Wrightsville Beach – September 2023
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder have been biting like crazy, with large fish (to 30”) in the mix. Anglers look forward to their chance to target these flatfish once the season opens.
Red drum action remains strong. There is a topwater bite in the morning, but largely live and cut baits are providing the most action. Most of the reds are staged up along the ICW, but recently a few are being caught out in the surf as well.
Dock pilings and bridges are holding a mix of sheepshead and black drum for anglers fishing with crabs or shrimp.
Nearshore anglers are finding mostly smaller Spanish mackerel, but these smaller fish are biting well.
Some schools of false albacore are starting to show.
Runs out to bottom structure in the 20-mile range are producing grouper, cobia, amberjack, and black sea bass.
King mackerel fishing over the deeper structures has been pretty good, and the 35-40 mile range is seeing some good sailfish action, too.
Ryan, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that with the hot weather and water conditions still prevalent, anglers haven’t seen too many changes from the typical summertime patterns.
Nearshore anglers are catching Spanish mackerel and bluefish, mostly by pulling spoons behind planers. There isn’t a bunch of surface action being seen, unless you are on the water early.
King mackerel are scattered from the beachfronts out to 25+ miles. The local piers started seeing some kings, and hopefully this is a sign that these fish are starting to move closer in as they do each fall.
The nearshore bottoms will be holding some flounder for anglers looking forward to the keeper season.
The 10-20 mile range is producing king mackerel and scattered mahi.
Offshore anglers are finding some steady action, with catches of wahoo, mahi, sailfish, and a few blackfin showing up.
Bottom fishing offshore is producing a mixed bag of vermilion snapper, gag grouper, scamps, cobia, and African pompano.
Back inside, red drum and black drum are being caught in some of the deeper ICW areas. The red drum can also be found in bays, and then during high tides, they are in the creeks running through the marshes, too.
A few speckled trout are around, but this is almost exclusively a bite that happens really early or late.
Anglers targeting the bridges and deeper docks are catching some sheepshead.
Allen Wilkerson, of Clinton, caught this hogfish using a cigar minnow. He was fishing offshore of Wrightsville Beach.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are biting really well with all the bait that is now starting to arrive in the area. Being out on the water in the early morning opens up the chances of enticing fish with topwater plugs. Anglers can target the area’s docks throughout the day, as most are holding smaller groups of 1-3 reds.
Sheepshead fishing remains steady for anglers fishing hard structures with fiddler or mud crabs.
Nearshore runs haven’t seen many Spanish mackerel around, but some over-slot red drum are showing up on the nearshore reefs and jetties.
Flounder are staged up in really good numbers over many of the structured bottoms in the area.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that the nearshore action is starting to pick back up as we move towards the end of the summer. Some of the nearshore wrecks and live bottoms are holding some over-slot red drum (up to 46”).
A bunch of flounder are around these same structures, and anglers look forward to targeting them when the season opens up.
Some larger Spanish mackerel are starting to be hooked by anglers fishing live mullet.
A decent speckled trout bite can be found by anglers on the water in the early mornings.
Slot-sized red drum are just about everywhere inshore. Anglers are having plenty of success bait fishing around ICW docks, near creek mouths, and back in the marshes. Finding bait is really the key to picking a spot to start any fishing efforts.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that in the coming weeks we will start to move away from these hot temperatures and see offshore fishing action pick up.
Gulf Stream trolling trips are currently producing wahoo and sailfish, and soon offshore anglers will also be seeing better numbers of blackfin tuna.
The offshore jigging and popping trips are on the verge of really kicking off this time of year. Anglers will have a blast catching large amberjacks, grouper, blackfin tuna, and other assorted bottom fish species.
Bait fishing at these offshore structures and ledges is producing various snapper, hogfish, and grouper species (gags, scamps, and hinds).
The king mackerel action is starting to heat up off the beach. Live bait is producing most of the action, with the best quality fish being in the 75-90’ range. These kings will be staging up in this range before pushing onto the beachfronts in the fall.
Clay Johnson, of Concord, NC, caught this redfish on a saltwater fly. He was fishing with Capt. Jon Huff, of Circle H Charters.
Patrick, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that some nice-sized king mackerel have finally started showing up, with large fish (to 45 lbs.) in the mix. It is still a bit early, but seeing kings is a good sign that we are moving out of the heat of summer.
Spanish mackerel are around for anglers casting plugs.
Some large flounder (to 22”) are being caught (and released) while fishing live baits.
Bottom rigs tipped with a variety of small cut baits or artificial bait strips are producing spadefish, croakers, and small sharks.
A few speckled trout are in the counts, and they are mostly being caught in the low light hours.
