Topsail September 1, 2011
Michelle Crisco and Bryson Morgan with a 31.5” red drum that struck a live finger mullet near Rich’s Inlet while they were fishing with Capt Wayne Crisco of Last Resort Charters out of Surf City.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that Topsail Island saw minimal damage from Hurricane Irene, and anglers are already back to catching fish, just in time for the holiday weekend.
Since the weather, there’s been an excellent red drum bite in the surf and from the island’s piers. Slot and over-slot red drum are biting finger mullet, cut baits, and a variety of other offerings fished just off the beaches on bottom rigs.
The sea mullet bite has also been excellent in the surf and decent from the piers. Shrimp and bloodworms are accounting for most of the mullet. Some spot, pompano, and other bottomfish are in the mix as well.
The piers are also catching some larger spanish mackerel on live baits.
Inshore, anglers are still finding plenty of flounder, with some larger fish biting around ICW docks and bridge pilings. Live mud minnows and finger mullet and scented soft plastics like Gulps are producing most of the fish.
A few spot are beginning to show up in the ICW as well.
Red drum action has been good around the oyster bars and in the channels inshore. Live baits and Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures will attract attention from the reds.
Just off the inlets, anglers are finding a good bluefish and spanish mackerel bite outside the breakers. Trolling Clarkspoons, squid rigs, and other lures will produce plenty of action with both fish. Anglers may also be able to cast diamond jigs or other small metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface.
Bottom structure 5-10 miles and further off the beaches has been producing plenty of action with black sea bass. Smaller vertical jigs and bottom rigs baited with squid and cut baits will tempt bites from the bass.
Gag grouper are feeding towards the offshore range of where the bass are, and live and cut baits or vertical jigs will get their attention.
Kim Richardson, of Fayetteville, NC, with a large pompano that bit a piece of shrimp in the Topsail surf.
Offshore, the wahoo bite should still be going strong at local Gulf Stream hotspots. Ballyhoo rigged under dark-colored trolling lures are the way to go for the ‘hoos.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the red drum bite was incredible during the week prior to the hurricane. Big numbers of fish were feeding under docks along the ICW and in creekmouths in the marshes.
Anglers have been reporting an excellent bite for upper and over-slot reds in the surf since the storm, so the fish inshore may well be on the feed, too. Huge numbers of finger mullet have begun schooling up, so it shouldn’t be hard for anglers to find some live baits. The reds shouldn’t be far from the mullet schools.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the excellent red drum bite before the storm should bode well for the fishing this week.
Shrimp trawlers are reporting big numbers of flounder and sheepshead in the nets inshore, so the fish haven’t abandoned the inshore waters, and fishing should be back on track as soon as the water cleans up.
At the moment, targeting flounder and drum near the inlets as incoming tides push cleaner water inshore should offer anglers the best odds of success. Live finger mullet are plentiful and make excellent baits for both.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that the pier sustained slight damage at the end over the storm, but it’s been repaired and it’s back to business as usual. Anglers are hooking big numbers of slot and over-slot reds from the pier (though most of the larger fish are breaking off in the pilings). Shrimp and finger mullet have both been getting attention from the reds.
Some black drum (to 2.5 lbs.) have been mixed in.
Bottom fishermen are decking some spot, sea mullet, and bluefish while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Jan, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers have been hooking some spot, pompano, puppy drum, and, surprisingly, a few legal black sea bass while fishing shrimp, bloodworms, and cut baits from the planks.
The spanish mackerel bite should turn back on as the water continues to clear up after the storm.
Carson Whitley (age 5) with a flounder caught in the Scotts Hill area. He was fishing with his aunt and uncle, John and Dianne Whitley.
Don, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and spot on shrimp and bloodworm baits.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel have been feeding off the pier in the mornings, and anglers are hooking a few on Gotcha plugs and other metal lures.
The action should continue to improve as the water cleans up over the next week.
