Topsail August 25, 2011
Debbie Tate with a red drum she hooked on a Gulp bait near Lea Island.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are finding some excellent red drum fishing inshore around Topsail. The best action has been around oyster bars in the marshes and at ICW docks. Anglers are catching a few reds early in the day on topwater plugs. Later in the day, Gulp baits have been the most effective offerings, but anglers are also hooking up on live baits.
Flounder are feeding all over the area, from the backwaters to the surf, piers, and nearshore reefs (with fewer flounder inshore but some larger fish). Live baits and Gulps will fool the flatfish.
Surf fishermen are still catching sea mullet and pompano (with some citation fish, especially early in the mornings). Shrimp and sand fleas will fool both, but orange clam-flavor Fish Bites produced some of the largest fish last week.
Bluefish are feeding just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking them from the piers while working Gotchas. Some larger spanish mackerel are in the same areas, and anglers have done better with the spaniards on small live baits lately.
The sailfish bite is still going strong 20-25 miles off the inlets. Most of the fish are chasing bait around structure like 23 Mile Rock. Trolling dredge teasers (particularly pearl/blue Blue Water Candy models) is attracting the fish to the boats, where anglers are tempting them to eat naked ballyhoo.
Blue water anglers have found an excellent wahoo bite lately, with action around the Big 10/Little 10, Swansboro Hole, and plenty of other offshore spots. Both live baits and ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored skirted lures are tempting bites from the ‘hoos.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the area’s flounder bite remains strong. Most of the fish lately have been coming from the docks on the ICW and deeper ledges inshore. Live finger mullet have been producing more action than menhaden over the past few weeks.
The red drum fishing slowed down a bit last week, but it’s back on track after the cooler days the area’s seen recently. Live or cut mullet and menhaden are fooling the reds, and anglers are finding most of them around docks in the ICW and the marshy areas between Topsail and Figure Eight.
Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that a few bluefish and spanish mackerel have been taking an interest in Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier lately.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and red drum. Shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits on double bottom rigs are getting their attention.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting live finger mullet fished close to the pilings.
Thurman Vick, of Jacksonville, with a 29 lb. king mackerel that struck a Yo-Zuri Deep Diver 10 miles off New River Inlet in 60' of water while he was trolling with Raeford Brown on the "Pirate Attack."
Jay, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish and a few spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some larger spanish (to 5 lbs.) are falling for live baits on king rigs.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder.
Some pompano are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, mostly at night. Shrimp are producing most of the fish.
Several red drum also fell for baited bottom rigs last week.
Plug casters are hooking up with a few bluefish on Gotchas.
