Wrightsville Beach – September 29, 2016
Matt, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers fishing creeks on the mainland side of the waterway have been seeing sheepshead, black and red drum, flounder, and a few speckled trout. Fishing around docks and oyster bars with live bait has provided the most consistent action. The marsh is holding some schools of reds and scattered flounder as well.
Topwater plugs are always worth trying, along with spinner baits and soft plastics fished along the bottom. There have been a few trout caught at night under dock and bridge lights, but look for the daytime trout bite to improve as the water cools. There have been bluefish and ribbonfish feeding in the lights as well.
There are schools of mullet running in the surf with plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel feeding on them. The blues and mackerel will readily bite metal casting jigs pulled through the surf, and the blues will also hit cut bait fished on the bottom.
A handful of nice pompano have been caught in the surf, along with larger sea mullet, black drum, and a few croaker for those bottom fishing with shrimp or sand fleas. Flounder have been reported, but most are on the small side. There are scattered reports of slot-sized drum working up and down the beach.
The false albacore and spanish are continuing their fall run in solid numbers right off the beach. Most anglers are targeting these fish by casting 3/4-2 oz. Gotcha Jigfish lures and Hogy Epoxy jigs on a 20-30 lb. fluorocarbon leader. Trolling is still producing solid numbers of spanish and a few albacore, if you don’t want to throw the casting jigs.
There have been reports of tarpon rolling down the beach on their southern migration. There have also been reports of large red drum hanging around nearshore structures. Some of the anglers that have been going for these reds have ended up catching some cobia.
There are still some flounder hanging around the nearshore structure. A 2 oz. Spro bucktail paired with Gulp or a Carolina rig with live mullet or small menhaden is the way to go.
The kings have followed the bait back towards the beach. The best of the bite remains in the 6-15 mile range. Many of these fish are schoolies in the 10-15 lb. weight class, with some larger fish traveling right along the beach. Pulling live baits is the best bet for catching some of these bigger fish near the beach. Menhaden work well, and bluefish are an excellent bait, too. Dead cigar minnows on dead bait rigs and Blue Water Candy Wedgies is another method that has been providing some success. To target the kings, try to find areas that are holding bait, the artificial reefs, as well as ledges and patches of live bottom.
The gag grouper bite has started to improve as these fish begin to head in towards the beach in the fall. Dropping frozen cigar minnows or spanish sardines has been a very effective method for catching the gags. Along with the gags, sea bass and grunts have been biting well. Dropping a two hook rig with cut squid has been working to put bass and grunts in the cooler. The bite has pushed into the 70’ range, but the fishing is still very solid out to the 130′ area. Out in the deeper water, red and scamp grouper have been biting well on frozen bait and live bait. Also in the deeper water, anglers are seeing triggerfish, beeliners, and pink snapper on the bottom.
The wahoo bite has been solid the past few weeks with many boats being able to catch at least a few sizable fish. Some days have been red hot for the wahoo, with boats reporting catches of 11-12 fish. The blackfin tuna have made a good showing, and some anglers have been reporting skipjacks mixed in with the blackfins.
Sailfish are still around and are being hooked fairly regularly. Most of these fish have been falling for skirted ballyhoo, with some of the tuna coming on cedar plugs.
John Buechele with a 50 lb. cobia caught off Wrightsville Beach on a finger mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Guion Lee of Green Creek Outfitters.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that false albacore and spanish mackerel are providing great action just outside Masonboro Inlet. The fish are readily taking Blue Water Candy casting jigs retrieved quickly, especially on the albacore.
Some large red drum and a few cobia have been landed this past week around the jetty. The fish are responding best to larger live and cut baits fished on the bottom.
The cooler air temperatures have resulted in some decent trout fishing this past week. The specks are being found mostly in the area creeks, and they’re taking a variety of baits. Rapala Skitterwalks and X-Raps are fooling the fish. A few red drum are also falling for the same baits.
David Fisher, of Wilmington, with a 24 lb. king mackerel caught on a live bluefish at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that spanish and false albacore are biting well in the 3-5 mile range. King mackerel and a few mahi are being found in the 18-25 mile range. Wahoo and blackfin tuna are rewarding boaters in the Gulf Stream.
Janet Seal, of Wilmington, with a 5 lb. flounder caught on a live minnow in Middle Sound.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that offshore fishing has been great. Blackfin tuna in the 12-25 lb. range are biting well, but there are a few smaller in the mix, too. Sailfish and wahoo are being found in similar areas.
Bottom fishing 15-25 miles off the beach has been good. Gag grouper, grunts, and sea bass are providing the most action in this range. A bit further down the hill in the 30-50 mile range, scamp grouper, grunts, beeliners, pinkies, and larger sea bass are biting.
Dylan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that blues are being caught up and down the pier, and they are being hooked using plugs and cut bait. There have been a few kings landed over the past week. The largest weighed 28 lbs. Sea mullet are biting cut shrimp and Fishbites, mostly at night.
The water temperature is still quite warm at 83.5 degrees.
