Wrightsville Beach – September 2024
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have seen an uptick in sheepshead action in both sizes and numbers.
Red drum fishing continues to be steady, with fish seemingly fired up now that mullet are all over the inshore waters.
A few speckled trout are in the inshore action, but they are still in a summer pattern of only feeding really early in the morning.
All the flounder one could imagine are being caught as bycatch when targeting redfish.
From the surf, the main action has been smaller Virginia mullet and spot, with sharks showing up at night.
Nearshore anglers are finding the spanish mackerel action to be slow. Most of the fish are still holding deeper (in 40-50’).
It’s early for the fall bite, but some king mackerel have started to show up nearshore, with a few fish already being caught off the local piers.
Offshore bottom fishing has produced mainly black sea bass, with some groupers mixed in.
Ben, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that red drum are staged up all along the ICW and on flats in the backs of the marshes. Topwater plugs have had a lot of success early, and then anglers switch to artificials such as Z-Man soft plastics in sexy mullet or chartreuse color patterns after the sun is up to stay on the bite. Anglers are also finding success by throwing chatterbaits, and when all else fails, Carolina-rigged live mullet is a great way to entice strikes.
Speckled trout are starting to show up a little better along the ICW, especially in areas south of Wrightsville Beach.
A bunch of good-sized sheepshead are hitting mud crabs and fiddler crabs around bridges and deeper dock pilings.
Anglers peeking outside the inlet have been finding some spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish.
The king mackerel bite has been slow. The best chance at a king has been getting out to the 15-20+ mile range.
Offshore anglers continue to land wahoo and blue marlin, and some sailfish are also starting to show up.
Jessie Price and Nick Leon, of Charlotte, caught this speckled trout behind Wrightsville Beach using a topwater lure. They were fishing with Capt. Jason Shi of Simple Life Fishing Charters.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been really good. There is a lot of bait out along the ICW, and the reds are being found in just about every location one would expect. Live or cut baits fished along grass banks, oyster bars, and docks are all having periods of success. Anglers are also finding the reds biting well on topwater plugs first thing in the morning, and then artificials are getting plenty of strikes after the sun is up.
The sheepshead fishing has been very productive. Anglers can find these fish on just about any hard structure right now. Carolina-rigged crabs of any kind are producing the best action.
A decent summer trout bite has been happening when on the water early in the morning. Topwater plugs and other artificials have had the most success, but the action is short lived to just the early morning.
Nearshore, spanish mackerel fishing has been a little slow, with fish hitting Clarkspoons behind planers (more common) or by casting jigs to fish feeding on the surface (less common).
Some big red drum should be showing up on the Masonboro jetties in September. A few are already hanging around, but the big reds are just not here in big numbers yet.
The flounder fishing has been the best action of all. Tons of flounder are on the nearshore structures and just about any grass bank inshore. Live bait has been the way to go, but the flatfish have also been hitting artificials, mostly as a bycatch of trout and red drum fishing.
Lily Holt, of Wilmington, caught (and released) this flounder behind Figure Eight Island using a live finger mullet.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that the area is seeing a ton of mullet around, and the mullet have the red drum fired up. Anglers are finding a lot of success by working areas along the ICW. On higher tides, ICW docks have been the main spot to target, with grass banks being better on the lower or falling tides. Live bait has been best, but artificials such as 4-5” D.O.A. swim baits are also starting to produce.
Some red drum of various sizes are out on the jetties.
Speckled trout have started to show up around the inlet and on the jetties. The low to incoming tide has been best for anglers fishing live mullet on Carolina rigs.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that moving into September, anglers look forward to the trolling action picking up out on the break. Better numbers of wahoo are already making their appearance, with some sailfish also in the mix.
Jigging trips remain a great option in late summer, with big amberjacks and African pompano out in the 150’+ range.
Bottom fishing in these same deeper areas will produce scamp grouper, red grouper, large triggerfish, and a mix of the other year-round bottom dwellers.
Robert, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers have been catching quite a few flounder, and they’re quality fish both in terms of sizes and numbers.
The casting action is starting to come alive again, with spanish mackerel showing up when there are cleaner water conditions.
Anglers live bait fishing have caught a few smaller kings and a cobia. Moving into September, the pier anticipates the king mackerel action picking up.
Plenty of the typical bottomfish species are being caught by those putting in the time.
