Added on Thursday, June 16, 2011  Fish Post

Topsail June 16, 2011

Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are still putting together nice catches of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons along the beachfront and near the inlets. They’re also getting them working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the piers.

A few king mackerel have been landed at spots in the 7-10 mile range lately, but overall the king action has been a bit quiet lately. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will get attention from the kings when anglers can find them.

Bottom fishing offshore has produced some nice coolers full of fat black sea bass lately. Anglers are connecting with keeper bass as structure from just off the beaches to well offshore. Squid and cut baits on bottom rigs will get their attention.

Gag grouper are feeding at structure from 12-16 miles on out, and live baits, cut baits, and vertical jigs will all attract bites from the gags.

Boats making the run to blue water last week found continuing action with gaffer dolphin and a few wahoo as well. Small and medium ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are attracting bites from both.

Surf fishermen are hooking up with some pompano during the day and sea mullet at night. Shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs are getting their attention.

Inshore, the sheepshead are holding around bridge and dock pilings and other hard structure in the area. Live fiddler crabs are tough for the sheeps to resist.

Flounder fishing is still solid in the sound and the creeks. Live baits and Gulps are top choices for the flatfish.

Red drum are still feeding around the north end of Lea Island and throughout Topsail Sound (with many over-slot fish). Live baits, topwater plugs, Gulps, and a variety of other lures will attract attention from the reds.

Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains solid inshore around Topsail. The fish are on the move, though, and may not be feeding in the same areas one day as the next. Covering water until anglers find the fish is the way to go, and casting live menhaden or Gulp baits should tempt them to bite. The shallow flats behind the barrier islands and docks along the ICW are likely spots to begin the hunt for the reds.

A few flounder are mixed in with the drum, but the flounder bite has been better around ledges, channel edges, and shell beds in 9-12’ of water lately. Live menhaden are top choices for the flatfish as well.

Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that flounder fishing is heating up throughout the area. The fish are feeding from the creeks to inshore structure like docks and rocks on out to the nearshore reefs. Live menhaden are tempting bites from the flatfish from the backwaters on out to the ocean.

Red drum fishing has been excellent with the area’s super-high tides lately. The fish are feeding in flooded grass when the tide comes up, and, like the flounder, have a tough time resisting a live or cut menhaden.

Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are catching some bluefish while working metal lures from the pier.

A few flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.

Bottom fishing with shrimp is producing some action with sea mullet at night.

Jan, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of summer spot along with some sea mullet and a mixed bag of other bottom feeders while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.

Flounder are falling for live mud minnows, but many are undersized.

Plug casters are catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel early and late in the day.

Alex, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs early and late in the days.

Spot and whiting are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms. Some pompano are falling for sand fleas on the bottom.

Small live baits are attracting attention from flounder under the pier.

Live-baiters hooked a tarpon last week.