Fishing the ICW near Wilmington, NC

For my Summer vacation I was allowed to book an inshore charter with Rod-Man charters out of Wrightsville Beach, NC. I was hoping to target flounder and red drum for some light tackle fun. I know this is a fly fishing forum but in these summer months it is just too hot to fly fish for trout. Heck, it's even too hot to fly fish for ocean fish too.



We fished the Innercoastal Waterway between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach using live menhaden Carolina rigged on light braid. We fished a lot of structure and managed to snag a four pound flounder and a six pound red drum. Red drum on light tackle is awesome! Those fish are rough on some gear trying to pull one out from around pier pilings.



I had a great time and would recommend Capt. Rick Bennett if you want to catch some fish. He does fly fishing trips for drum when the conditions are more favorable. I think I might check it out when the time is right.

Nice fish! Good eating too!

There you go