Wrightsville Beach June 18, 2009
John Kruckeberg and Hunter Collins, of Sanford, NC, with a gaffer dolphin and a smoker king they hooked while slow-trolling live pogies near the 10 Mile Boxcars. They were fishing with Capt. Danny Wrenn of 96 Charter Company out of Wrightsville Beach.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the dolphin bite is still solid in the Gulf Stream, and the fish are pushing well inshore of the break as well. Anglers reported a number of dolphin inside 20 miles last week, and anglers caught them while trolling rigged ballyhoo, dead cigar minnows, and live pogies. Brightly colored skirts on the trolling baits seem to especially spark the dolphin’s interest.
Snake king mackerel (with a few larger fish thrown in) are feeding at most of the areas the dolphin are in, and anglers are hooking them on the same baits. Several have been caught along the beachfront as well, so the kings are pretty much everywhere but scattered.
Along with the dolphin, sailfish have moved well inshore of the Stream, and anglers reported several sail releases from the 20 mile range on out to the blue water. Live baits and dead baits will both tempt bites from the sails.
Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding well off Wrightsville, and anglers hooked good numbers from the pier and from boats last week. Gotcha plugs are producing most of the action from the pier, and anglers in boats are hooking up while trolling Clarkspoons, Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, and other lures.
Inshore, the flounder bite is really turning on, and the fish are getting larger as the double-digit fish weighed in local tournaments last week went to show. Live pogies fished on Carolina rigs are top flounder producers, and there have been plenty of pogies around lately. Gulp baits will also put flatfish in the boat.
Red drum are feeding in the surf and the backwaters. Gulps, topwater plugs, and live and cut baits will produce action with the reds.
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Jason Shi, of Wrightsville Beach, with a dolphin he hooked on a live pogy 16 miles off Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Andy Ellis.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that dolphin have moved inshore, and boats are catching decent numbers of gaffers from the 10 mile areas on out. Tolled cigar minnows and small or medium ballyhoo under brightly colored skirts are producing most of the action with the dolphin.
Snake king mackerel are all over the place, and anglers trolling dead baits for the dolphin are catching plenty of small kings, too.
Several sailfish releases have been reported over the last week from the 23 Mile Rock and Schoolhouse areas, so it seems the inshore summer sailfish bite is getting a June start this year. Skirted ballyhoo are top baits for the sails, but they’ll take an interest in live baits as well.
The Gulf Stream has slowed down a bit lately, but there are still a few dolphin around and feeding. Most boats are doing just as well on the dolphin inshore of the Stream.
Along the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite remains consistent. Boat are hooking up with the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons.
Inshore, the flounder bite continues to improve, and anglers are catching good numbers of keeper flatties, especially near the inlets. Smaller live baits on Carolina rigs and Gulp baits are tops for the flounders.
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Brian Schoenwiesner, of Hampstead, NC, with a 19 lb. gag he hooked on a live pogy in 90' while fishing with Chip Nifong and Wes Hege on the "Reel Buzz."
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports that sharks have moved inshore. Night trips over the past week have produced plenty of Atlantic sharpnose sharks and some action from larger blacktips, mostly inside of Masonboro Inlet. Large cut baits will attract attention from the sharks.
There’s been some solid dolphin and king mackerel fishing around the 10 Mile Boxcars recently, with gaffer dolphin and some smoker king mackerel falling for live pogies. Plenty of amberjacks are in the area as well.
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Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been solid around docks in the Wrightsville Beach area recently. Live baits like croakers and pogies fished on Carolina rigs are top choices for the flounder, and anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits.
Offshore, the king mackerel action has been decent starting around 7 miles offshore. Gaffer dolphin are taking over as the primary catch around the 10 mile areas. These inshore dolphin may not be around long, so anglers need to capitalize on the opportunity to catch a gaffer dolphin within sight of land while they can.
Decent numbers of cobia are feeding at spots in the 10-20 mile areas, especially where anglers can find large patches of grass.
Live pogies and cigar minnows are producing action with the dolphin, kings, and cobia.
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Stuart, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that anglers are catching plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pier pilings, and anglers are hooking up with them while dangling fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other crustacean baits near the structure.
Bottom fishermen are catching a few spot and some flounder.
One live baiter landed a cobia on a king rig last week.
The water is 78 degrees.
