By Skylar Walters
Cold weather was bound to happen but it hasn’t significantly impacted the fishing just yet, other than bringing some wind and making anglers don long pants and jackets. Water temperatures have finally dipped into the upper 60s, around where they should be for this time of year, and the water quality has gotten back to near normal. While the overnight temperatures continue to be on the cool side, the daytime temps have been pleasant and helped to regulate any steep decline in water temps. The extended forecast shows this will continue for the coming week as well.
Inshore, the fishing has been outstanding, with speckled trout, red drum, black drum and flounder all being reported in very good numbers. The trout fishing has been steady for weeks around the Wrightsville Beach area and beyond. Good-sized fish of 2-4 pounds have been common catches with some larger fish in the mix. Just about any soft artificial bait dropped where the fish are present will draw some interest. The deeper creeks and channels are holding fish as are the inlets along the mud banks. Falling tide seems to be best but the fish can also be caught at other times. Red drum are being found around the area docks and around the jetties with some larger over-slot fish still being encountered. Cut bait or live finger mullet fished on a Carolina Rig is a good bet to draw a strike. Cut bait and shrimp is also catching some decent-sized black drum around the docks, bridges and oyster beds.
Along the surf, anglers are finding some very large Virginia mullet in the sloughs and deeper holes with shrimp and sand fleas both catching them. A few pompano have also been reported, but with the water cooling, these fish are leaving the local waters. Red drum, flounder and bluefish have also been reported coming from the surf with cut bait and finger mullet being the best baits. Those looking for blowfish will be pleased to know that their numbers have been increasing the past couple of weeks. The area piers are reporting similar catches along with a few keeper speckled trout.
Off the beach, some king mackerel are still being found around the inlets but most fish have moved off to the 10-mile area where fishing has been on fire when the boats can get there. Slow trolled dead cigar minnows or Spanish sardines are a good bet and will get you to the fishing grounds faster than trying to locate live bait. Further off the beach, the bottom fishing has been good in the 30-mile range while the Gulf Stream waters have been producing some decent action from wahoo and a few tuna. Due to weather conditions, reports have been sporadic the past couple of weeks but when the boats can get out there, the fishing has been good. Â
