Wrightsville Beach September 2, 2004
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that there was a good spanish bite earlier in the week with 2 to 4 lb. fish coming from inlets and the surf. There was also a few 4 to 6 lb. bluefish caught around Masonboro Inlet. Flounder are inshore and just off the beach in a variety of sizes. The drum bite has been very good with fish coming from creeks, the waterway, and the area inlets. There is bait everywhere, but with more dirty water coming from all the rain the inshore fishing may slow. No reports from offshore as rough conditions and murky water are still slowing anglers.
Matthew, of Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, reports a good week of spanish mackerel in the 1 to 2 lb. range. There’s been some bluefish mixed in. Flounder action has been decent with a few keepers being caught this week on cut or live baits. A few sea mullet have been caught out of the surf, and a red drum was lost one evening. Out on the end of the pier, an 18 lb. barracuda and a 30 lb. blacktip shark were recently caught.
Dickie, of Tidal Market II, reports that the best fishing of the week has come from the gulf stream with big sailfish, white marlin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and small dolphin all coming to the boats. Bottom fishing offshore has been producing grouper, but you must be at least 20+ miles out to find a good bite. Very few king mackerel to speak of, and the spanish are very close to the beach and in the inlets attacking bait on the outgoing tide. John’s Creek is still holding a few flounder, as well as the other reefs along the beach. There have been very few reports of sheepshead, but the ones being caught are big.
Tyler, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that drum fishing has been excellent with a good amount of 8 to 11 lb. fish from Wrightsville Beach all the way down to the Cape Fear River. High lunar tides have even gotten some of the reds feeding up in the grass in the area. Not much fishing going on nearshore, but gulf stream action is picking up with wahoo running 30 to 50 lbs. and a few big yellowfin tuna in the 50 lb. class. A few white marlin and big sailfish have also come from the stream, but the best white marlin bite has been from those boats running out of Oregon Inlet.
Lewis, of Bug-Em Bait Co., reports redfish and flounder in the river, as well as some big croakers. Around Wrightsville Beach there are reports of red drum and flounder at the jetties and in the waterway. There have been scattered reports of small dolphin near shore, but no kings reported this week. Bottom fishing is good 20+ miles if the ocean is nice enough to venture out. Reports from the gulf stream are saying wahoo are the main catch of the week.
