Fishing Report: Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Forecast and Info-March 2026

March is a month of watching the weather forecast and like the weather the fishing can be the same too.  So far “warmish” weather, but in March that can change quickly!!  Yeah, you know the NC weather roller-coaster!!   Same with the fishing; One day slow fishing the next they are jumping in the boat! Here are the species I like to target during March around Southeast NC area waters.

In March the Redfish finally start to move around a little more than they have all winter.  Not that they do not move around in the winter; they just start to show up in place’s they like during warmer times of the year.  This is the time of the year you need to get out and find where the Redfish are going and are showing up.  In the cooler months I have seen crustacean patterns work better for Redfish; since these baits are a little easier to catch, than say baits like fish pattern lures.

March is another mouth when Cape Fear River Striped Bass fishing will pick up.  The Striper size is very mixed during early spring.   In March the Stripers will start to move in to shallower waters, I look for the Stripers in three to eight feet of water during early spring.  This is when you need to also shallow up your presentation, go lighter with you tackle.  I prefer Berkley PowerBait five-inch Cullshad *see here SW colors https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 and FW colors https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc .  Gulp jerkshad in six-inch; I use colors pearl & chart pepper neon (Gulp), and Crazy chrome Violet. *See here  https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp . Using a swimbait hook in sizes 6/0 or 7/0 in ¼ or 3/8 ounce should put a Striper on the end of your line.  I prefer Trokar TK 170 swimbait hooks. *See here Trokar Magnum Weighted Swimbait Hook with Spring Bait Keeper – Eagle Claw  You can also cast mid-water crank baits that dive three to eight feet, do not let the lure drag the bottom to much or you will lose your lure to a stump or log!  Look for Cape Fear River Stripers around mud-flat edges, bulk-heads, creeks, and shallow reed-grass edges on sunny warmer days. CFR Stripers are closed to keep; catch and release only. Keep your eyes out for tagged Stripers, there are quite a few out there!

Do not count out a nice Speckled trout during the month of March! But what is a trout going to hit in March?  This is when you need to know where to start; what lures to try?  One of my favorites is the good’ole MirrOlure; it has been around a long time, and it is still catching fish, but if it is cold so work them SLOW!  The patterns I prefer are the 17MR, 18MR, 52M and 52MR.  Colors: MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go too colors in clearer area waters.  MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, CFPR, CH, EC, HP.  Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes. Best depths to use these lures; 17MR use these lures in two to six feet of water.  18MR, 52M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth-teen plus feet of water.

Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps are cool.  Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Turbo shrimp.  Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, nuclear chicken, pink belly and flamingo chrome. See all Saltwater Gulp here: https://alnk.to/6mPofv6 

The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far.  I worked on this project, and I am really excited about these lures.  There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a new saltwater scent: different from the regular PowerBait scent.  I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series!  Electric chicken and sight flash colors have worked well for me lately.  *See here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1

I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

There is another kind of fishing I like to try in March but there is no saltwater involved.  I like to hit the upper Northeast Cape Fear River and Sutton Lake the do a little Large-mouth bass fishing.  If you want to try something different try some bass fishing, they are a lot of fun to catch on lighter tackle.  Most of the time I use heavy sink worms, Berkley Powerbait MaxScent “The General” *See here https://alnk.to/af1STVJ   in colors black, cinnamon purple, green pumpkin watermelon and green pumpkin candy red. I rig these sinko style worms with a 6/0 Eagle Claw wide bend worm hook with no weight.  Work these worms very slowly off banks and stump beds.  If you like to fly fish, try slow sinking small minnow patterns along the grass flats in Sutton Lake on cloudy or foggy days.

Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs or Slammer IV https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j Spinning reels sizes 2500, 3000, 3500. Low profile bait-caster PENN Fathom 200 size  https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH for the Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass. Fenwick HMG Inshore 7’ medium rods 8-to-15-pound class *see here https://alnk.to/4MClHmk and line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten or fifteen; Berkley Pro Spec Fluorocarbon leader for leaders; 20 pound for trout and 30 for all other species. Tackle Storage I prefer, Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with the NEW, much lighter in weight and waterproof StowAway’s!! https://alnk.to/2QA3HPH

Thanks for reading, Happy Spring, stay warm or cool and good fishing to you!

Posted in Fishing Reports on March 2nd, 2026

Fishing Report: Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Report/Forecast-February 2026

Well, if you have lived here all of your life, like myself you know we used to have winters like the one we are having this year.  I’m not saying we got snow all the time especially eight to twenty plus inches like this most recent storm.  But we had winter, a week or sometimes weeks with temperatures in the twenties even teens at night.  Yes, it was common.  With this said I remember in my early days as a fishing guide, just sitting around working, cleaning and studding up on fishing tackle with winters like this one.  I have always said when it comes to winter fishing in NC.  “Pick your Fishing days following weather patterns!”  Especially during winter mouths!  This winter more like pick your months!  And with this said, not much has changed how February is to last month’s report/forecast (January) Here is a rundown of how a fish February around Southeast North Carolina, when weather conditions allow!

Cape Fear River Striped Bass are one of my favorites for winter fishing in our area. I look for the Stripers on drop offs, grass banks, around pilings and creek mouths. Working baits like Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshad or the Berkley Powerbait CullShad should get you bites from Striped Bass and Redfish.  I prefer chart pepper neon, Fire tiger and fool’s gold colors for the jerkshad *See here https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp  I use fresh water and saltwater CullShad colors for the Striped Bass fishing. Berkley Power Bait CullShad saltwater colors *See here  https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 and freshwater colors *see here https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc  I rig my jerkshad and CullShad lures on swimbait 7/0 TroKar TK-170 hooks, in 1/4oz or 3/8oz *see here TroKar TK170   Mid water crank baits work too, try lures that dive from three to eight feet deep for best results.  If the crank bait starts to hit the bottom let it float up a bit or trust me, you will lose it to structure!  The river is loaded with timber!  Water temps I am looking for 55 to 45 degrees, but I have caught the stripers as low as 39.  Do not forget that the Cape Fear River Striped Bass fishery is a closed fishery and is catch & release only; you must release all Striped Bass.  Keep your eyes out for tagged Stripers there are a lot of tagged fish out there, some even have $100 Red Tags!!

There is one fish that can be caught easily (sometimes) during the winter months, if you find them! The Redfish bite can be some of the best of the year for catching numbers of fish; the deal breaker for this fishery is you have got to have good weather, calm seas, and bright sunny skies for the ocean schools. I find the winter ocean Reds around the inlets, sand bars, up and down the beaches in the surf line. I use Berkley Gulp paddleshad in colors black gold or black silver *see here https://alnk.to/c09aeMg  also, the Berkley Gulp three- & four-inch Shrimp *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  work well too both rigged on 3/8oz jig heads. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg   A MirrOlure Catch 2000Jr or 2000 lures work well for winter surf Redfish too.

During winter months I look for schooling Redfish on sunny, warmer, and light wind days.  I find these schools on oyster rocks/flats, dark mud bottoms and shallow flats just off the ICW.  The Reds will sun on these dark colored bottom areas for a little extra warm up; this is also where you will see some bait fish doing the same thing (warming up).  Winter Reds are not hard to find, but sometimes when you find them they wont’s bite.  My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grubs like the Berkley Gulp Dragon tail  https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx  or Gulp shrimp https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  Redfish love these things. Rig grubs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray should get the redfish to bite for you.  I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  Work’em slow as to not spoke the Redfish.  Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for that stubborn winter Redfish may help you get a bite.  Hey, yes even I resort to bait sometimes…

There is one fish that a lot of anglers overlook during the winter months, the Black Drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and there pretty darn good to eat! On top of all that they can be easy to catch; all you need is a little fresh (as you can get) shrimp. I use a light Carolina rig with an Eagle claw L42 #1 or #2 hook. Light meaning using as light as a sinker that you can get away with so as not to spook the drum. Fish around docks, oyster rock flats and inlets for these Black Drum; often you will catch Redfish and Sheepshead (smaller) mixed in as well.

You can find a good winter Speckled trout bite, but it takes the right weather pattern for good results.  A few warmer days in a row and the bite tends to pick up.  Here are some ways I like to target Speckled trout during the winter months. Colors; MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go to colors around Southeast NC area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, 706, CFPR, CH, EC, HP.  Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes or at MirrOlure.com.  I’m really loving the new 17MR Chameleon series!!  *See here: NEW! Chameleon Series Mirrodine  Fishing Depths to use these lures; 17MR & 22MR use these lures in two to six feet of water (suspending). 18MR, 51M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth teen plus feet of water with current (sinking). If your lure is hitting the bottom go to a shallower running lure (suspending type).  If the water is in the 50’s slow down your presentation. I am a firm believer in “you can work a MirrOlure to fast, you really can’t work them to slow.”  Especially fishing colder water temps!

Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps drop.  Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Dragon tail!  Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, Sangria & Scooby. In the Dragon tail I really like the colors scooby, sangria, big money, and key lime chrome. See the Dragon tail here https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx

The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far.  I worked on this project and I am really excited about these lures.  There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a saltwater scent: different from the regular PowerBait scent.  I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series! *Check out the Bonga series here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1

I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs and Slammer IV Spinning https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j reels in sizes 2000, 2500, 3000 & 3500.  Low profile bait-caster PENN Fathom 200 size  https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH, if that is your game!  Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass Rods: Fenwick Inshore HMG 7’ medium action *See here  https://alnk.to/biuF0uB  (Redfish & Striped Bass), Also check out the New Fenwick Eagle Inshore series *See here https://alnk.to/1Y04qa8  line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in eight- or ten-pound test for Speckled trout fishing and ten and fifth-teen pound for Reds/Stripers.  Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.

Thanks for reading, Stay warm and good fishing to you!

Posted in Fishing Reports on February 2nd, 2026

Fishing Report: Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Report-January 2026

This winter so far has been like a lot of winters past, a Roller Coaster Ride!!  One-week chilly, next week nice and warm!  It you have followed me for anytime; you know what I’m going to say.  “Pick your Fishing days by following weather patterns!”  Especially during the winter mouths!  Here is a rundown of how I fish January around Southeast North Carolina.

Cape Fear River Striped Bass are one of my favorites for winter fishing in our area. I look for the Stripers on drop offs, grass banks, around pilings and creek mouths. Working baits like Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshad or the Berkley Powerbait CullShad should get you bites from Striped Bass and Redfish.  I prefer chart pepper neon, Fire tiger and fool’s gold colors for the jerkshad *See here https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp  I use fresh water and saltwater CullShad colors for the Striped Bass fishing. Berkley Power Bait CullShad saltwater colors *See here  https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 and freshwater colors *see here https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc  I rig my jerkshad and CullShad lures on swimbait 6/0 &7/0 TroKar TK-170 hooks, in 1/4oz or 3/8oz *see here TroKar TK170   Mid water crank baits work too, try lures that dive from three to eight feet deep for best results.  If the crank bait starts to hit the bottom let it float up a bit or trust me, you will lose it to structure!  The river is loaded with timber!  Water temps I look for is 55 to 45 degrees, but I have caught the stripers as low as 39.  Do not forget that the Cape Fear River Striped Bass fishery is a closed fishery and is catch & release only; you must release all Striped Bass.  Keep your eyes out for tagged Stripers there are a lot of tagged fish out there, some even have $100 Red Tags!!

There is one fish that can be caught easily (sometimes) during the winter months; if you find them! Redfish bite can be some of the best of the year for catching numbers of fish; the deal breaker for this fishery is you have got to have good weather, calm seas, and bright sunny skies for the ocean schools. I find the winter ocean Reds around the inlets, sand bars, up and down the beaches in the surf line. I use Berkley Gulp paddleshad in colors black gold or black silver *see here https://alnk.to/c09aeMg  also, the Berkley Gulp three- & four-inch Shrimp *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  work well too both rigged on 3/8oz jig heads. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg   A MirrOlure Catch 2000Jr or 2000 lures work well for winter surf Redfish too.  A great pair of Sunglasses is a deal breaker when looking for Redfish schools!  Take a look at a pair of Smith’s, I promise if you try them, you’ll love them!!! See here:  Smith Optics

During winter months I look for schooling Redfish on sunny, warmer, and light wind days.  I find these schools on oyster rocks/flats, dark mud bottoms and shallow flats just off the ICW.  The Reds will sun on these dark colored bottom areas for a little extra warm up; this is also where you will see some bait fish doing the same thing (warming up).  Winter Reds are not hard to find, but sometimes when you find them they wont’s bite.  My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grubs like the Berkley Gulp Dragon tail  https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx  or Gulp shrimp https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  Redfish love these things. Rig grubs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray should get the redfish to bite for you.  I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  Work’em slow as to not spoke the Redfish.  Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for that stubborn winter Redfish may help you get a bite.  Hey, yes even I resort to bait sometimes…

There is one fish that a lot of anglers over look during the winter months, the Black Drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and there pretty darn good to eat! On top of all that they can be easy to catch; all you need is a little fresh (as you can get) shrimp. I use a light Carolina rig with an Eagle claw L42 #1 or #2 hook. Light meaning using as light as a sinker that you can get away with so as not to spook the drum. Fish around docks, oyster rock flats and inlets for these Black Drum; often you will catch Redfish and Sheepshead (smaller) mixed in as well.

With a roller coaster winter so far in Southeast NC. You can find a good winter Speckled trout bite, but it takes the right weather pattern for good results.  A few warmer days in a row and the bite tends to pick up.  Here are some ways I like to target Speckled trout during the winter months. MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go to colors around Southeast NC area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, 706, CFPR, CH, EC, HP.  Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes or at MirrOlure.com.  I’m really loving the new 17MR Chameleon series!!  *See here: NEW! Chameleon Series Mirrodine  Fishing Depths to use these lures; 17MR & 22MR use these lures in two to six feet of water (suspending). 18MR, 51M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth teen plus feet of water with current (sinking). If your lure is hitting the bottom go to a shallower running lure (suspending type).  If the water is in the 50’s slow down your presentation. I am a firm believer in “you can work a MirrOlure to fast, you really can’t work them to slow.”  Especially fishing colder water temps!

Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps drop.  Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Dragon tail!  Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, Sangria & Scooby. In the Dragon tail I really like the colors scooby, sangria, big money, and key lime chrome. See the Dragon tail here https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx

The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far.  I worked on this project and I am really excited about these lures.  There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a saltwater scent; different from the regular PowerBait scent.  I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series! *Check out the Bonga series here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1

I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs and Slammer IV Spinning https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j reels in sizes 2000, 2500, 3000 & 3500.  Low profile bait-caster PENN Fathom 200 size  https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH, if that is your game!  Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass Rods: Fenwick Inshore HMG 7’ medium action *See here  https://alnk.to/biuF0uB  (Redfish & Striped Bass), Speckled Trout Fenwick Eagle rod series in 7’ medium action https://alnk.to/4MClHmk,  line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in eight- or ten-pound test for Speckled trout fishing and ten and fifth-teen pound for Reds/Stripers.  Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.

Thanks for reading, Happy New Year!  Stay warm or cool and good fishing to you!

Posted in Fishing Reports on January 5th, 2026

Fishing Report: Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Report-December 2025

Wow it is December and winter has shown up, just like that!   Where did fall go, it was pretty good fall!!  So, December with much cooler weather; hard, fast change of weather, more like January.  Here is what I am going to fish this much cooler weather in December.

December can be a good month for bigger speckled trout, especially when we get colder weather fronts.  Knowing what to cast, can make a big difference in what you catch.  Hard baits like MirrOlures have put some big trout in the boat for me and for many other anglers over the years.  The different series I prefer are the 17MR & 22MR (Catch 2000jr) suspending, 18MR, 51M and 52MR sinking baits.

Colors; MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go to colors around Southeast NC area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, 706, CFPR, CH, EC, HP, and Capt. Jot Custom color #1 (Pink back/white belly), #2 (purple back/pink belly) and #3 (Blue back/pink belly) colors in 17MR, #1 in 22MR & 52MR (only found at Tex’s Tackle shop) Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes or at MirrOlure.com.  I’m really loving the new 17MR Chameleon series!!  *See here: NEW! Chameleon Series Mirrodine  Fishing Depths to use these lures; 17MR & 22MR use these lures in two to six feet of water (suspending). 18MR, 51M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth teen plus feet of water with current (sinking). If your lure is hitting the bottom go to a shallower running lure (suspending type).  If the water is in the 50’s slow down your presentation. I am a firm believer in “you can work a MirrOlure to fast, you really can’t work them to slow.”

As water temps drop, I really do enjoy using soft plastic lure.  The reason I enjoy them more when the water temps fall is, less darn trash fish!!! Like Puffers, Bluefish and lizardfish that eat up my soft plastic lures!!   Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps drop.  Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Turbo shrimp.  Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, nuclear chicken, pink belly and flamingo chrome. See all Saltwater Gulp here: https://alnk.to/6mPofv6  Lots of Gulp is on sale now!

The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far.  I worked on this project, and I am really excited about these lures.  There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a new saltwater scent: different from the regular PowerBait scent.  I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series!  Electric chicken and sight flash colors have worked well for me lately.  *Check them out here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1  PS: they are on sale too!!

I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg  I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

Do not count out live bait for Speckled trout if you enjoy fishing with it.  Just understand as it gets colder live bait will be harder to come by.  Try live smaller finger mullet, mud minnows and shrimp. In shallow waters of two to six feet I like to float these live baits with a cork and a small treble hook (#6). In deeper waters of six to ten plus I rig them on light Carolina rigs with a small #2 Eagle claw L42 offset circle hook. Just wait until you feel that trout take off with the bait and lightly set the hook, remember trout have very soft mouths fast hooks sets but with light power work best.

In December another fish I really like to hunt for on sunny, warmer, and light wind days is schooling Redfish. I find these schools on oyster rocks/flats, sand bars in the surf and shallow flats just off the ICW. In December the Reds are not hard to catch when you find them but sometimes finding them can be a challenge. My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grub like the Berkley Gulp Turbo Shrimp https://alnk.to/fSi93CW or Gulp shrimp https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  Redfish love these things. Rig grubs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray should get the redfish to bite for you. Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for those stubborn fall/winter Redfish may help you get a bite.

Just a little inland in Southeast, NC runs the Cape Fear River and in the Cape Fear there is one of my favorite winter fisheries, the Striped Bass. These fish are not the easiest to catch, but they fight very well even in cold water. Working drop offs and grass lines on the edge of the river is where you can find the Stripers, using swim bait lures like Berkley Power Bait Cull shad https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 These lures should put a few Cape Fear Stripers on your line. I rig these lures on swimbait hooks for weedless fishing, (lots of hangs in the river). I use TroKar TK170 and TK178 swimbait hooks, super sharp! Do not forget that the Cape Fear River Striped Bass Fishery is closed; catch and release only!

Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs and Slammer IV Spinning https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j reels in sizes 2000, 2500, 3000 & 3500.  Low profile PENN Fathom 200 size  https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH, if that is your game! Fishing for Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass Rods: Fenwick Inshore HMG 7’& 7’6” med/light (Speckled Trout) and medium action * See here:  https://alnk.to/4MClHmk (Redfish & Striped Bass). Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in eight- or ten-pound test for Speckled trout fishing and ten and fifth-teen pound for Reds/Stripers.  Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.

*There are lots of sales going on now for a short time, here is the link to all of the tackle I use https://linktr.ee/capt_jot_owens  PENN Authority spinning reels at 40% OFF!!  Fenwick rods, Berkley baits and line are on sale as well for a very limited time. Check out my tackle link here for everything I use! https://linktr.ee/capt_jot_owens

 Gift Certificates make great gifts for you or someone else who likes to fish. Buy now at 2025 prices and use during 2026!!   

Thanks for reading have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a Happy New Year, and good winter fishing to you!

Capt. Jot Owens

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

Posted in Fishing Reports on December 2nd, 2025

Fishing Report: Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Report-November 2025

I know I say this just about every month that passes, but dang! Where did October Go??  The temps have been about right where they need to be for the most part this fall so far in my opinion.  Speckled trout is the name of the game for me most Novembers.  With a few other species mixed in as well.  Here are my November fishing forecast and info.

November for many years has been when I catch some of the biggest Speckled trout all year.  Hard baits like MirrOlures have put some big trout in the boat for me and for many other anglers over the years. One key point to trout I have found is that most days Specks will bite, but what are they eating that day? This is when you need to know where to start; what lures to try? The series I prefer are the 17MR & 22MR (Catch 2000jr) suspending, 18MR, 51M and 52MR sinking baits.

Colors: MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go to colors around Southeast NC area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, 706, CFPR, CH, EC, HP.  Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes or at MirrOlure.com. Check out the new 17MR Chameleon color series.  I really like this series, great colors indeed.  Fishing Depths to use these lures; 17MR & 22MR use these lures in two to six feet of water (suspending). 18MR, 51M & 52MR use these lures in five to fifth teen plus feet of water with current (sinking). If your lure is hitting the bottom, go to a shallower running lure (suspending type).  I prefer for my leaders Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

If you have ever done any trout fishing at all you know that the grub/jig (soft plastic) lures work very well for Speckled trout especially when the water temps get below sixty degrees.  Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me lately are Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp and five-inch Jerkshad. Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, Key lime chrome and flamingo chrome *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  A brand newer Gulp bait that is available now online is the Dragon Tail.  This lure has so much action and comes in many great colors. Click this link here https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx to see the entire Dragon tail series.  The dragon tail can be rigged so many ways, but I really like them on a lighter jig head (1/8oz).  Its such a basic shaped lure, yet the action is crazy good!  Check them out!

The newer Bonga series of lures really did well last trout season for me and they continue to work well this season so far.  I like the Bonga shad in four-inch size. *See here https://alnk.to/9T9mW3i  Also the Bonga shrimp for targeting larger Trout and Redfish has done well. *See here https://alnk.to/6TAugdn  If you like trick/stick style trout lures, check out the Bonga stick in 5” size *See here https://alnk.to/4MBourN

I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz Fusion jigs heads *see here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

Do not count out live bait if you enjoy fishing with it. Try live smaller finger mullet, mud minnows and live shrimp. In shallow waters of two to six feet I like to float these live baits with a cork and a small #6 treble hook. In deeper waters of six to ten plus I rig them on light Carolina rigs with a small #1 or #2 Eagle claw L42 offset circle hook. Just wait until you feel that trout take off with the bait and lightly set the hook, remember trout have very soft mouths fast hooks sets but with light power work best.  Here again Pro Spec twenty-pound test fluorocarbon leaders. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2

In November the Reds are not hard to catch when you find them but sometimes finding them can be a challenge. Depending on the weather, as in how cold or how warm it has been, will determine where the Redfish are.  Colder weather the Reds will move more, warmer weather they are more likely to be in there late summer/early fall spots.  My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grub like the Berkley Gulp jerkshad *see here https://alnk.to/3U1gTCB or shrimp *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A  Redfish love these things. I rig Gulp baits with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray *see here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg should get the redfish to bite for you. Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for those stubborn fall/winter Redfish may help get a bite.

False Albacore and Bluefish can be great during November.  You can cast or troll for them and fly fishing can be great as well.  The Albacore and Blues will be around the inlets, up & down the beaches and near shore artificial reefs.  Look for jumping Albacore and diving birds; that is where you need to fish. Casting small spoons like Big Nic Spanish candies on light spinning tackle will put some Albacore and Blues on your line.  Keep your eye peeled in local tackle shops for my 1.5oz Big Nic Spanish Candy in Capt. Jot custom color.  One tip that has really helped my customers catch more of the Spanish, false albacore and Atlantic bonito is using high speed spinning reels.  I did not think it would make such a difference, but it really has, speeding up the presentation gets more bites!  I really like the Slammer IV High speed *See here https://alnk.to/4BFOrsT spinning reel for this application.

Tackle run down: Slammer IV https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j & Authority https://alnk.to/fSgjdIK spinning reels 2500, 3000, 3500 sizes or PENN Low profile (bait-caster) * See here https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH 200 or 300 sizes for the Spanish mackerel/false albacore (High speed series), normal speed for Redfish. 2000 and 2500 Clash II spinning reels *see here https://alnk.to/cHNuD1x  or New Battle IV series *see here https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs for Speckled trout.  Fenwick HMG Inshore *See here https://alnk.to/biuF0uB spinning 7’ medium for the Redfish. Fenwick Eagle series *See here https://alnk.to/4MClHmk rods for Speckled trout in medium 7’.   Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten and fifth-teen pound for light tackle fishing.  Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.

Good November fishing to you, Stay warm or Cool and Happy Thanksgiving!

Capt. Jot Owens

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

Posted in Fishing Reports on November 5th, 2025