Wrightsville Beach April 28, 2011
Bennie Sheally with a 32 lb. black fin tuna he hooked on a Yo-Zuri Sashimi Slider while casting to breaking fish near the Steeples. He was fishing with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the fishing is finally turning on with the warming weather.
Inshore, big numbers of bluefish are feeding in the inlets and nearby, and anglers looking for some fast action should have little trouble hooking up on metal casting jigs or a variety of other lures.
The flounder bite is turning on as well (though most of the fish are on the small side). Live mud minnows or Gulp baits will fool the flatties, and the creeks and areas near the inlets are good places to target early in the season.
The red drum bite is also solid inshore, and anglers are likely to find the reds feeding around ICW docks and other structure or on the shallow flats. Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, and other baits and lures will attract attention from the reds.
Surf anglers are hooking up with good numbers of sea mullet and bluefish and an occasional black drum. Shrimp are fooling most of the fish in the breakers.
The first few spanish mackerel of the year were caught this week by boaters and pier anglers, and they’ll only become more numerous as the water continues to warm up.
Atlantic bonito and false albacore are feeding at nearshore structure within a few miles of the beaches. Anglers can find the fish by trolling or looking for working birds or schools feeding on top, then cast Shore Lures or other metal jigs into the activity to hook up.
King mackerel reports are starting to trickle in. The majority of the fish are still in the 40 mile range, but anglers have reported scattered sightings in closer. It won’t be long until they make a move toward shore.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are finding action with wahoo and blackfin tuna while trolling skirted ballyhoo and lures.
Vertical jiggers have also been hooking up with the blackfins and plenty of large amberjacks while working structure and bait concentrations on the edge of the break.
Aiden Kerr (age 7), from Charlotte, with a striped bass he hooked on a Gulp jerkshad while fishing the Cape Fear River with his father and Paul Rice.
Jon, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that some large red drum (30”+) have been feeding on the shallow flats of the lower Cape Fear River and the sounds closer to home. Anglers can hook the fish on soft plastic baits, while working smaller topwater plugs, or while fly-casting.
Bluefish have inundated the area, and fishing near the inlets should produce fast action with the toothy predators. They’ll strike a wide variety of trolled and casted lures, and they are also excellent targets for the fly angler.
Some large spanish mackerel have been reported off Carolina Beach. Small live baits (if anglers can find them) and casting lures are often more effective for the larger spaniards than the Clarkspoons that many anglers troll for the smaller fish.
Off the beaches, anglers are finding Atlantic bonito feeding at structure within a few miles of shore, particularly to the north of the area. A variety of casting and trolling lures will tempt bites from the bonito. Some bluefin tuna (100-200 lbs.) have also been sighted feeding in the same areas.
King mackerel are creeping closer to the coast, and boats reported some in the 30 mile range last week.
Blue water trollers have been finding action with some wahoo and blackfin tuna while plying local Gulf Stream hotspots like the Steeples and Same Ol’ Hole.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the bonito have shown up in full force, and anglers are finding the best action within a few miles of New River Inlet. Trolling with Yo-Zuri Deep Divers is a good way to locate the fish when they aren’t feeding on top. When they are, anglers can look for the fish breaking water while they chase bait and birds working over the feeding schools, then cast metal jigs into the melee to hook up.
Huge numbers of bluefish are mixed in with the bonito.
Anglers have also seen some keeper gag grouper in the same areas, and they’ll be able to take one home when the season opens May 1.
Jon Wood, of Dudley's Marina with a 12 lb. blackfin tuna he hooked while deep-jigging in 250' of water offshore of Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Rick Croson of Living Waters Guide Service.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that anglers can catch all the bluefish they desire around the inlets right now. A variety of lures will tempt bites from the voracious blues.
A few Atlantic bonito have been mixed in with the blues at nearshore structure off Wrightsville, and the first spanish mackerel of the year have shown up as well.
Inshore, the red drum bite is still solid around the docks and at the inlet on a falling tide. Live baits or cut baits will tempt bites from the reds.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are catching big numbers of bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel from the pier on Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen have been decking some sea mullet and a few black and red drum, with the majority of the action at night. Shrimp are attracting attention from the bottom feeders.
The water is 67 degrees.
