Wrightsville Beach September 16, 2004
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder are still biting very well in the inlets and along the nearshore reefs. Over-the-slot drum are being caught in the surf and along the jetty rocks as well. Speckled and gray trout are beginning to show inshore. There have also been some spots in the waterway. Bluefish are plentiful in the inlets, but no kings or spanish have been reported. Bait is plentiful, with tons of mullet running as well as small menhaden; however, the big king baits are few and far between.
Dickie, at Tidal Market II, reports that flounder are in the inlets from Carolina Beach and Masonboro. Good catches of red drum are coming from Topsail down to Carolina Beach in the inlets and waterway. There’s been large number of reds coming from the surf in this same area. Also, surf fishermen are getting nice catches of sea mullet and bluefish. No offshore report except that the water is rough and dirty.
Tyler, at Intracoastal Angler, reports a fantastic wahoo bite when conditions allow boats to get to the gulf stream. Fish are running 40 to 60 lbs., and there were even some twelve fish days for boats. Inshore, the speckled trout have begun to give anglers some action from Topsail and further north, but no trout reported from the Cape Fear River area. Red drum continue to bite well around the Masonboro Inlet jetties. No reports from off the beach due to the weather.
Larry, at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports that anglers were catching flounder. They had some undersized fish, but there were nice keepers mixed in. The bigger fish were in the 1 to 3 lb. range. A 2.35 lb. black drum was landed this week. There were also some nice catches of pompano.
Lloyd, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports that wahoo are dominating the stream when trips allow boats to get there. Very small kings are reported nearshore, but hopefully the big swells may bring in some smokers to take advantage of the bait. Flounder seem to be moving out to the inlets and the beaches due to all the freshwater running out. Reds are still running along the jetty rocks with some over-the-slot size reds mixed in.
