Wrightsville Beach – June 2022
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have seen action picking up on both red drum and flounder now that more bait has pushed through the inlets. Both species are hitting a variety of soft plastics and bottom-rigged live baits (and topwaters for reds).
Nearshore anglers are catching plenty of spanish mackerel while both trolling Clarkspoons and sight casting glass minnow jigs at surface-feeding frenzies.
Some king mackerel are starting to mix in this nearshore trolling action. Sizes have varied from smaller schoolie-sized fish to large kings (to 50+ lbs.) spread throughout the area.
The 10-20 mile range has been the sweet spot for anglers looking to more consistently target larger kings.
A few cobia have begun to work their way into the area. Action closer to the beach (2-mile range) has been a little better to the south around Carolina Beach, but fish being spotted off local piers is a signal that local catches are possible on any given day. There has also been some cobia catches from anglers bottom fishing baits in the 10-18 mile range.
Bottom fishing has been good in the 15-25 mile range, with catches of black sea bass and grouper. Some of the bigger grouper have been holding even deeper (around 40 miles).
Offshore fishing has been picking up quickly, with anglers landing mixed bags of gaffer-sized mahi, blackfin tuna, yellowfin, a couple sailfish, and scattered wahoo.
Capt. Drew Whitt with the Atlantic bonito that was caught on a Drone spoon about 10 miles off Wrightsville Beach.
Arlen, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that inshore anglers have found red drum action picking up, with fish now spread out across marsh flats and up in shallow creeks. Topwaters such as Rapala Skitterwalks have been great when getting on the water early or during calm conditions, with Gulp or Z-Man jerk shads being better throughout the day.
Sheepshead and black drum action has been good around areas of inshore structure. Fishing live fiddler crabs or mud crabs in deeper water around docks, bridges, and boat basins have produced most of the strikes.
Nearshore anglers are finding some really good spanish mackerel action. Trolling deep diver plugs or Clarkspoons behind planers has produced plenty of bites. There has also been plenty of success casting Big Nic Spanish Candy jigs at the surface-feeding schools.
A few nice-sized kings have been caught by these same anglers trolling up the beach. Most of the steady action on the larger kings, though, has held out in the 10-15 mile range.
Cobia have started to move into the area as they migrate north. Anglers will catch fish with both live bait and larger bucktail jigs rigged with soft plastic trailers. Keep an eye out for groups of cobia traveling around the nearshore bait balls, as well as over nearshore structures from the Liberty Ship on out to the 10+ mile range.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore action is on fire right now. There have been plenty of spanish mackerel around, and anglers pulling Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs or Clarkspoons are producing easy double-digit fish catch days. Casting metal is also great when anglers find the opportunity to sight cast to surface-feeding frenzies.
Inshore anglers have found the red drum action to be dramatically improving. Topwater plugs fished both early and late in the day are providing some big strikes from the active reds. Both spinnerbaits and soft plastics are providing plenty of action, too. Red drum can also be more simply targeted with Carolina-rigged live or cut bait around grass lines and hard structure.
Sheepshead fishing has been great so far this year. Fiddler crabs and similar crustaceans fished tight to inshore hard structures are getting bites.
There are still speckled trout feeding along the ICW. Anglers are finding some trout while fishing topwaters early or casting soft plastics in areas of good moving water back in mainland creeks.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that speckled trout action is starting to get good in areas around the inlet. Anglers have had the most success while targeting ledges and seams around oyster banks with D.O.A. soft plastic shrimp and topwater plugs.
Red drum have moved into their smaller summer groups and are spread throughout the larger marsh bays and along grass banks.
Nearshore anglers have been finding plenty of good spanish mackerel action while casting jigs at surface-feeding frenzies off the beach.
There are some king mackerel mixed in off the beach, as the kings are pushing nearshore with the bait.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that trolling action out at the break is picking up, with catches of mahi, blackfins, and yellowfins out in the 180-300+’ range.
Billfish are also starting to move in with the warmer water. Both blue marlin and sailfish are out on temperature breaks outside of 100 fathoms.
Getting over structure to do some jigging or fishing poppers has produced blackfins, yellowfins, and large amberjacks.
Bottom fishing remains excellent in the 100+’ depths, with the now open grouper season allowing even more species to target. Fishing deeper (200-400’) has been even more productive, as it is an area that sees much less fishing pressure.
Joey, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs toward surface-feeding frenzies have been landing good numbers of spanish mackerel.
Bluefish, including a good number of large choppers (to 13 lbs.), have been mixed in the spanish action.
The king mackerel bite is slowly picking up, as these fish are working their way onto the beachfronts. Most have been in the mid-teens, but some larger kings (to 31 lbs.) are hitting baits fished off the end.
