Topsail August 4, 2011
Aaron Swenson, of Cranberry Township, PA, caught this 31" red drum on a live menhaden in a creek near Figure Eight Island while he was fishing with Capt. Daniel Jarvis of Flat Foot Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are still finding plenty of black drum and sheepshead around the bridge and dock pilings inshore. Fiddler crabs will tempt bites from both.
Good numbers of over-slot red drum have been reported from the sound lately, with particularly good action around the dredge dock. Live baits or frozen finger mullet will get their attention.
Flounder fishing is still going strong inshore (with fish to 8 lbs. weighed this week). Anglers are finding the flatfish around docks and other inshore structure, and Gulp baits seem to have been outproducing live baits this past week.
Surf anglers are still seeing some pompano action, mostly while baiting up with sand fleas.
Some large (to 7 lbs.) spanish mackerel have been feeding just off the beaches. Anglers are hooking them with smaller live baits from the piers and boats.
The nearshore sailfish bite is excellent right now, and anglers have been reporting multiple sightings from the fish from 10-25 miles off the beach. Live baits will tempt bites from the sails, but trolling teasers like dredges and rigged ballyhoo is even more effective.
Some king mackerel (a few to 20 lbs.) were caught in the 25 mile range last week. Live menhaden are top choices for the kings.
Plenty of peanut dolphin are mixed in with the sailfish and kings.
Misty Oates, from Clinton, NC, with her first red drum. The 28" fish was caught (and released) using shrimp in the surf at North Topsail Beach.
Bottom fishermen are reporting some excellent black sea bass action at structure starting around 8 miles out. Squid, cut baits, and small vertical jigs will tempt bites from the bass.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the hot weather has made the fishing a little more inconsistent lately, but patient anglers are still putting together some solid catches. The red drum bite is still best in shallow water, and fishing the mouths of creeks at lower tides has been the most effective strategy lately. Finger mullet are beginning to prove more effective than menhaden with the reds.
Flounder are still feeding under deeper docks and other structure inshore (with lots of undersized fish but some to 3-4 lbs.). Live finger mullet are also tempting the bites from the flatfish.
Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs from the planks. A few larger spanish are falling for live baits on king rigs.
Some spot, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms at night.
Anglers are picking up some flounder on small live baits.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish have shown back up, and anglers are hooking them on diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs. Some large spaniards are falling for live baits on king rigs.
A few flounder are biting live baits under the pier.
Ray Tyons, of Hampstead, NC, with a slot red drum that fell for a fly while he was wade-fishing near the mouth of the New River with Capt. Ricky Kellum of Speckled Specialist Charters.
Alex, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live-baiters are seeing some tarpon almost daily off the end of the pier.
Some red and black drum and flounder are falling for live baits on the bottom.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish early and late in the day on Gotcha plugs.
