Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Forecast-April 2022
North Carolina springs can be anything but predictable, sometimes that is about the same for spring fishing around these parts as well. So far, we’ve had a pretty good winter temperature wise (especially later winter); I think we are about two (+/-) weeks ahead on spring temps and fishing. Fishing wise here is what I look to target during April around Southeast NC area waters.
The Atlantic Bonito (good eating) and False Albacore (don’t recommend eating but fun to catch) have already shown up just offshore of Wrightsville, Carolina and Topsail beaches in the one-to-ten-mile range. Trolling Clark spoons on planners or small deep driver lures can be the key to success some days for the Bonito and False Albacore. When using the Clark spoons, I would recommend the pink flash spoon in sizes #0 and #1; the pink flash series has really helped me put more fish in the boat. A bird rig on top with a Clark spoon about five to six feet behind it or a small daisy chain (squids) in colors blue, silver or pink have worked very well for me on top too.
Look for birds working or marking bait on you fish finder is the way to find these feeding fish. When the fish are not on top, I’ve caught some nice Blues and a few Bonito by casting a spoon out and letting it sink down before reeling it in. I’ve found that sometimes these fish are deeper and you can get them by getting down to deeper depths. If the fish are jumping and busting on top, try casting Big Nic Spanish candy lures in 1/2oz to 1zo sizes in colors pink, blue, green or Capt. Jot Custom color (blue/pink) I use a thirty-pound fluorocarbon leader at two to three foot long when casting these lures (no swivel).
Another fish that really starts to show up around the inshore creeks and inlets of Southeast North Carolina is the good’ole Bluefish and during April you can catch some bigger Bluefish too; like ten pounds plus big! These blues will hit Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshads and Berkley Havoc grass pig lures in bright colors, I rig both of these lures on TroKar 1/4oz swim bait hooks. Hard baits like big poppers and MirrOlure Top Dog’s work well too for the big Blues. Don’t forget the steal leaders for these fish or they will get a free lure form you every time! Try light single strand wire in sizes #2, #3 or #4 will keep your lure on the end of your line and not in a bluefish’s pocket! I catch Blues in the one-to-fifteen-pound range during April, (some years there are more than others and sometimes only a few show up).
There is one fish that a lot of anglers over look in April and that is the Black Drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and there great to eat! On top of all that they are also easy to catch; use a light Carolina rig with an Eagle claw L42 #1 size hook. I make my own rigs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon leader material. I prefer as fresh as I can get shrimp for black drum fishing. Fish these rigs around docks, oyster rocks and inlets for Black Drum; you might even get a Redfish mixed in as well. If you catch one, it’s a good idea to stay a little longer; these fish are typically in groups.
Cape Fear River Striped Bass can bite very well into April, but the fish move around a lot more during April, you’ll find them at one spot one day and the next day they have moved on. In April the Stripers will start to move in to shallower waters, I look for the Stripers in three to ten feet of water in the early spring. This is when you need to also shallow up your presentation, go lighter with you tackle. I prefer Berkley Powerbait grass pig lures; I use colors green back and swamp gas. Rigging the grass pig lures on TroKar TK170 swim bait hooks should put a Striper on the end of your line. Look for Cape Fear River Stripers around mud-flat edges, bulk-heads and shallow reed-grass edges on sunny warmer days. Remember Cape Fear River Striped Bass are Catch & Release fishing only.
Also, in the Cape Fear River I really enjoy heading to Lock & Dam #1 or #2 on the Cape Fear River during April to catch large American shad on light tackle and Fly tackle. Casting shad darts in bright colors and shad flies is the way to catch these shad. I use a double shad dart rig; this makes it easier to cast the light darts and sometimes you get two shad at the same time! The shad run in the one to a few over four pounds; super fun on fly and light tackle setups “poor man’s Tarpon”!
Tackle run down: PENN Clash II, Clash II 3000 HS (high speed Bonito) & Battle III DX Spinning reels (1000 & 2000 shad fishing), 2500 & 3000 sizes. Rods: Fenwick HMG Inshore 7’ medium/light (shad) and medium action. Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in (six-pound shad fishing) ten- and fifteen-pound other species. Berkley Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader material for all my leaders. Tackle storage Plano Z-series & Guide series tackle bags with Plano EDGE Stowaway boxes.
Thanks for reading and good spring fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
910-233-4139
