soon to be a "damm yankee" help!

ROCKJOCK · 04-12-2002, 03:50 PM

i will be relocating to NC towards the end of the year. i will be living in wilmington
being a die hard surf rat i'll be in uncharted waters down there and any help would be greatly appriecated. what runs in the surf? i hear of drum and stripers but what else? i'm a big fan of plugs not bait and they tell me that cancels out the drum
thanks in advance

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FISH ON !
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savfish · 04-13-2002, 12:18 AM

I lived there for about 3 months (1998) while we were thinking about relocating to the OBX from Long Island. I personally hated Wilmington, not much beach access except at Wrightsville Beach. I was there for October, Nov and Dec and the only good thing I can say about the surf fishing is that it is only 4 hrs. to the OBX. Everything I caught was small - bluefish, speckled trout,fluke and puppy drum. Some false albacore showed up and that was fun. There is a stone wall jetty there on the s end? of Wrightsville that was good. On calm days you can walk out (illegally) and fish the pocket where the wall meets the true jetty on the ocean side. Live shrimp, live finger mullet, mirrolures and grubs are the ticket. They just rebuilt Johnny Mercer pier out of concrete and you will catch spanish and king mackerel off the end starting next month. I am sure there are some bigger red drum and sharks around, you will just have to soak fresh cut bait (menhaden, mullet, bluefish, spot) for them. Good luck and plan on making numerous trips to the OBX for large drum and stripers.

Shag · 04-14-2002, 09:17 AM

RJ,
I don't know anything about the Wilmington area, but Da Banks are as pleasant a place to be and fish as can be. The best part of that area has to be the people. Friendly, polite, and helpful. From supermarkets to tackle shops the folks there just make you want to come back. As the line from the song goes "Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes" people are just nicer south of the "Memorial Bridge"
Shag

ROCKJOCK · 04-16-2002, 08:16 AM

thanks for the input guys
i'm down here now, not do'in much on the beach but plan to run offshore this weekend
on a friends boat

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FISH ON !
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kip · 04-16-2002, 10:01 AM

i have a friend down in that area that you should at least try and look up. he can give you the straight skinny as to what, where, when, and how. his name is tommy farmer and he hangs out on the www.reddrumtackle.com fishing board as well as www.hatterasoutfitters.com fishing board. he is a great guy and has recently developed an obsession with tournament casting, so he is on the beach often with his pal tony, seeing who can cast the furthest. if you go to either of those 2 websites you can post a message and he'll answer you for sure. take care and enjoy the area. riverfest is generally a great time and there are many weekend "fests" sponsored by the surrounding communities, if you like seafood, then you'll really have a great time.