.
Boats have found some solid spanish mackerel action off Masonboro Inlet since the weather. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is the way to go for the spaniards.
The red drum and flounder bite inshore was excellent last week, and with all the bait moving through the area, it should be back on track directly. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will fool both fish, and anglers may also be able to connect with the reds on topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and other lures.
Flounder should still be feeding on the nearshore reefs, and anglers can tempt them to bite finger mullet or bucktail/Gulp bait combinations.
Paul Horning (age 11, center) with his first sailfish, which fell for a naked ballyhoo near 23 Mile Rock while he was trolling with Pat and Paul Horning and Sal Vasquez on the "Salty Seaman."
Speckled trout were also beginning to turn on preceding the hurricane. Targeting creek mouths, hard structure, and deeper holes inshore is the way to go for the specks. Topwater plugs, shrimp-imitating lures, and live shrimp (if anglers can find them) are top choices for the trout.
The sailfish and dolphin action has likely been slowed due to water dirtied from the storm, but some of the fish should still be around when the water finally does clean up.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the bottom fishing off Masonboro Inlet hasn’t suffered much since Irene. Anglers still found action with black sea bass, grunts, gag grouper, and other bottom dwellers at structure within 20 miles of the beach this week. Squid, cigar minnows, and live and cut baits will all tempt bites from the bottom feeders.
The action with red and scamp grouper and a variety of other bottomfish was solid further out in the 35-45 mile range last week, and it should still be going strong if the bottomfishing further inshore hasn’t been drastically affected.
Likewise, the solid wahoo fishing out in the Gulf Stream should still be going strong when anglers are able to make it to the blue water.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel fishing off Masonboro Inlet hasn’t been affected too much by Hurricane Irene, and boats have already been back to catching decent numbers earlier this week. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights is the way to go for the mackerel.
The shark fishing just off the beaches was solid last week, and it’s likely to be going strong again once the waters clear up a bit. Fishing large cut baits within a few miles of the beaches or behind shrimp boats in the area is the way to tempt bites from the sharks.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some bluefish, spot, and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms since the storm.
Anglers are seeing spanish from the pier, but they haven’t been very willing to strike lately.
Good numbers of red drum are feeding in the surf around the pier, and they’ll bite a variety of baits when they’re in a feeding mood.
The water is 84 degrees.
