Wrightsville Beach

[mludwig]

Can anyone recommend a guide for Bonito in April off Wrightsville Beach? Looking for someone with a lot of experience. Thanks.

[Mattbou]

Hi mludwig,

I just returned from a very successful trip fishing for false albacore off cape Lookout. I had a day guided by Captain Lee Parsons(Gottafly) there and I was extremely impressed with him; moreso than I was with some of the bigger name guides down there.
Captain Parsons guides in the Wrightsville Beach area most of the year and we actually discussed the Bonito fishing down there. If his prowess with the Albies is any indication, he should be able to show you a great day. He fishes an 18' Whaler outrage that was very seaworthy and a great flyfishing boat.

He's at Cape Lookout until the end of the month, so he won't be answering emails, but I think you can still reach him at 910-350-0890.

Matt

[NoBarbs]

Also, contact Tyler Stone at the Intracoastal Angler. See their site at www.saltwaterfly.com for details and phone numbers.

[Knotdun]

The recommendations thus far are guys with top reputations. I recently fished with Doug Cutting out of Intercoastal Angler, also, and thought he was very professional, successful, and fun to go with. I would book him again.
Yeh, Tyler and Lee both are at Cape Lookout right now. Doug may be at the shop in the afternoons, and could describe the trip.

They have done well introducing sight fishing for reds on the flats. They use a Hewes Flatsfisher and pole the flats like Keys fishing, and do real well. A Florida experience without the big airfare (depending where you are from).

I think redfish in North Carolina is every bit as good as Florida in these areas where they have good populations, like Wrightsville and Cape Fear, and all that. It is a fishery that just hasn't been developed yet.

[mludwig]

Thanks for the help guys. The names you mentioned are the ones that I was recommended up here in MA. Is the April bonito run as popular as the fall albies? If so, I'd probably have to book now.

[Mattbou]

I don't think that the april bonito are quite as popular as the albies, I think Parsons had a few days booked already for the spring, but i know he had at least a week booked already for next fall.

That said, I'd make the reservation as soon as possible regardless of who you go with. There are few things worse than spending a few hundred bucks to fish with a bad guide because you were too late to get any of the good guides.

Matt