Wrightsville Beach June 1, 2006
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports that kings and mahi were biting live baits at the dredge wreck this week. The kings are running to up around 15 lbs. and the mahi moving inshore will average 10 to 15 lbs. Closer to shore seabass are biting on the bottom, cobia are hanging around the wrecks, inlets and ledges such as Dallas Rocks. Some nice flounder are coming off the nearshore hard bottoms and in the Cape Fear river on live baits. 23 mile rock has been the hotspot for mahi for those who can’t make the gulf stream.
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle reports, drum catches are still strong in the usual places around Wrightsville Beach. The docks along the waterway and around the jetty has been especially good. Some flounder are being caught with more throw backs than keepers. It seems more fish are staring to move in from the ocean. Some speckled trout are being caught as well by those fishing the creeks and inlets. Blues in the 1 to 2 pound range with the occasional 8 to 10 pounder are on the beach, inlet and creeks. Surf fishing for blues and drum continues, with some drum over the slot limit. Try around inlets and deep holes along the surf. The spanish have arrived in good numbers with some very nice fish up to 6 pounds reported. Cobia are migrating up the coast. Now is the time to target them near the inlets and nearshore reefs. A few kings have been caught along the beach, but 10 to 20 miles offshore is much better. The dredge wreck, schoolhouse, wr4 and 23 mile rock have been producing good numbers of fish. As for bottom fishing, seabass are in the 18 to 25 mile range. Grouper are from 20 to 35 miles. A few dolphin have been reported as close as 23 mile rock. The stream has been good when the wind allows the boats to get there. Tuna up to 70 pounds reported with dolphin and wahoo up to 40 lbs. There has been very good dolphin catches with a lot of fish in the 12 to 20lb range.
Johnnie at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier reports a 60lb Cobia, 27″ Cobia that was released, and 16lb barracuda caught in the same day. Blues and pompano are also being reported.
