Wrightsville Beach – September 12, 2019
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that red drum fishing has remained productive. Most of the reds are around the jetty, while over-slot fish are out in the ocean and near the inlets. Topwaters, gold spoons, Gulps, Z-Man jerk shads, and live bait have all been producing bites.
Speckled trout have started to bite more consistently and will get better as the waters clear and the temperature starts to drop. Black drum and sheepshead are hanging around ICW structure, where fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and shrimp should all entice a bite.
Surf fishing has been improving, with sea mullet, bluefish, small pompano, croaker, and black drum all coming from the beachfront. Shrimp, cut mullet, salted clams, and Fishbites are all good bait choices, while live finger mullet will give a better shot at a flounder or red drum. Casting jigs will fool any bluefish or spanish patrolling the shore, and night anglers should stay busy with an abundance of sharks, rays, and the occasional redfish.
On the nearshore wrecks, flounder fishing remains productive, and there have been schools of big reds and gray trout moving through the same areas. Live mullet or pogies on a Carolina rig are hard to beat, but bucktail/Gulp jigging has been almost as productive.
The spanish bite has been good, with some citation-sized fish in the mix. The spanish are attacking the usual spoons, lures, and baits, with the bigger fish hitting live bait.
A handful of cobia have been seen and caught recently, and a few tarpon have been around as well.
King fishing has been strong near structure from 5-25+ miles off the beach. Blue Water Candy Wedgies with dead cigar minnows, squid, or small ballyhoo have been generating a lot of strikes, with live bluefish and menhaden producing the biggest fish. Scattered mahi and sailfish have been in similar areas, with the best fishing still between 20-30 miles out.
Gags can be found on ledges in the 15+ mile range, along with sea bass, porgies, and grunts. It’s worth putting out a cigar minnow or whole squid on a light line for mahi and king mackerel while you’re bottom fishing. Scamps, red grouper, beeliners, and triggerfish have all been biting in the 30+ mile range.
Gulf Stream fishing has been improving, with blackfin tuna and wahoo making up the majority of the catch. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are still a possibility, if you’re putting teasers in the spread. Ilander Trackers, Sea Witches, and JR Ilanders are all producing strikes.
On the deep sea bottom, bottom anglers are finding grouper, amberjack, snapper, and triggerfish.
Derrik Cranmer and Jim Risley with a wahoo they caught while fishing around the Same Ole out of Wrightsville Beach.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that flounder fishing remains solid both inside and out, with live bait producing the most bites. Red drum (most of them over-slot) are chewing hard in area inlets, as well as on the tidal flats and in backwater creeks.
Speckled trout have made a strong showing, with DOA, Z-Man, and Blue Water Candy soft plastics getting the nod, as well as topwater lures such as the Excalibur Spook.
Spanish and the occasional king mackerel can be found just outside of the local inlets.
Trevor, of ProFishNC Charters, reports that the false albacore have shown up in force, with a lot of fish swimming inside the inlets due to the fall bait migration. The mullet are running south and there are plenty of them, so now is a good time to brine and freeze bait for the winter.
If you get on the water before sunrise, speckled trout have been lurking in the low light and hitting topwater lures.
A few cobia are still in nearshore waters, but not in any serious numbers.
With the east wind, triggerfish have shown up in catchable numbers within five miles, where they’ll be stacked up on the bottom. Use smaller, stout hooks tipped with squid, albacore skin, etc.
Avery Dameron caught this barely-slot drum on live bait in the ocean south of Masonboro Inlet.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that nearshore fishing has been productive with bites from spanish, kings, false albacore, and flounder on and around the nearshore wrecks.
Bottom fishing has been excellent in the 80-120’ range, with gags, grunts, sea bass, and pinkies coming over the rails. Gags will be moving around, and all the normal species will be feeding, as the water temperatures fall slowly.
Offshore wahoo are back in good numbers. The blackfin bite will get better and better, and sailfish have been scattered.
Bottom fishing has been producing scamps, gags, and amberjacks in the 220-350’ range.
Donny, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that pier anglers are finding spanish, blues, a few kings, flounder, some black drum (in the late afternoon), and a couple of red drum.
Flounder are biting mullet and mud minnows, while dead shrimp has been pulling up the reds. Gotcha plugs have been working for the spanish and blues, and throwing a live bluefish back out can attract the kings.
