Dummy's guide to Wilmington fish

Beef15

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Hey going to Wilmington for a long weekend, never done any fishing there, anything running now? Decent spots from shore? Preferred rigs?

Basically any and all knowledge on the subject appreciated. Thanks.

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When I lived there I always had good luck fishing that little boat ramp off 133 toward Southport. Just fished when I had time and always caught a good mess at that place. It's on 133 just about a mile outside leland on 133. Right across from the school. Pull in walk to the left of the boat ramp up a little path.
 
I've been to the piers on Topsail Island several times and always catch something. $10-12 for a 24hr pass, bait shop with free advise etc.

The pier thing isn't really my style but we do catch fish, instead of just 'going fishing'.
 
Check out Carolina Beach state park. Couple places there where you can fish from shore on the intercoastal. Look for grass. Minnows, plastic grubs will catch flounder and drum. Watch for gators
 
Also on the same road as the entrance to Carolina Beach state park there's a cemetery back in the woods. Have to park near a gate and walk in. The fort fisher hermit is buried there. There's also trails leading to a small beach area a couple miles down from the park that no one ever fishes. Caught some of the biggest flounder there I've ever seen. Watch for rattlesnakes on the walk back. And gators when you get to the water. And those woods have spiders in them that make a web between trees the size of your hand. Not the web, the spider. Worth the walk though to do some exploring. Had a local take me there years ago
 
Also on the same road as the entrance to Carolina Beach state park there's a cemetery back in the woods. Have to park near a gate and walk in. The fort fisher hermit is buried there. There's also trails leading to a small beach area a couple miles down from the park that no one ever fishes. Caught some of the biggest flounder there I've ever seen. Watch for rattlesnakes on the walk back. And gators when you get to the water. And those woods have spiders in them that make a web between trees the size of your hand. Not the web, the spider. Worth the walk though to do some exploring. Had a local take me there years ago
Nice! Wife might enjoy that too.

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You just shore fishing or do you have access to a boat? I know lots of spots but they are mostly only accessible by boat.

This time of year tons of live bait in the waterway if you can throw a cast net. Mullet minnows on a Carolina rig is hard to beat. If the spots are running blood worms work well I believe, not a fish I target though.
 
Go ahead and buy ya a cast net. You'll learn to see minnows cutting the surface. Watch out for oyster shells though. They hard on a net
 
Me and three buddies are heading to fort fisher Friday morning to hopefully catch some drum and flounder. Three of us will be in kayaks and one is going to shore fish, he said he isn't getting in a kayak. Plans for location may change between now and then but if you can get your hands on a kayak your more than welcome to join our little group. Our group has never saltwater fished before so it's going to be a learning experience.
 
Ate lunch at Dockside today, the waterway is absolutely loaded with bait right now. Fall fishing is the best, hope you fellas catch em up.
 
Me and three buddies are heading to fort fisher Friday morning to hopefully catch some drum and flounder. Three of us will be in kayaks and one is going to shore fish, he said he isn't getting in a kayak. Plans for location may change between now and then but if you can get your hands on a kayak your more than welcome to join our little group. Our group has never saltwater fished before so it's going to be a learning experience.
One day I'll get a 'yak I can fish from, my little 10' is sketchy with 200lbs + junk. Gonna have a 3y.o. in tow so wouldn't be an option this trip anyway.

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@dman24 I might not even get out so I hope you guys had some luck and took some pictures you'll share, even if unlucky.

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I'll try to post some pics, gotta figure out how. Our group ended up catching a few croaker, and tiny trout three lizard fish and a ray. If I never catch another lizard fish it'll be fine by me. Those things look mean and aren't easy to get unhooked. Probably won't be another trip for me this year, hopefully next we will have learned enough and can do it again.
 
I'll try to post some pics, gotta figure out how. Our group ended up catching a few croaker, and tiny trout three lizard fish and a ray. If I never catch another lizard fish it'll be fine by me. Those things look mean and aren't easy to get unhooked. Probably won't be another trip for me this year, hopefully next we will have learned enough and can do it again.

Growing up my dad and his brothers allways called lizard fish preacher's d*cks. Fitting name IMHO.
 
Growing up my dad and his brothers allways called lizard fish preacher's d*cks. Fitting name IMHO.

That's funny, I still call them that.

Heres some inspiration for all you fall fishermen. Good buddy of mine took his kids to the south end of Wrightsville Beach this past weekend for a day at the beach, as an afterthought he threw in a rod and some bait. Fished through all his bait and all he had to show for it was a bunch of lizard fish (aka preachers d!cks), decided to cut some of those up and keep fishing. Ended up hooking a 50lb cobia. Fought this fish for over an hour and by this time was drawing a small crowd of spectators. Unfortunately he was fishing a fairly light setup with 15lb braid line, and there's just no horsing a cobia on a set up like that. Every time he got the ole cobia with in 30ft of the beach it decided it wasn't having any part of it and took off again. Turns out part of the onlookers were a group of Mexican fishermen, that happened to have a cast net and some skills in using it. My buddy got his fish as close to the beach as he could, one of the Mexicans waded out a bit, and cast netted the fish. Now he has one of those stories he can tell his grandkids about when he teaches them how to fish.

OQZdFYa.jpg
 
That's funny, I still call them that.

Heres some inspiration for all you fall fishermen. Good buddy of mine took his kids to the south end of Wrightsville Beach this past weekend for a day at the beach, as an afterthought he threw in a rod and some bait. Fished through all his bait and all he had to show for it was a bunch of lizard fish (aka preachers d!cks), decided to cut some of those up and keep fishing. Ended up hooking a 50lb cobia. Fought this fish for over an hour and by this time was drawing a small crowd of spectators. Unfortunately he was fishing a fairly light setup with 15lb braid line, and there's just no horsing a cobia on a set up like that. Every time he got the ole cobia with in 30ft of the beach it decided it wasn't having any part of it and took off again. Turns out part of the onlookers were a group of Mexican fishermen, that happened to have a cast net and some skills in using it. My buddy got his fish as close to the beach as he could, one of the Mexicans waded out a bit, and cast netted the fish. Now he has one of those stories he can tell his grandkids about when he teaches them how to fish.

OQZdFYa.jpg

I can only imagine the cussing that was going on. I am surprised the fish didn't destroy the net. We brought one into the boat that was a bit to green and had a hell of a time getting him in the box.
 
If you're in the Wilmington area, with a 4X4 and you're not fishing at the Fort......well then, I can't help you. Fort Fisher is the best fishing in Pleasure Island. Don't get stuck :D
 
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