Wrightsville Beach – May 2025
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that nearshore boats are catching Atlantic bonito, with spanish mackerel starting to show up over the same nearshore structures. Trolling a Clarkspoon has been the most reliable way to put fish in the boat, but anglers are also casting and jigging glass minnow style metals such as Beach Bum jigs or Jigfish lures.
Bottom fishing anglers are looking forward to grouper season opening up at the beginning of May.
Inshore anglers are catching red drum and black drum with Carolina-rigged shrimp around docks and other hard structure.
A few sheepshead have been caught, though anglers expect to see that bite pick up significantly as fiddler crabs become more readily available.
Dylan, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that nearshore action has been all about Atlantic bonito. Anglers are having success trolling deep diver plugs, Clarkspoons, and by casting jigs when you can find fish feeding on the surface.
A few spanish mackerel were hooked off Fort Fisher, so any day the warmer water could push them into the area.
Anglers that have made the run offshore are catching blackfin tuna and some wahoo, and soon they will see sailfish mixed in.
Grouper season opens May 1, and anglers will look to focus efforts over rocks and ledges in the 100-110’+ range.
Inshore anglers are catching some black drum and the occasional sheepshead by using shrimp around rocks and docks.
Red drum have been moving out of their winter schools and are spreading out onto grass lines and oyster bars along the ICW. A wide variety of baits have been working for the reds, from cut baits or live mud minnows on Carolina rigs to soft plastics and topwater plugs.
The surf action is starting to come alive, with catches of Virginia mullet, black drum, red drum, and a few pompano.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports heavy action with Atlantic bonito. The sizes haven’t been great, but the numbers are stellar. The tactic is pretty simple: pull deep diver plugs over nearshore structure in the 2-5 mile range. Plenty of bonito are also out along the beachfronts, but anglers are only getting a few opportunities to cast to the fish when they are feeding on the surfacel.
Bluefish are mixed in these same areas, and the spanish mackerel will be moving in any day.
Anglers fishing around the jetties are catching some red drum and black drum with cut shrimp.
Inshore, red drum and black drum are feeding well around docks in both the ICW and creeks. Black drum has been the better target over reds, with some 18-25” fish mixed in with the majority of smaller fish. Carolina rigs with dead shrimp is best for both species.
Casey Pardue, of Holden Beach, with a bonito caught one mile offshore of Wrightsville Beach using a Clarkspoon behind a #2 planer.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that the attention is all on Atlantic bonito. Anglers are having a lot of success trolling Yo-Zuri deep diver plugs, Clarkspoons, and mackerel trees behind #2 planers. If you can find the bonito on the surface, throwing 3/4-1 oz. First Flight Lures will entice strikes. These bonito are primarily staged up over nearshore wrecks.
The same nearshore bottoms are holding some gray trout and black sea bass.
Inshore anglers are doing well targeting black drum around docks and other hard structure. Some sheepshead are mixed in with the black drum, and both species are feeding on shrimp.
Red drum are scattered about, as they have broken out into smaller groups of 5-15 fish and are scattered throughout the ICW. With this new pattern, anglers will do best jumping around from dock to dock. Do not spend more than 10-15 minutes in one spot as you attempt to find these smaller groups of fish.
Guion, of Green Creek Outfitters, reports that the primary action has been catching Atlantic bonito with 1 oz. white or charcoal Big Nic Spanish Candies. When the weather is not conducive to sight-casting, trolling Clarkspoons behind planers will get strikes.
Inshore trips are focused on the red drum and black drum action. Anglers are finding these fish staged in bays and around docks in the ICW. Carolina-rigged cut shrimp is the best choice to target both species.
Vincent, of Carolina Charters, reports that bigger sheepshead and black drum are showing up better around docks in the waterway. Fiddler crabs and shrimp are getting the job done for both species, and the rising tide has been more productive.
The red drum action is pretty spotty around docks in the ICW, but more fish seem to be showing up each week. The reds are primarily being caught with shrimp on a Carolina rig.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that offshore trolling is producing decent numbers of blackfin tuna and wahoo, with a few mahi just starting to show up. Your favorite ballyhoo setup will be best for all three species.
The jigging action has been excellent, with blackfin tuna, amberjacks, and African pompano all in the catch.
The tuna can also be fired up with popper plugs.
Pushing further out, a few blue marlin are showing up offshore of the 100 fathom line, and the daytime swordfishing bite has also been very good.
Troy, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers looking to cast jigs are finding action picking up with the rising water temperatures. Atlantic bonito have been the main target, with anglers taking advantage of them during their short stint in the area.
The bluefish action has been hit or miss.
Anglers coming out for bottom fishing with shrimp are catching sea mullet.
