53.3 F
Wrightsville Beach
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hook, line and sinker

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The year is quickly winding down and limited fishing opportunities have sent most anglers’ fishing gear to the garage or shed to wait out yet another winter season. But for those fishermen stubborn enough to not relinquish the season, the fishing has been relatively good, you just need to know what’s available and how to fish for it.

Water temperatures are still hanging around 55 degrees, which is plenty warm for several species of fish in our area. The mid-week weather looks somewhat dreary, but most time will no doubt be spent with friends and family during the Christmas week. However, the weekend weather is looking rather fabulous, especially for late December, and might be a prime opportunity to try out some of that new fishing gear you might be receiving.

Unfortunately the offshore weather has not been that cooperative for boaters lately, with only a few small windows for anglers to try their luck. There have been some very decent reports of nearshore grouper biting, within 20 miles of the beach, and black sea bass are always eager to take the offering. Further off the beach, the area around Frying Pan Tower is holding king mackerel, amberjack and assorted bottom dwellers. Further out in the Gulf Stream, blackfin tuna have been fairly numerous when the anglers can find them. One species that entails all of the areas covered is sharks, and lots of them, so if you manage to head out, make sure you are prepared with enough tackle and enough bait as the sharks have become rather bothersome.

Inshore fishing seems to have slowed a little, which is to be expected considering the time of year. But the good news is it hasn’t stopped, and with the extended forecast the fishing looks to continue right on into the New Year.

Speckled trout are still biting rather well in the lower Cape Fear River with both keeper and undersized fish being reported. Hard baits such as MirrOlures fished in the deeper waters and soft artificials fished in both deep and shallow water are producing fish in the creeks and channels. Areas around Wrightsville Beach are also producing some fish but most are on the small side with a few larger fish coming from the surf and around the Masonboro Inlet jetties. Reports of schooling red drum in the surf have also started filtering through. These fish can be targeted with both bucktails and weighted spoons.

For those fishing with bait, such as shrimp, the Virginia mullet fishing has been decent with reports of plenty of fish in the 1 pound range coming from the surf. There have been some larger fish reported, and while a few have been caught on shrimp, most have come from sand fleas.

If your plans don’t include fishing in the next two or three months, then the upcoming fishing schools might pique your interest. When the report returns in the New Year, we’ll give you some information on what’s on the books, but until then have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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