Wrightsville Beach September 15, 2011
Conrad Newman (age 7) with a 2.2 lb. citation pompano he hooked in the Wrightsville Beach surf on a sand flea.
Hunter, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the area’s flounder bite is still going strong, both inshore and within a few miles of the beaches. Inshore, anglers are finding the flatfish around ICW docks, in the inlets, and in Snows Cut and the Cape Fear River. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden are top baits for the flounder, and anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits and bucktail/soft plastic combos.
The nearshore AR’s, wrecks, ledges, and live bottoms are also producing some flounder action. Larger, 1-2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulps are the way to go for the ocean flounder.
The red drum bite is also going strong in the same areas. Anglers are finding slot fish feeding in the marshes and around ICW docks inshore, and primarily larger fish at the nearshore structure. Topwater plugs and a variety of lures will work for the reds inshore, and live baits or Gulp will tempt bites from them inshore and offshore.
A few spot are beginning to show up along the beachfront and inshore, and they’ll only get more numerous over the coming weeks. Bloodworms on high-low rigs are the most effective baits for the spot.
Bluefish and some spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches and just off Masonboro Inlet. Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 and #2 planers will tempt plenty of bites from both.
A few more reports of king mackerel have been coming in lately, but the majority of the fish are still feeding at spots 30+ miles offshore. Live menhaden are tough to beat for the kings, but dead cigar minnows and other live baits will also produce.
Gulf Stream trollers are reporting a hot wahoo bite at local spots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole. Some blackfin tuna and a few dolphin are in the mix, and the bite has been best in the early mornings lately. Naked and skirted ballyhoo are the way to go for the blue water predators.
Steve, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that boats are connecting with good numbers of wahoo and a few sailfish while trolling the Gulf Stream. The best action has been a bit to the north of the typical Wrightsville spots. Skirted and naked ballyhoo and baitless high-speed lures will tempt bites from the wahoo.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid gag grouper action at spots 15-18 miles off Masonboro Inlet. Live and cut baits or vertical jigs will tempt bites from the gags. Some black sea bass, grunts, and other bottom dwellers are feeding in the same areas and will bite smaller cut baits and squid. Scamp and red groupers are feeding a bit further offshore at spots 30+ miles out.
The red drum bite is still solid at docks and other inshore structure around Wrightsville and in the lower Cape Fear River. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and a variety of live baits will tempt bites from the reds.
Speckled trout fishing is getting better by the week, and anglers caught good numbers in the lower Cape Fear River last week. Live shrimp are top choices for the specks, but anglers are also hooking good numbers on D.O.A. Deadly Combo float rigs.
Anglers are still catching plenty of flounder inshore and at nearshore structure in the ocean. The cooling water temperatures have some of the larger fish moving back into the inlets to fatten up for fall, so the bite should stay solid or get even better over the next few weeks. Live finger mullet and menhaden and Gulp baits will fool the flatfish.
Rick, of Living Waters, Guide Service, reports that there’s been an excellent wahoo bite around blue water hotspots like the Steeples over the past week. Anglers are getting big numbers of bites from the ‘hoos while dragging ballyhoo under a variety of skirted trolling lures, both on the surface and deep behind planers.
Vertical jigging in the same areas is attracting attention from plenty of large amberjacks.
Bottom fishing at deeper spots along the break produced some excellent action with a variety of grouper (including gags to 30 lbs.) last week.
The gag bite has also been solid at spots in the 15-25 mile range lately. Live baits are top choices for the gags, but they’ll also bite frozen sardines and cigar minnows, cut baits, and vertical jigs.
Closer to the beaches, spanish mackerel and false albacore are chasing schools of glass minnows on the surface.
Jimmy Gee, of New York City, with a 16 lb. gag grouper that attacked a vertical jig in 200' of water off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that bottom fishing 10-15 miles off Masonboro Inlet is producing plenty of action with gag grouper, black sea bass, grunts, and other species. Cut baits and cigar minnows have been the tickets to success recently.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and albacore are feeding just off Masonboro Inlet. Anglers can tempt all three to bite Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 and #2 planers.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are hooking solid numbers of flounder on small live baits under the pier.
Some red drum have been taking an interest in the live baits as well.
Black drum and some spot are falling for shrimp and bloodworm-baited bottom rigs.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel in the early mornings and plenty of bluefish throughout the day.
The water is 84 degrees.
