http://ultimatereaction.com/reports/ en captainarlen@ultimatereaction.com Copyright 2011 2011-09-30T02:35:17+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/september_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/september_2011_report/#When:01:35:17Z     The fall has certainly begun to get Wrightsville Beach fishing back into full swing!  The recent cool in the area’s waters has brought many schools of false albacore into the area’s beaches, and although they aren’t Sea Monsters, they will test all of your ability on light tackle.  Many are being encountered to the North of the area, with casting jigs being the best choice.  Be sure to downsize your lures, as they have been feeding on bait the size of a toothpick.  The gulftream action has been great, and when the weather allows, we have been catching good numbers of wahoo in mixed sizes, from 20-60 lbs.  While mostly small, there have been a few dolphin mixed in with the wahoo.  Trolled ballyhoo behind Blue Water Candy seawitches and JAGs have accounted for the majority of the catch.  Lately the wahoo bite has been early in the morning, and when it slows, we fish our way home on the bottom, catching a mixed bag of grouper, tilefish and sea bass.  There have been an astonishing amount of large, ginormous, jumbo black sea bass (you get the idea) on the offshore ledges, much more than I have ever seen.  At some spots that have huge populations of triggerfish, it is a struggle to catch them due to the biomass of black sea bass….....  Fall fishing is happening, sounds like a good excuse to come to the beach, doesn’t it? Capt. Arlen reports 2011-09-30T01:35:17+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/august_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/august_2011_report/#When:01:13:27Z This August has provided the best season on my two favorite fisheries - Nearshore flounder and grouper fishing!  There have been numerous spanish mackerel - of the large variety - feeding actively on surface bait early in the morning.  We have been catching them casting Sea Striker Jigfish on spinning tackle early in the morning.  When the sun comes up, it’s time to go flounder fishing.  The nearshore flounder action has been on fire as of late, primarily on bucktails tipped with berkley gulp shrimp.  Live mullet works fine, but it also catches the undersized fish, which are even more plentiful than the bigger ones.  While the topwater spanish mackerel action dies down, we are still catching plenty of them while flounder fishing on live bait.  We even had a 100+ lb. tarpon give us a try last week.  I think my junior angler (and myself) were happy for it to just put on a show, and not get hooked on a flounder rod while we were on anchor….  Further offshore, while the African Pompano have been somewhat elusive this year, the grouper and snapper fishing is incredible.  Limits of combined grouper species, including gags, reds and scamps, are being found in the same place as close as 28 miles!  While most dead bait works on the other species, the scamps have been particular for a small, live pinfish fished on an oversized Carolina Rig.  There are plenty of black sea bass, grunts and porgys mixed in with the grouper.  Word around the Wrightsville Beach Charter Fishing fleet is that the wahoo fishing is picking up; a few wahoo trips are upcoming and hopefully I have a good report to give you upon our return!  Tight lines. Capt. Arlen reports 2011-08-31T01:13:27+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/july_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/july_2011_report/#When:00:57:35Z             While last month proved to be quite frustrating, this July has been full of great fishing!  While the king mackerel never showed and the dolphin did not stay inshore the way we would like them to, the bottom fishing has been great.  Limits of grouper, triggerfish, snapper and black sea bass have been fairly frequent this month as the grouper are becoming more and more active.  Ledges inshore of 90 foot are providing most of the gag grouper, while the 40+ mile range has been quite productive for both scamp and red groupers.  While we cannot keep them, the American red snapper are everywhere, and I have seen the most I ever have off the Wrightsville Beach coast.  The spanish mackerel action continues to be consistent, however in the recent heat, the bite has been early and late.  Flounder fishing on the nearshore structures is getting better and better, with half day catches for the Wrightsville Beach Charter Fishing boats beginning to approach limits.  I am happy to relay a much better fishing report this month, and here’s to hoping the trend continues! Capt. Arlen reports 2011-08-01T00:57:35+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/june_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/june_2011_report/#When:00:37:33Z   Thus far, it has been a very humbling charter season; words that are tough to write amongst my historically-favorite month of fishing.  Perhaps the rest of the Wrightsville Beach Charter Fishing fleet might have something different to tell you, but between the rough seas and lack of bait near the coast, it has been very difficult to recreate the super-memorable trips of years past.  Regardless of the tough conditions, we’ve still been catching fish off of Wrightsville Beach.  There are a few king mackerel around, mainly nearshore, responding primarily to live menhaden.  The spanish mackerel are everywhere, and although mostly moderate sized, are responding to Blue Water Candy spanish daisys trolled fast along the surface.  The bottom fishing has been good, with large gag groupers making up the most of the catch inshore of 100 feet, and the red grouper comprising the rest of it beyond 40 miles.  The gaffer dolphin fishing has been incredible as of recent, but unfortunately due to the weather, I have not been able to give it a go myself.  This has been a very unpredictable June!  Even when the weather is marginal and the mackerel and dolphin won’t cooperate, we have found plentiful amount of large amberjacks and cobia around the structures 10 miles offshore.  Live bait proves to be the best and surest bet, however many fish are being taken on bucktails and topwater poppers…......  When the fish refuse to come to the top, we are catching them on long jigs pitched away from the boat.  While it’s not the best fishing report in the world, or on the coast, honesty is the best policy.  This atypical June just reinforces the phrase, “That’s why they call it fishing!”  I’m sure next June will prove itself to be the best fishing month of the year again, as it has in every year in the past! Capt. Arlen reports 2011-06-30T00:37:33+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/may_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/may_2011_report/#When:21:05:06Z   As summer approaches and the water temperatures are rising, fishing has continued to improve here at Wrightsville Beach, NC.  Along the beaches, spanish mackerel are plentiful, and are eager to take trolled clarkspoons and Blue Water Candy Spanish Daisys.  Flounder have also begun to show up at nearshore reefs and structures, with bucktails tipped with Gulp shrimp the primary lure of choice.  In addition, king mackerel have begun to show up on your nearshore and offshore structures.  They are a welcomed arrival, and the bait of choice is a live menhaden on a traditional king mackerel rig adorned with Blue Water Candy featherweight skirts.  Try a double-pogie rig in the propwash - just make sure you’re looking at it when they they start to out-swim the boat….  The best of the nearshore bite has been to the south off of Yaupon Beach, but we are catching a few fish here off of the Wrightsville Beach seabuoy.  When fishing near the Cape Fear River, select a brighter-colored skirt, such as a chartreuse or pink to make your baits stand out in the dingy water.  May also welcomes the opening of grouper fishing, which has been productive despite the post-spawn pattern in full effect.  Fish are tight to their cover, so be sure to take special precision when anchoring this time of year.  Red grouper fishing is still better the farther offshore you go, and there are plenty of triggerfish to go along with them.  When the weather allows, gulfstream anglers are catching numerous gaffer dolphin, some as large as 50 lbs.  Trolled ballyhoo are the most consistent producer.  reports 2011-05-24T21:05:06+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/april_2011_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/april_2011_report/#When:20:34:04Z Wrightsville Beach, NC has great springtime fishing, and this March and April have been no exception.  While the weather this spring has made it difficult to go offshore with any consistency, each trip has proved to be bountiful and full of bent rods and screaming drags.  Nearshore, the Atlantic Bonito are beginning to show up very well to the North of Wrightsville Beach, and I have been trailering up there to take part in this wonderful fishery.  Most of the bonito are between 3-6 lbs. but on light spinning and trolling gear, they clearly display their feisty nature.  Trolling lures such as Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri deep divers have been the go to baits, however when the fish bust bait on top we are catching them on casting jigs such as Sea Striker Jigfish in the 1/2-1oz sizes.  There are also plenty of hefty bluefish mixed in, as well as the occasional horse-sized false albacore.  Offshore, the gulfstream has been on fire, both for trolling and jigging anglers.  Trolling high speed lures such as Braid Marauders and Jag/octopus skirt combinations have been producing wahoo as large as 70 lbs.  Jigging the 25-30 fathom areas have produced good catches of cobia, African pompano, large amberjacks, and a plethora of bottom dwellers.  The best jig for these species and areas has been the Blue Water Candy Roscoe Jig.  Further offshore in the 40-60 fathom range, the jigging for blackfin tuna has been incredible, and recently the topwater fishing for the tuna has been just as good.  Imagine throwing a Pop-R for largemouth, now increase the size of everything… Next imagine the fish that strikes your lure throws so much water you can taste the salt of the splash, proceeding to take 75 yards of line at what seems like warp speed!........  Once again, big muscles and advil are required….  The jig of choice for these species is anything long in profile, such as the Williamson Benthos, Smith Jackknife, and River2Sea Spike.  Topwaters of choice include the Rapala Subwalk 15, Frenzy Angry Popper, and Yo-Zuri Sashimi Slider.  April can be a difficult month to get offshore, but it is a month that portrays Wrightsville Beach Charter Fishing to its finest! Capt. Arlen Dean Zoglio (left) with a hefty Atlantic Bonito caught off New River Inlet.  Bennie and Benson Sheally (right) with a very nice wahoo caught high speed trolling in the gulfstream. reports 2011-04-29T20:34:04+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/new_boat_for_2011/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/new_boat_for_2011/#When:15:22:59Z Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing will have a new, faster, bigger, more comfortable ride for the upcoming season!  Ultimate Reaction I is a 23’ Contender, equipped with a Yamaha 250HP Four Stroke, Garmin electronics, downriggers, outriggers, and over 80 gallons of livewell capacity!  More pictures to come soon. Capt. Arlen news 2011-01-01T15:22:59+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/november_2010_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/november_2010_report/#When:20:08:32Z As fewer and fewer people travel to the beach and we approach the 2010 holiday season, the fishing is still quite good when the weather allows.  The trout fishing remains very strong inshore, however the majority of the fish are small.  Using larger soft plastics and full sized mirrolures have produced the larger trout as of late.  Most of the fish have been holding in the deeper holes and areas adjacent to deep water with fast-moving current.  When the weather is pleasant enough to go offshore, the grouper and snapper fishing has been great.  The first stop of the day in many of the trips has resulted in a limit of grouper, and many many seabass and grunts.  The snapper have been biting further offshore in the 35 mile range.  If you are after gag grouper, stop short of 25 miles, otherwise you will overrun the majority of the fish.  Even though it is a tad chilly, November is a great month to come visit and fish Wrightsville Beach, NC!  The fishing is good and the hotel rooms are reduced in price; come enjoy catching something to put next to the turkey for Thanksgiving! This will be the last report of the year, and I would like to thank everyone for a great 2010!  There are some upcoming changes for Ultimate Reaction Sportfishing in the coming year; be sure to stay tuned!  Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and a wonderful upcoming 2011!  Can’t wait to see everyone next year, we have many more memories to make! Capt. Arlen reports 2010-11-23T20:08:32+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/october_2010_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/october_2010_report/#When:19:44:09Z       Fall fishing is in full force here in Wrightsville Beach, NC, and all of the Wrightsville Beach Charter Fishing fleet are enjoying great catches, happy customers, and some of the fastest pace action this state has to offer in saltwater fishing!  Nearshore, the king mackerel and false albacore are in full force, from the beach on out the the 10 mile areas.  Live bait is the best bet for fooling the larger kingfish, and there are still plenty of amberjack and cobia in the same areas.  Live bait is plentiful as large schools of menhaden continue to pour down the beach headed south.  We recently had a half day trip with kings and a cobia where the largest 5 kings had an aggregate weight of over 110 lbs!  The bottom fishing is full on, especially with the Gag groupers, being caught as close as 8 miles.  There are still plenty of other species mixed in, and the largest barracuda of the year are here and eager to test your spinning reels’ drag!  When the weather is pretty, the offshore fleet is finding plenty of blackfin tuna and numerous wahoo, some in excess of 60 lbs.  But the weather has been fairly uncooperative as of late.  No worries - that’s the beauty of fall fishing!  When it has been too windy to get offshore, the speckled trout fishing inshore has been incredible…......  Using artificial lures and very light tackle, we have been catching nice trout consistently in the 18-24 inch range.  There are still some red drum mixed in, and you are sure to know when he bites on the light tackle we have been using.  It’s getting colder, come get on this fall pattern while it lasts! reports 2010-10-27T19:44:09+00:00 http://ultimatereaction.com/site/september_2010_report/ http://ultimatereaction.com/site/september_2010_report/#When:19:30:07Z                     As the weather has begun too cool, the fall fishing here in Wrightsville Beach is heating up.  False albacore and large spanish have been found on top near the beach.  We are catching these fish on spinning rods, some too light to be largemouth bass fishing with, casting small metal spoons and jigs.  If you want to test the drag of your small spinning tackle, now is the time to do it.  Offshore the bottom fishing continues to be great, with good catches of gag grouper, black sea bass and American red snapper - which unfortunately must be returned to the sea.  The gulfstream fishing has begun to heat up, with more and more wahoo being caught each week.  Keep in mind the fishing will only get better as the water temperature cools.. it is still in the lower 80s! reports 2010-09-22T19:30:07+00:00