Fishing conditions the past week have allowed anglers to head out to just about anywhere their vessels can safely take them. From near shore to offshore, there are plentiful reports of fish catching. Unfortunately, as is Mother Nature’s typical pattern, the weekend weather wasn’t all that great for every boater, and right on schedule, the workweek conditions look fabulous, with the exception of thunderstorms in the forecast, so caution should be exercised when venturing out. Water temperatures cooled just a tad last week but have rebounded back into the mid 80s.
Along the beaches, numerous king mackerel were caught off of area piers the past week, including a pier record 50-pound fish caught off of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier. Unfortunately, the fish comes with some controversy, as reported last week, but things seem to have calmed down just a tad, so this report on that fish will be brief. Apparently, the fish was brought to the pier dead and those attempting to gaff the fish were unsuccessful. Even more unfortunate, the hooks came out of the fish and it sank. The next day, the dead fish surfaced in the same area, but was able to be gaffed and the same angler that had hooked the fish the day before was present. The fish was then landed and after some debate, the fish was deemed the new pier record. Of course, there was a lot of discussion as to what to do; but with no money on the line, the fish was declared a pier record. While some anglers may not agree the fish was in fact caught, it’s now a moot point and in reality, the pier owner has the right to make the rules, so enough said on that topic.
Elsewhere, inshore fishing has been pretty much on fire if fishing for flounder is your game. Lots of baitfish this time of year normally mean lots of flounder, and there doesn’t seem to be a lack of either. The lower Cape Fear River is producing the quantity and quality fish, as it normally does if you know where to fish, but areas around Wrightsville Beach are also showing some good signs, with plenty of keeper fish being landed around the inlets and area docks. There has also been some great red drum fishing in the same areas, but they have been more hit or miss with the warmer water temperatures.
Offshore, in areas around the Gulf Stream, the wahoo have once again been the topic of conversation, with plenty of decent-sized fish being landed. Some dolphin have also been reported as well as a few billfish. With the warm water temperatures, any sort of rip or temperature break are good places to drop the first bait.
The bottom fishing has also been good, with reports of some African pompano, grouper and amberjack being caught around the ledges and structure in depths around 130 feet, while areas a bit shallower will result in some black sea bass, snapper and some grouper and other assorted bottom dwellers.
Surf fishing is starting to pick up with mainly Virginia mullet and a few croakers and spot.
