Wrightsville Beach – September 24, 2015
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing a better red drum bite in the area right now, with fish feeding in the area’s creeks along oyster rocks and marsh banks. Topwater plugs have been fooling the fish early and late in the day, with soft baits like Savage Gear shrimp and Gulp jerk shads producing when the sun is high.
Flounder fishing has been decent around Wrightsville, with most of the keeper fish coming from deeper holes and creek bends for anglers baiting up with live mud minnows and finger mullet.
Anglers are also connecting with some ladyfish and ribbonfish around lighted structure in the evening hours.
Capt. Pat Stone, of GA, with a 20″ flounder that bit a live finger mullet off a Bradley Creek dock while he was fishing with Steve Campbell.
Surf casters are hooking good numbers of red drum from Wrightsville. Most are falling for cut mullet, but anglers are also hooking up on topwater plugs and Gulp baits when conditions allow.
Spanish mackerel are schooled up 1-5 miles offshore, with some false albacore mixed in. Anglers are hooking both while casting lures like Epoxy Jigs to schools they spot on the surface.
Anglers are seeing some large king mackerel in the same areas but better numbers of the kings in the 15-20 mile range. Live baits are fooling the fish close to the beach, with dead cigar minnows producing results offshore.
Some dolphin are still looking for meals in the 20-35 mile range, and they’re biting cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some gag grouper at spots in the 80-90’ depths. Barefoot Decoy Jigs baited with cigar minnows are producing many of the gags.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are hooking wahoo, gaffer dolphin, and blackfin tuna. The best wahoo action has been along the break in around 160’ lately, with the blackfins feeding a bit deeper. Skirted ballyhoo will fool all the blue water predators, but anglers can also connect with the blackfins on vertical jigs and topwater poppers.
Barrett Angel and Fisher Williams (both 10), of Wilmington, with a 36″ red drum they caught and released inshore of Wrightsville Beach after it struck a live mullet.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that the wind has kept many anglers from making it offshore recently, but the fishing’s excellent when they can get there.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are feeding along the break off Wrightsville. Anglers can target both while trolling ballyhoo or skirted lures, and they can also connect with the blackfins on vertical jigs and topwater plugs when they spot schools of fish on the sound or surface.
Vertical-jigging on structure around the break is producing plenty of action with amberjacks and African pompano. Anglers are also hooking scamp and gag grouper when dropping the jigs to the bottom, along with a host of other fish like triggerfish, beeliners, porgies, and more. Baited rigs will also produce results on the bottom feeders.
Anya Folger, of Wilmington, with her first wahoo, hooked on a ballyhoo under a purple/black jethead while she was trolling in 450′ of water near the Same Ol’ Hole on the “HOTSAM.”
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s been a decent spanish mackerel bite from the beachfront to a few miles offshore. Anglers are hooking the spaniards on Clarkspoons (with large #0 and #1 spoons the best lately) along with some false albacore and bluefish.
King mackerel are feeding around nearshore rocks and ledges, and they’re also chasing the abundant mullet moving down the beaches at present. Some tarpon and sharks are also following the mullet.
Bottom fishing at spots 10-20 miles offshore is producing primarily black sea bass and grunts, with better grouper action at spots further out.
Philip Rainwater, of Altanta, GA, with a 26″ red drum that struck a cut bait in Howe Creek.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel while trolling along the beachfront and just off the inlets near Wrightsville. Most are falling for Clarkspoons pulled deep behind planers and inline sinkers.
Scott Wallen, of Wilmington, with a 70 lb. wahoo that struck a ballyhoo under a Blue Water Candy JAG while he was trolling out of Wrightsville Beach near the Same Ol’ Hole with Capt. Erik Scheeler on the “Wide Open.”
Matt, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live baiters have landed a 36 lb. king mackerel and some large spanish (to 4+ lbs.) over the past week.
Anglers are hooking smaller spaniards and bluefish on Gotcha plugs that they’re working from the pier. Some pompano are falling for the Gotchas closer to the bottom.
Anglers fishing cut baits and finger mullet have been connecting with some red drum (most over-slot).
Spot and sea mullet are biting at night for anglers baiting bottom rigs with shrimp and bloodworms.
The water is 81 degrees.
Tyler Powers, of Wilmington, with a gag grouper he landed while dropping a cut bait to some bottom structure 8 miles off Wrightsville Beach.
