Tuesday, October 9, 2012

With Fall Fishing getting ready to go off, I want to thank all my clients from this past summer. It was a pleasure to be able to serve you and hope to be able to help you in the future. Over the last few weeks the bait fish have been pouring down the beach. Large schools of mullet, menhaden and all types of smaller bait fish have been all over Wrightsville and surrounding beaches. There have been some schools of False Albacore, Spanish and Red Drum caught along very close to shore and Masonboro Inlet. Speckled Trout should be showing up in numbers soon along the beach and in the Cape Fear River. Flounder and Red Drum are biting well in the Cape Fear River and with the arrival of the Stripers and Speckled Trout, that makes the Cape Fear Grand Slam possible on any giving day. I am still booking trips for Fall Fishing, don't miss out on the action.

Here's a heads up on the 2013 Cape Fear Striper Invitational which is scheduled for January 18 and 19th, 2013. http://www.capefearriverwatch.org/news-events/striperfest-2013
This is a great tournament and is always a good time for all that participate, great food and auction. It is also an excellent way to help bring back this once great fishery to it's former glory. If your interested in fishing this event you can call me or contact the awesome staff at Cape Fear River Watch.

Thanks Again For a Great Season,
Captain Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
Wilmington, N.C.
910 619 2224

Friday, April 27, 2012


 Cape Fear Fishing Report:  Upper river is still holding a few Striped Bass along with some slot drum and the occasional trout.  More reports of trout from the lower Cape Fear. Their have also been a few flounders starting to bite in the river as well.  The drum have been biting in the bays and outer creek areas.

Wrightsville Beach Fishing Report:  The Spanish Mackerel have been here some days big and some days not so big.  A friend of mine out of Carolina Beach busted up some nice Spanish near CB inlet this week.  There have been a few reports of some decent drum bites along the waterway as well. 

Fishing News:  World Record Yellow Fin caught off Mexico but will not count in the IGFA records due to mate assisting during the catch.  More info at http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2012/04/yellowfin-tuna-is-enormous-4279-pounds-but-no-record.html .  Bummer on the record but he is still eating like a champ for a while.  A massive Great White caught in the Sea of Cortez.  http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2012/04/great-white-shark-catches-appear-on-the-rise-sea-of-cortez-.html .  Yikes!!!

Good Luck Fishing,
Capt Danny Wrenn
96Charter
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224

Monday, April 16, 2012

Wrightsville Beach and Cape Fear River Fishing Report

Nearshore: The Spanish bite has been on for the last week or so and the Bonito are here as well.  The bonito have been good up off Topsail. Water Temps in the upper 60's from the beach to 20 miles offshore.
A report of some Kings near Wrightsville Beach.  That might have been a fluke but I did hear of some caught.
Inshore: The redfish bite had been good in the Wrightsville Beach area.  Some flounder and Trout being caught down south as well.  The river is putting out catches of red and trout.  I sure you can find a Flounder or two if you spend some time for them. 

Berkley gulp in white and new penny shrimp and jerk shad.  There has been some nice schools of perfect menhaden in the river. 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

fishing report and new issue report

Wrightsville Beach Fishing report:  there have been some drum in the waterway and in the surf (64 deg water).  Some nice catches of Virginia mullet along the beach and off Johnny Mercers pier.  A bit early for Spanish and Bonito but with the water temps on the rise it won't be long.  Maybe this year the Bonito will hit Wrightsville Beach in force, but over the last few years Topsail and North have been more productive. 

Cape Fear River report:  The trout fishing is picking up.  If you know where to go there have been some nice catches reported.  If you don't I would start trolling your favorite had plastic along 10-15 foot drops and add a variety of lure colors to find what they want "today".  There have been some nice drum caught and I heard of a few Flounder as well. 

The new issue of This is Fly is out.  If you didn't see the write up on Feb 15th go back and check it out. You can also click on the mag cover below, it will send you straight to the new issue.


happy fishing,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224

Thursday, March 22, 2012

FISHING REPORT

The wind had finally laid out and some guys ran to the break this week.  One friend had a great mixed bag trip offshore with bottom fish, wahoo, sailfish and jacks.  Kept clients busy all day.  A commercial guy had 4-5 boxes of kings and some blackfin.

Inshore/Nearshore:  There are some drum cruising the beaches and lots of Virginia mullet at the inlets and deep holes in the surf.  Have not heard of any trout this week but many are tight lipped when it comes to trout reports. I bet they are still in the surf, just not a Wrightsville try CB or Topsail.  High Tide, deeper pockets near good rips and MirrOlures.  What color?  I would have white (51) green (18) blue (24) red 26 redhead (11) firehead (11fgo) for cleaner water.  If the water is really stained maybe the 750, 801, 808 or HP.  If I had to pick only one it would be the 51TT.  All of the above colors come in the TT model, except the 801.  I like those little dots. 

Cape Fear:  The Stripers are still hanging out in the usual places and the catfish seem to be on a frenzy. So if catfishing is your game the Cape Fear River maybe the call for you. 

Cool Stuff: I found another cool web magazine

Simon Graham is the guys name and his blog is www.pikeflyfishingarticles.blogspot.com/ .  This fly pattern is very similar to a fly I use for Cobia and Amber Jack.  It could be up or down sized for lots of fish.  He has some sweet flies and I guess if you are ever in the Baltic you could look him up. 

Happy Fishing
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224

Saturday, March 17, 2012

march 11 fishing report

Fishing Report:  Not from my own eyes, didn't have a chance the last two weeks to get out. 
but the word is the Upper Cape Fear is still kicking out a mixed bag of Stripers, Reds, Blue Cats. 
The lower Cape Fear has been still producing some Speckled Trout and Reds. The trout, I was told were being caught by some Old Timers.  I guess they know where to go. 

Offshore Guys have been foaming to go but weather was holding them back.  Some were supposedly going yesterday and Thursday but I have not heard any reports, SORRY.  I'll get on that though.

JM pier:  Virginia Mullet and Skates.  First drum was caught this week.  No trout. 

The new Surfcasters Journal is out.  If you have not checked this out, you should.  http://www.surfcastersjournal.com/
all things surf fishing with a focus on the NE surf fishing scene.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

fishing reports and some news

Wrightsville Beach, Cape Fear River and Offshore waters Fishing Report:
The wind has been blowing over the last few days.  If we get a couple offshore wind days it could be worth a ride along Wrightsville beach, Masonboro or Lea Island  for some drum in the surf.  Maybe even some specks as I have heard of a few guys still catching the specks in the surf,  but I have not seen any myself.  So the offshore fishing has been slow from the guys I have talked to the last few days.  The river has still been the same with mixed catches by trollers and casters.  Talked a buddy of mine that was Striper trolling and landed a 25# Blue cat gotta love the mixed bag catches we have had this winter.  No reports from the lower bays at this time but I'll bet if you get nice day you can probably find a few reds hanging on some oyster bars somewhere down there.


Fishing News:  new knotless hook.  see http://www.jackhooks.com/  the set up was developed as a way to help in eye surgery and one of the guys working on the project.  looks kinda cool but at 15.95/6 hooks (2.66/hook) I think mustad is safe for a while. 

                      for you sushi eaters look out for "white tuna or super white tuna"  at your local sushi bar.  The fish is really an escolar, the species Lepidocybium flavobrunneum,  from the family Gempylidae.  It is known for its buttery flavor and oil rich flesh, but look out that butter flavor comes from the fishes inability to process a waxy ester compound found in it's diet and when consumed can give you the oily dukes, runney butt.  While this fish has been known to cause this problem it is allowed to be sold in the US and has appearently been showing up in resturants without the name escolar and they are calling it white or super white tuna.  It is supposedly delicious but remember the catch.  Maybe if you need a good cleaning out have some. 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

crazy weather

Sorry no pics   Had a trip yesterday with four great gentlemen.  3 of the 4 grew up together and 1 was an Air Force buddy of one the 3. The stories were non-stop all morning.  After several trips over the last couple of weeks, also with some great clients, with very limited success via casting soft /hard baits without a trolling motor.  I was beginning to think the River was mad at me.  Rather than try to fish the low tide via casting, again without a trolling motor,  I decided to troll some early to see what we could find.  First pass along a favorite stretch got us a nice 5 lbs Striper, reloaded and passed again got us a nice 18" Speckled Trout??? yep, Feb 28 cape fear river speckled trout, love global warming.  After another 3 nice striped bass, 2 more lost ones, and a lost drum, i think.  we called it a day.  All but one was hooked while trolling and the lost drum? was hooked casting some soft plastic baits.  Crazy Winter.

Water Temps
Cape Fear River yesterday @ 12pm  was 57 degs
Johnny Mercers Pier right now 56 degs

Red buds and Daffodils have been blooming for about a month
Azaleas are blooming at my house right now. 
I don't know what the weather is going to be like in March and April but it is beautiful right now.


Later,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96Charter Co.
910.619.2224
Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Cape Fear River
North Carolina

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

something new, to me anyway

"this is fly", http://www.thisisfly.com/ where punk music, skateboarding and flyfishing collide.  this is a sweet little e-mag that has about 8 issues out to date and a cool blog.  check 'em out and donate to the cause if you like it.  http://www.thisisflydaily.com/ is the link for the blog and hit the shop button on the mag and you can check out some of the gear.

Water Temps, along Wrihtsville beach and the Cape Fear River are cruising down to the lower 50's after the weekend cold snap.  The reports I have been getting are the same experiences I have had over the last couple weeks.  Hit and miss, a good day and one not so good.  Been a few weeks since the last drum has been to the boat but I'll bet they're still around. 

No surf, no fishing, just working on the river and looking at e-mags about flyfishing for Tiger Fish and Tarpon, Steelhead and Bonefish.  Welcome to the Winter Blues.

Later,
Capt. Danny
96 Charter Co
910-619-2224

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2days late but not too short



love these trees, even if the fish don't


love this Wrightsville Beach sunset
   Cape Fear Striper Tournament has come and gone. We caught a few puppy drum and lost a nice Striped Bass at the boat.  My guys Rod and Larry, they fished hard all day long, had a good time and at least got to see a nice fish even if we lost it at the boat.  The NE Cape Fear didn't seem to be wanting to give up her fish on Saturday.  There were a few caught but the majority came from the Cape Fear closer to downtown.  The banquet Friday night had a great turn out and raised a nice bit of cash for The Cape Fear River Watch.  The food was great and the auctions had some really great art and crafts as well as some nice fishing gear.  Thanks to everyone that put in the time to make this a great event and for letting me be a part of it for the 4th year in a row. 
  Then me and Odog hit it on Monday, out of school for MLK Day, I got this over slot Red Drum and O got a nice little Striped Bass in the first hour or so of fishing.  We scratched around for a few more bites and then picked up a friend and his son for the afternoon and the NE went barren again.

Heard there were still some trout in surf the other day.  Water Temp 53 in the surf and the river.

Capt. Danny Wrenn
910.619.2224

Monday, January 9, 2012

lure building contest

i was tying some flies tonight and thinking about striped bass.  i decided to take a break and check out one of the master fishermen, at least in my book, to see what he was up to.  He host a web site http://www.huntforbigfish.com/index.html  with lure building forum.  I stumbled upon this for the
lure makers out there.   see larry dahlbergs site at http://www.makelure.com/BuildOff.cfm for information.  build it fish it catch'em on your own shit. 

kinda like building your own surfboards.  see http://www.slipfin.blogspot.com/ and http://www.roostershack.blogspot.com/

Later,
Capt. Danny Wrenn

New Year New Post

  Man are we lucky, after a brief cold snap with temps in the upper 20's and highs in the 40's,it's back to the 70's over the last week and a half.  The beach water temps dropped from the upper 50's to 53 and have leveled off with the warm spell.  Striped Bass catches have been good in the river, there are some speckled trout still in the surf.  Reds and flounder are still being caught in the waterway north of Wrightsville Beach and down S of Carolina Beach.  I have not heard of any trout down river but I'll bet someone has seen a few.  Commercial King fisherman are having great to fair days when they get to run offshore.  The Bluefin bite is further to the north this year and Striped Bass, I have heard, are doing it off the Outer Banks.
new gear
  I am getting ready for the 4th Annual Cape Fear Riverwatch Striped Bass Tournament http://www.cfrw.us/stripertourney.html.  Hopefully the weather will hold and we'll not have some crazy ass cold front blow everything up.  It's due to happen be we can hope to get through this weekend with the same pattern and catches should be good if it holds.  I just got some new Shimano Sahara 3000's to replace some gummed up spheros' (Thanks Frank at Intracoastal Angler) and some more secret weapons to replace some lost ones.  More later and hopefully a nice plaque my anglers and myself.

Later,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
910.619.2224