Wrightsville Beach June 9, 2011
Richard Clark, of Kernersville, NC, and the "Reely Miss Behavin" fishing team took first place at the first annual S.H.A.R.E. King Mackerel Tournament, held June 3-5 out of Dockside Marina. The 38 lb. king mackerel that earned them the title fell for a naked menhaden at the Shark Hole.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the dolphin bite is still going in the Gulf Stream (with good numbers of 20-30 lb. gaffers), but decent numbers of smaller fish have begun to work their way inshore. Anglers reported good catches around 23 Mile Rock last week, with a few scattered fish around the Schoolhouse and other structure in the 20 mile range. Ballyhoo and cigar minnows under skirted trolling lures or live baits will tempt bites from the dolphin wherever boats find them.
Amberjacks are feeding at higher relief structure from the break inshore to the Schoolhouse. Live baits and vertical jigs will both strike the AJ’s fancy.
Bottom fishermen are reporting good, but not great, grouper action. Gags are feeding at structure from the 20 mile range on out, with reds and scamps a bit further off in the 30+ mile range. Live baits and vertical jigs are top choices for the groupers.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent along the beaches lately, with the best action a bit to the north of Masonboro Inlet. Trolling small Clarkspoons is attracting plenty of bites from the spaniards (with fish to 6 lbs. landed last week).
Inshore, the red drum bite in the shallow bays and flats has been good from Topsail down to the Cape Fear River. The reds will bite topwater plugs, scented soft plastics, or a variety of other baits and lures.
Flounder are feeding in most of the same areas as the reds and around deeper structure inshore like docks and bridges. Live mud minnows or small menhaden or Gulps and other scented soft baits will draw bites from the flatfish.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that dolphin have moved as far inshore as the 15-18 mile range (most slingers but with some gaffers in the mix). Trolling rigged ballyhoo under colorful skirts or live baits will tempt bites from the dolphin.
Larger dolphin are feeding out in the Gulf Stream. There’s also been a good billfish bite to the north, so anglers may well be surprised by a sailfish or blue or white marlin when trolling the blue water.
Bottom fishermen are finding steady grouper and black sea bass fishing at structure from 15 miles on out. Small jigs or bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will tempt the bass to bite, and larger vertical jigs or cut and live baits will attract attention from groupers.
Dave Keith, of Wilmington, with a cobia that fell for a live menhaden after it swam up to his boat 7 miles off Masonboro Inlet around some deep bait.
There’s been plenty of bait up and down the beach, and live-baiters are connecting with some king mackerel and cobia within a few miles of shore.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chewing just off the inlets and along the beaches. Both will pounce on trolled Clarkspoons or Blue Water Candy Spanish Daisies.
Rick, of Rod-Man Charters, reports that there’s been a good amount of bait moving along the beaches (and decent numbers of cobia moving around with the bait). Live menhaden or bucktails tipped with soft plastic trailers will tempt bites from the cobes.
Some king mackerel have also been feeding close to shore, and fish were landed from the pier and around the mouth of the inlet last week. Live menhaden are tops for the kingfish.
Spanish mackerel fishing is still solid just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking plenty of spanish and even more blues while trolling Clarkspoons and other small lures.
Inshore, the flounder and red drum bite just keeps getting better. Both fish are feeding in the inlets, around the docks, and in the creeks and the Cape Fear River. Live mud minnows or small menhaden on Carolina rigs are tough to beat for the reds and flatfish.
Tim, of Fishin’ Days Charters, reports that the dolphin bite continues to be solid for boats trolling skirted ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream. Some wahoo, blackfin tuna, barracuda, and king mackerel are mixed in. Boats are getting a few shots at billfish like sailfish and blue and white marlin as well.
Some smaller dolphin have moved inshore into the 20-30 mile range, where there are also some king mackerel on the chew.
Bottom fishing at structure in the same range has been producing good catches of snapper and grouper. Squid and cut baits will get attention on the bottom.
Cobia are feeding around bait concentrations along the beaches.
Plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel are chasing bait along the beachfront and near the inlets as well, and they’ll both take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
Tim Cox, of Pleasant Garden, NC, with the 10.34 lb. pending state record queen triggerfish he caught while bottom fishing near The Lip with Micah Cox on the "Say When."
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite is still solid along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers is producing plenty of action with both (and some larger spanish mackerel recently).
Anglers are putting together good catches of keeper black sea bass and other panfish while bottom fishing at structure in around 60’ of water.
Some amberjacks and cobia are feeding around structure in the 10 mile range, and both will pounce on a live menhaden.
Inshore, flounder and red drum are feeding around docks off the ICW and grass islands and drop-offs in the Cape Fear River. Mud minnows and smaller live menhaden are top choices for the flatfish and reds.
Steve, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are finding some action with spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs, primarily in the evenings.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, but not many people are fishing for them.
Bottom fishermen are finding some action with sea mullet at night.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel last week, the largest 24 lbs.
The water is 82 degrees.
