Topsail September 29, 2011
Sydney Williams (age 11), of Wilmington, with her first red drum, an upper-slot fish that bit a chunk of cut mullet in the Figure Eight surf while she was fishing with her dad.
Phil, of East Coast Sports, reports that there’s been an excellent red drum bite in the area’s marshes lately. The reds have been very willing to bite topwater plugs over the past week. When they won’t eat on top, you can get their attention with live baits, Gulps, and other lures.
The flounder action remains good, and anglers are finding the fish in the inlets, the marshes, and around inshore structure like docks. Gulp baits and live mud minnows or finger mullet are tough for the flatfish to turn down.
The speckled trout bite is picking up, and the coming cool weather should have it improving even further. The best action has been in the New River lately. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but if anglers can’t find them, soft plastics and suspending hard baits will fool the specks as well.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around bridge and dock pilings and other hard inshore structure in the area. Dangling fiddler crabs tight to the structure is the way to tempt bites from the crustacean-loving fish.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, and pompano on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
There’s been a good red drum bite in the surf around the south end of the island lately, with most of the fish falling for finger mullet and cut baits. Gold spoons will also tempt bites from the surf reds for anglers who want to cast artificials.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the cooler fall weather has the inshore fishing getting even better.
Anglers are connecting with good numbers of red drum at docks in the ICW, and much of the action has been in less than 2’ of water. Live finger mullet are fooling the majority of the reds. The mullet have been plentiful lately, so anglers shouldn’t have much trouble loading up on bait.
Flounder are feeding around heavy structure inshore, with the best action in 13-18’ of water. Live finger mullet are, conveniently, also the go-to bait for the flounder.
The speckled trout bite is starting to turn on, with better reports coming from Sneads Ferry than further south recently.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the flounder bite is on, and the flatfish have been very active lately along the ICW where docks meet grassy shorelines. Live finger mullet are tempting most of the bites from the flatfish.
The best action with red drum has been in deeper water near the inlets, particularly around areas of hard structure. Live finger mullet are top choices for the reds as well.
Anglers are beginning to catch better numbers of speckled trout than they have all year, with the best action around the inlets. Live shrimp are the number one baits for the specks when anglers can find them.
Luke McKeithan (age 14), from Wilmington, with a pair of black drum he caught in the ICW near Scotts Hill Marina.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some red drum, flounder, and speckled trout from the planks on live baits.
Spot are moving through, but the pier is seeing better action some days than others. Live and artificial bloodworms are the way to go for the best catches of spot.
Joe, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot and black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms.
A few flounder are taking an interest in live baits on the bottom.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Julie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that some spot and pompano are biting shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Some flounder, red drum, and speckled trout are taking an interest in live baits.
