Wrightsville Beach June 30, 2005
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that inshore the flounder are still small up in the creeks, but some nicer size fish are coming from the inlets. Lots of blues in the waterway and inlets, some pushing 3 to 4 lbs. Puppy drum are doing well. Most are in the 20 to 22 inch range, with some 26 to 30 inch fish showing up. Sheepshead are biting well around the pilings. Try some topwater fishing for ladyfish at dawn and dusk.
Nearshore, along the beach the spanish and blues are still biting well. Most are on the small size, but still very tasty. Puppy drum and a few flounder are in the surf, along with a few pompano. Cobia are still around the inlets and artificial reefs. Snake kings are biting in the 10-25 mile range. Try cigar minnows or jig up live bait with sabiki rigs at your favorite spot. Seabass reported in the same areas. Not many reports on grouper, but a few nice 10-15 pounders reported.
Dolphin have been caught from seven miles on out. The best fishing seems to be from 12-25 miles out. Dolphin are the mainstay in the stream right now, with fish up to 30 lbs. reported. Wahoo and a handful of tuna were also reported this week. A good number of sailfish and white marlin are being released as well.
Rick, at Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports an 18 lb. king mackerel was landed by 8-year-old Justin Barbour. The pier also saw a 19 lb. barracuda. Pluggers are getting some spanish up to 3 lbs. mixed in with the bluefish, and the best fishing has been later in the day. Bottom fishing is getting some keeper flounder and pompano during the day and croakers at night.
Russell, at Tidal Market, reports cobia fishing has slowed somewhat, but the kings are still chewing from 5 to 30 miles out. Dolphin have been reported as close as 5 miles, although they are very scattered nearshore. The kings are still mostly small, but they are providing good action with some bigger fish mixed in. Blues and spanish are still thick off Masonboro Inlet by pulling spoons or yozuri plugs. Flounder and red drum are in the waterway and the bigger creeks. They’re eating on live baits like menhaden or mud minnows.
Lloyd, at Bug-Em Bait Co., reports nearshore fishing is very good and should get better as the weeds clear. Kings are everywhere, but it takes to time to find some bigger fish. Dolphin are scattered as close as 7 miles. Sailfish have been raised in the 10 Mile Rock and Schoolhouse areas. The stream has been good for billfish the past week, with most boats seeing white marlin and sails. Bluefish are all over the surf and can be caught on plugs casted from the beach. Drum fishing has picked up in the river, with many anglers preferring the Berkley gulp baits.
