96 Charter Company: Wrightsville Beach Fishing Report

Monday, February 23, 2009

Wrightsville Beach Fishing Report

2/23/09

Fish are still biting well in the Cape Fear Region. Good reports of solid Red and Black drum in the Wrightsville Beach area. There were some nice trout being caught at Carolina Beach until a local netter found out and wrapped up the school. There still should be some around it just might be harder to find. There have also been some small trout up near Topsail Island. The Black Sea Bass were thick out on ledges near WR4 a couple of weeks ago along with some nice schools of False Albacore. Oh yeah, the Striped Bass and Red Drum are still in the Cape Fear. There have been some nice 10-15 lb fish caught this month and lots of 2-5 lb fish.

I have spent most of my time in the river with the one trip offshore on the Sea Bass. I have fished the river with three friends mostly if not solo. Allen Riggan made a trip with me and my son where we explored some new areas for a couple of hours and my son landed his first Striped Bass, a nice 22" schoolie. This was the only bite we got all day and of course the little one got to reel it up.

I made a few quick day trips during the week landing several small fish. I decided to throw out some plugs while moving to a different area one day and good thing, there was a nice fat 28" fish lying on the bottom and decided to play.

We went last Sunday in the middle of the day when the wind was howling. Gary Hurley, editor/owner of the Fisherman's Post and fishing buddy Capt. Travis Dant. We hit the first creek, with the wind blowing 20 knots and his 5th cast Travis pulls out a nice 28" Striped Bass. Little did we know that would be the only one for the rest of the day. The wind was gusting up to 30kts and there was little relief in sight but we kept at it but could not put together to get another fish as the front push through with gusto.

2/24/09 Travis, Capt Jamie Rushing and myself were supposed to have a guide day chasing Reds in the surf but the wind said, "NO!" The morning breeze was up enough that it was going to make sight fishing the surf next to impossible but surely uncomfortable. We opted to, guess what, hit the river. 9:00a.m. and not much time since I had a commitment at 14:00 we had to bust out some good spots to find the fish quick. Jamie struck first with a nice 25" Striper and then Travis put one in my face directly after Jamie. I could not buy a bite. We wandered around for a while and it seemed that the bite was lost. I switched baits several times until finally the right pattern was found for me and a nice 22" came boat side with nice crankbait in its side. I had fowled hooked it as it slashed the little Bomber crankbait. Then after several more casts I found the right angle and another schoolie slammed it and I gave it the Bass Pro hook set. A few minutes later another hard fighting schoolie came boat side.