Archive for March, 2007
« Previous EntriesWrightsville Beach March 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007Justin, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that red drum fishing is good and getting better each week in the creeks and waterway docks. Some trout are mixed in with the drum at the docks, and Gulp shrimp in pearl and New Penny colors will fool both fish. Moving water is key to finding active fish at the docks, although whether the tide is rising or falling is not as important.
Sea bass are holding on structure in the 5-10 mile areas. Anglers are catching both gag and red groupers, with most of the action in 100+’ of water. As usual, live and dead baits are catching their share of grouper, but many anglers are experiencing great results fishing the new butterfly jigs.
King mackerel are in the 45-50 mile range, but will be moving closer to shore as the water warms up. Gulf Stream action has gotten started early, with boats reporting plenty of yellowfin tuna, as well as a blue marlin so far.
As the water temperature rises inshore, expect flounder and bluefish to show up in the inlets. Drift fishing is the best way to target the inlet flounder.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports action with red drum and big speckled trout (up to 8 lbs.) recently. The fish are spread out in the waterway between Topsail and Wrightsville, and both species are falling for New Penny Gulp shrimp on ¾ oz. jigheads. There are also a few trout coming from the Masonboro Jetties and the Carolina Beach Yacht Basin.
As the water begins to warm up, fishing for the big trout should get even better. The fish will be moving to creek mouths, sloughs, and the backs of bays. And they will be feeding heavily.
King mackerel are 40+ miles offshore right now, but they should be in the 10-15 mile range in the next few weeks.
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports that grouper are holding around 40 miles offshore. However, since the ocean has been so rough over the past weeks, not many boats have been able to get out to them.
Large schools of red drum are in the surf zone in front of Figure 8 Island. The drum are in shallow clear water, so anglers can find them by sight and use long-casting lures such as Hopkins Spoons or bucktails to hook up with them.
Mike, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports plenty of spiny and smooth dogfish biting shrimp and cut baits. Many anglers are surprised to learn that the little sharks are actually an excellent tasting species. Smooth dogfish of 11 and 14 lbs. were weighed in over the past week.
The warming ocean will bring croaker and whiting to the pier in the coming weeks, and fresh shrimp or frozen sand fleas are the best baits for the tasty panfish.
Bluefish traditionally show up at the pier during the first weeks in April. The 1-3 lb. blues will provide lots of action for anglers casting Gotcha plugs from the pier.
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Topsail March 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports good yellowfin tuna fishing around the Big Rock when boats can get out there. The fish have been in the 30 lb. class, and they are mostly hitting ballyhoo.
Grouper fishing has been good, with reds holding in the 35-40 mile range. Northern mackerel have been one of [...]
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Swansboro March 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007Jeff Cronk, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the redfish are still schooling well and should begin moving into the shallow, warming backwaters to join the rest of the pups and begin feeding more aggressively. The speckled trout will be found in small pods, as well as mixed in with the redfish.
Although anglers will manage to [...]
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Southport March 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007Dave, at Ocean Crest Pier, reports fishing is starting early, with anglers catching decent numbers of whiting from the pier over the past several weeks. Fresh shrimp fished on bottom rigs has been the best bait. Along with the whiting, anglers are catching some bluefish (weighing around one pound) and an occasional black [...]
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Ocean Isle March 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007Clint, at the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the blue water action is beginning early this year (when the weather gives boats a chance to get there). One boat recently caught several wahoo up to 47 lbs., as well as a yellowfin tuna, near the 100/400 last week, as a finger of warm [...]