Topsail August 21, 2008
Matthew Gilgo (age 13), of Scotts Hill, NC, with his first dolphin. He hooked it on a chartreuse-skirted ballyhoo while fishing with his father near 23 Mile Rock.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are finding some excellent action with flounder inshore, along with some speckled trout and red drum. Live baits will fool all three fish, and anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits or other artificials.
Sheepshead are feeding tight to the pilings of the swing bridge and area docks, and fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or other crustaceans will draw their attention.
Surf anglers are hooking up with whiting and red and black drum along Topsail Island, and they’re finding reds and ladyfish at the north end of Lea Island. Shrimp and cut baits should produce action in the breakers, and anglers can also hook the reds and ladyfish on gold spoons and other lures.
Some spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches. Anglers are hooking them while casting lures from the piers and while trolling Clarkspoons from boats.
The king bite has been good around the D and E Buoys and at Cripple Rock. Decent numbers of dolphin are mixed in with the kings, and anglers can hook both while trolling live baits or dead cigar minnows.
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Randy Hudson, of Hampstead, NC, and Bobby Greer, of Castle Hayne, NC, with four gag grouper and a 25 lb. cobia they caught 30 miles off Topsail while bottom fishing with cigar minnows and sardines.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are still finding action with speckled trout and red drum in creeks and around structure off the New River and ICW. Live shrimp and other baits are top choices for both fish, but anglers can also hook them on topwater plugs, Gulp baits, Halo shrimp, and a variety of other lures.
Flounder fishing has been good near the inlets and around the 172 Bridge. Live finger mullet and other baits fished on Carolina rigs will attract attention from the flatfish.
Sheepshead and black drum are feeding near the bridge pilings and at other structure throughout the area. Shrimp, clams, and other shellfish baits on bottom rigs will attract attention from both striped fish.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are running the beaches, where boaters are hooking them while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures.
Gray trout are beginning to school up at Diver’s Rock and other nearshore structure, and anglers can jig for them with Stingsilvers or other metal lures.
Kings are feeding from the beaches out to offshore ledges and other structure. They’ll fall for trolled live baits like pogies and cigar minnows.
The grouper bite has been solid lately, with boats finding action with gags 10-12 miles offshore, and reds, scamps, and other bottomfish 25+ miles from the inlet. Frozen cigar minnows and Boston mackerel, cut baits, and live baits will get strikes from the groupers.
Wahoo have moved inshore of the Gulf Stream, and anglers are hooking them, along with some dolphin, while trolling ballyhoo and live baits 30+ miles offshore.
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Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout and red drum bite has been excellent well up the New River lately, with solid action all the way to downtown Jacksonville.
Live shrimp and finger mullet or peanut pogies will draw strikes from both fish, and anglers can also hook up on topwater plugs and other lures.
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Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers enjoyed some excellent bottom fishing last week, landing whiting, spot, pompano, spadefish, puppy drum, and other species. Fresh shrimp are drawing the most bites.
Anglers are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Flounder are falling for live baits fished near the bottom as well as some artificial lures.
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Steve, of Seaview Pier, reports than anglers fishing live baits on the bottom are hooking up with decent numbers of flounder.
Spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Bottom fishermen are decking spot, whiting, and pompano, with shrimp producing the best results.
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Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that black drum and sheepshead are biting fiddler crabs and sand fleas fished close to the pier’s pilings.
Plug casters are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.
Flounder are taking an interest in live baits fished on the bottom.
Live baiters fishing from the end of the pier last week had several king bites.
