Wrightsville Beach October 15, 2009
Mike Davis with a healthy sailfish that fell for a double pogy rig near the Liberty Ship while he was fishing with Mark Blake. The fish was released after the photo was taken.
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that Gulf Stream trollers have found a fairly solid wahoo bite in the stream lately at areas like the Steeples, Same Ol’, and other blue water hotspots. Some dolphin are still mixed in with the ‘hoos. Skirted ballyhoo will fool both.
The king mackerel bite’s been hot from the beaches out to spots in the 20 mile range like the Schoolhouse and 23 Mile Rock (with some fish to 40+ lbs. lately). Live baits like pogies are the go-to weapons when chasing the kings.
Amberjack are schooling up on offshore structure like the Schoolhouse and 23 Mile Rock, and they’ll take an interest in live baits, vertical jigs, or topwater poppers.
Some gag grouper are in the same areas, and anglers can hook them on live or cut baits, frozen cigar minnows, or vertical jigs.
Inshore, false albacore have shown up, and anglers are finding them, spanish mackerel, and bluefish busting baits from the beachfront and the jetties out to the Liberty Ship.
Trolling small spoons or casting metal lures to the breaking fish will produce hookups with these nearshore pelagics.
Surf anglers are hooking up with excellent numbers of red and black drum, pompano, and flounder. Live baits, cut baits, and fresh shrimp will produce results in the breakers.
Some speckled trout are also feeding in the surf, and anglers can hook them while casting MirrOlures, soft plastics, and other baits.
The trout bite has been excellent lately in the river. Most anglers are hooking the specks on topwater plugs and soft plastic baits.
Some puppy drum are mixed in with the specks in the river, and more are feeding inshore behind Wrightsville and Topsail. Live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures will fool the reds.
Flounder are also on the feed inshore and in the inlets. Gulp baits and Carolina-rigged finger mullet will tempt bites from the flatties.
Wendy Delcotto and Nick Ferriell, of Tamarac, FL, with a 46” cobia that fell for a live, light-lined pogy while they were bottom fishing a few miles off Masonboro Inlet with Tony Del.
Frank, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that there’s been some good trout fishing inshore around Wrightsville lately. Anglers are hooking the specks around the inlet connecting channels and other areas with good current flow. MirrOlure 17 MR’s, topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other lures will fool the trout.
Flounder fishing’s been good lately as well, and anglers landed some fat fish in the ICW near Wrightsville over the past week. Gulp baits and Carolina-rigged live baits are top choices for the flatfish.
Red drum are on the feed all over the area, from the surf to the flats and creeks inshore. Gulp baits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and a variety of other baits and lures will attract attention from the reds.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait in the inlet and nearby along the beaches, and anglers can hook up on metal casting lures thrown towards schools of fish feeding on the surface.
The king mackerel bite hasn’t been on fire off Wrightsville, but anglers are catching solid numbers (and some quality fish) in the Cape Fear River channel. Live pogies are fooling the majority of the mackerel.
The wahoo bite has tapered off a bit in the Gulf Stream, but boats making the long run are still picking up a few fish. A few sailfish are still mixed in as well.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that there’s been an excellent king mackerel bite in the old Cape Fear River channel lately (with many 20-30 lb. class fish), especially around the old sea buoy. Live pogies are producing most of the action, and there have been plenty of perfect sized baits right on the beaches.
Some cobia, huge spanish mackerel (5-7 lbs.), and even a few sailfish are feeding alongside the kings, so anglers should be prepared for some variety when fishing the river channel right now.
The gag grouper bite’s been solid within 20 miles of the beaches, and anglers are hooking most of their fish on live baits like pogies.
Luke Donat with a 6.18 lb. flounder he hooked at the Masonboro jetties on a live bait.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there’s been a solid king mackerel bite 5-10 miles off the beach at Wrightsville and Topsail (with decent numbers of fish in the 20-30 lb. class). Skirted cigar minnows are fooling most of the mackerel.
The spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been nearly automatic right behind the breakers, and anglers are catching the fish while trolling Clarkspoons and while casting lures like Maria jigs to the breaking schools of fish.
Danny, of 96 Charter Company, reports an excellent speckled trout bite in the Cape Fear River. The fish are feeding around the grass islands, oyster rocks, and other structure in the river, and anglers are hooking them on soft plastics, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures.
Some red drum are mixed in with the specks and falling for the same lures.
Anglers are hooking some flounder in the sound behind Wrightsville and Topsail, and live finger mullet or Gulp baits will fool the flatties.
Rob, of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that live-baiters have landed several king mackerel from the pier over the past few weeks.
Plug casters are hooking excellent numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel from the pier.
Some large pompano (2+ lbs.) have also been falling for pink Gotcha plugs lately.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are decking a few flounder.
Bottom fishermen are hooking up with a handful of spot and whiting, with the best action at night. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling the bottom feeders.
