Added on Thursday, June 11, 2009  Fish Post

Wrightsville Beach June 11, 2009

Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are catching even better numbers of flounder, and more of the fish are keepers than the past few weeks. The areas close to the inlets seem to be the most productive, as the fish are moving in from the ocean. Live finger mullet, peanut pogies, or mud minnows are top choices for the flatties, but they’ll also respond to Gulp baits.

Plug casters are catching big numbers of spanish mackerel (some big fish-up to 24″) and bluefish on Gotchas from the pier decks, and boaters are also getting in on the action while trolling Clarkspoons and casting Gotchas, Shore Lures, and other metal baits.

Boats are seeing some cobia around nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship and Five Mile Boxcars, and they’re catching some on live baits like bluefish and pogies. Anglers can also cast bucktails tipped with soft plastics or squid at cruising cobia they spot.

King mackerel are schooled up tightly at 23 Mile Rock, with a few dolphin in the mix as well. Dolphin have been reported from as close as 13 miles to the beaches. Anglers can hook up with the dolphin and kings while trolling dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo, or by pulling live cigars or pogies in areas where they know the fish are.

Boats making the trip to the Gulf Stream are still returning with plenty of dolphin (with fish from 30-50 lbs. reported last week). Some sailfish and blue marlin releases have been reported lately as well, so boats making the trip out there should be prepared for a billfish encounter. Skirted ballyhoo are producing the bulk of the action in the blue water.

 

Stu, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that some blue marlin releases were called in around the Swansboro Hole last week.

Closer to home, boats trolling the blue water between the Same Ol’ and the Steeples picked up a good number of gaffer dolphin, some yellowfin tuna (20-30 lb. class), and a decent number of wahoo. Skirted ballyhoo fooled most of the fish.

Bottom fishermen reported a good grouper bite in the 30-40 mile range last week, landing reds, scamps, and gags in addition to other bottom feeders.

Inshore, schools of red drum are feeding on the flats between Figure Eight and Topsail. Anglers caught good numbers sight casting D.O.A. and Gulp jerkbaits to the fish, and fly fishermen also had success on the reds last week.

 

Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that red drum are feeding beneath docks in the ICW. Casting live pogies and croakers under the docks on Carolina rigs has been drawing bites from the reds (most over-slot).

Offshore, there’s been excellent action in the 15 mile range over the past week with king mackerel and dolphin (up to 25+ lbs.). Live pogies under chartreuse, blue, and white skirts are fooling both the kings and the dolphin.

Slightly closer to the beach, cobia are cruising around structure and floating objects 5-10 miles out. Anglers are hooking the cobia on live pogies as well.

 

Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that amberjacks are schooled up tightly at (aptly) the Schoolhouse. Cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs are fooling the jacks.

Plenty of kings are also in the area, and anglers trolling live baits are hooking good numbers, though most of the fish are smaller.

Some chopper bluefish (up to 10-11 lbs.) are feeding inshore around docks and channel edges. They’ll eat just about anything anglers throw at them.

Sheepshead are looking for meals around dock and bridge pilings and other hard structure in the area (and some are pushing 10 lbs.). Anglers can hook up with them by dangling fiddler or mud crabs next to the structure.

 

Ryan, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish are the main story at the pier right now. Anglers are hooking both while casting Gotchas (with some spanish pushing 4 lbs. and blues up to 10 lbs.).

Not many people are bottom fishing, but they’re landing a few pompano, whiting, and small flounder. Shrimp are drawing most of the bites.

The water is 78 degrees.