The fishing and catching the past week has been consistent for anglers fishing both offshore and inshore, but it has definitely not been perfect. Sea conditions for those heading offshore were doable for those who had boats large enough to break the chop. Inshore, surf and pier fishing was very doable when conditions permitted. The main problem plaguing anglers was the multiple thunderstorms coming through the area. Cold fronts are usually a welcome sign to anglers this time of year, as they normally stimulate the fish to bite prior to their arrival. But this year has seen an onslaught of thunderstorms with the fronts, and lighting is never a welcome guest to anyone fishing in a boat or from the pier or beach. The extended forecast is calling for another front to arrive and storms to start subsiding during the first part of the weekend. With cooler temperatures also on the way, the fishing might be good just after the fireworks have stopped. Water temperatures have dipped into the lower 80s.
Offshore, wahoo continue to be the main species targeted by blue water anglers. The wahoo have been plentiful, and several boats have reported finding their limits of fish in areas such as the Same Ole Hole and Swansboro Hole. Dolphin have been abundant in the same areas and are also found closer to the beach starting around 25 miles out. The bottom fishing has been steady in depths starting around 100 feet and gets better the further offshore you go. As has been the case most of the summer, bottom fish are being found closer in than that but anglers are having to work through an abundance of sharks in order to catch anything worthwhile.
Inshore, the flounder and drum fishing continues to be good to very good, depending on the day. Many anglers are finding fish around the docks, while others working the creeks are also having luck. Now it’s become more of a preference of bait for the angler rather than what’s working best. Those who know how to use artificial and don’t mind doing a little more work are catching fish just fine, while those using live baits are having just as much luck. Again, it’s what works for the individual and what one is used to. Areas in the Cape Fear River are producing some better quality-sized flounder, as is normally the case, but the inlets around Wrightsville Beach are finally starting to show decent-sized fish as well.
Surf and pier anglers are finding red drum in the sloughs on cut bait as well, along with a few flounder here and there coming on live minnows. Bottom fishermen using fresh shrimp are catching some nice-sized Virginia mullet with some assorted sized spots and croakers mixed in.
