Wrightsville – July 16, 2015
Arlen, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of red drum in the creeks and on the flats off the ICW around Wrightsville. They’re biting topwater plugs like Yo-Zuri 3D Pencils early and late in the day, and soft plastics and live and cut baits along grass banks when the sun’s high.
Flounder fishing has improved from Southport up to Wrightsville, and anglers are seeing the larger fish coming from the creeks and inshore channels instead of the inlets now. Live finger mullet and mud minnows are tough for the flatfish to turn down, but anglers can also hook plenty while working Gulp shrimp along the bottom.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around bridges, docks, and bulkheads, with the best fishing at higher tides. Live fiddler crabs and sand fleas dangled tight to the vertical structure will fool the sheeps.
Anglers surf fishing are connecting with a few red drum in the sloughs and cuts off the north end of Wrightsville. Shrimp and cut baits will fool the reds.
Those working Masonboro Inlet are connecting with some flounder on live baits and spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish while casting metal jigs.
Boaters are seeing a consistent spanish mackerel bite 2-3 miles off Wrightsville, and anglers are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and Spanish Daisies behind planers, trolling sinkers, and birds. The fish will also bite metal jigs when anglers find larger feeding schools.
Some king mackerel have been along the beachfront as well, but the better bite has been 12-25 miles out recently. Decent numbers of dolphin are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are hooking both on small ballyhoo trolled with Blue Water Candy Wedgies as they can pull faster and cover more ground than when dragging cigar minnows.
Anglers are hooking some flounder at nearshore structure while dropping 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits.
Bottom structure in the 15-30 mile range is hosting schools of amberjacks, which will bite live baits or fast-moving artificials.
Gag grouper are looking for meals around rocks and ledges in 80’ of water and deeper and have been biting sardines and cigar minnows well.
Not many anglers have been making the run to the Gulf Stream recently, but those who have are reporting a few dolphin and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo along the break. Those pushing further offshore have been encountering some blue and white marlin in the 100 fathom depths.
Morgan King with her first king mackerel, hooked on cigar minnows while she was trolling 15 miles off Wrightsville Beach with Turner Perkerson.
Jamie, of Seagate Charters, reports that slot and over-slot red drum are feeding in the inlets and around structure like docks. They’ll bite cut or live mullet and menhaden.
Flounder are also feeding in the inlets and around inshore structure, and live baits are the best bet for the flatfish.
The flounder bite is good in the ocean as well, with most of the fish coming from structure within 5 miles of land.
Barracuda are feeding at the same oceanic structure and sometimes making it difficult to get a flounder to the boat. Anglers can tempt the ‘cudas to bite live baits or speedy artificials like tube lures.
Riley Aldridge with a pair of king mackerel that struck #2 Clarkspoons while he was trolling 5 miles off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Charters.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite remains consistent 3-15 miles offshore, with Drone spoons and dead baits like cigar minnows producing most of the action.
Some dolphin, cobia, and amberjacks have been mixed in with the kings towards the offshore end of that range and biting spoons and dead baits, too.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with gag grouper, black sea bass, and other reef complex species that are biting well around structure 18-30 miles off the beach. Cigar minnows and cut baits will attract attention from the bottom feeders.
Harper Scott with a 23″ flounder that struck a live menhaden in the ICW near Wrightsville Beach.
Lynn, of Shearwater Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with dolphin, king mackerel, and amberjacks while trolling 20-30 miles off Wrightsville Beach. Anglers are hooking them all on dead baits like cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing in the same areas is producing some big hauls of black sea bass, grunts, and other bottom feeders. The bottomfish are falling for cut baits and squid.
Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers continue to find some exciting action while live-baiting from the end of the pier, landing a 25 lb. king mackerel and seeing some tarpon over the past week.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish continue to bite Gotcha plugs and other casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
Flounder are biting live baits fished under the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some croaker and sea mullet along with a few red and black drum.
