Topsail September 11, 2008
Connor Pollock (age 11), from Jacksonville, NC, with an over-slot red drum caught and released on a Redfish Magic spinnerbait while fishing an early rising tide in a creek near Camp LeJeune.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that since Tropical Storm Hanna, surf anglers have been hooking up with a lot of red drum. Cut baits and shrimp should get their attention.
Some spot have also been feeding in the surf, and they’ll bite shrimp or bloodworms. Aside from the reds and spot, surf anglers are picking up a typical late summer mixed bag of whiting, croakers, pompano, and other species.
Inshore, anglers are finding some action with more red drum, some flounder, and speckled and gray trout on the sound side of the island. Live shrimp or Gulp shrimp in the natural color will attract attention from all these species.Eric, of New River Marina reports that the speckled trout and red drum bite in the area was excellent before the storm, and it should continue to be good. Creeks, flats, and structure in the New River and ICW have been holding the fish, and topwater plugs have been producing excellent results lately. The fish will also fall for live baits, Gulps, and other lures.
Flounder are feeding in creek mouths and around the 172 Bridge. Live finger mullet or peanut pogies fished on Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Sheepshead and black drum are looking for meals around the bridge pilings, and shrimp or other crustacean baits fished on bottom rigs will get their attention.
Trolling for spanish mackerel was productive before the winds dirtied the ocean water, and the fish should return as soon as the water clears up. Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and trolling weights will fool the spanish.
Gray trout are showing up at structure in the ocean, and anglers have been catching decent numbers in 30-40′ off of the Onslow Beach pier and the checkerboard tower. Stingsilvers and diamond jigs worked just off the bottom will attract bites from the trout.
King mackerel should be feeding again around AR-355, Honeymoon Rock, and similar areas. Live baits like pogies and cigar minnows will tempt the kings.
The grouper bite has been good lately as well, with boats finding gags at structure within 15 miles of the beach. Reds and scamps are feeding in deeper water 25+ miles offshore.
The boats that have made it to the blue water over the past weeks are reporting an improving wahoo and dolphin bite.
Philip Roesel with a 50 lb. wahoo caught on a pink-skirted cigar minnow at AR-382 in 60' of water. He landed the fish on 20 lb. test while fishing with his father, Frank.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout and red drum have been on the feed. The creeks and structure around Sneads Ferry have been especially productive lately, mostly with trout in the 2-3 lb. class.
Reds are feeding alongside the trout and further upriver, where they’re chasing abundant schools of shrimp.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are picking up a mixed bag of whiting, puppy drum, black drum, and pompano. Shrimp on bottom rigs are producing most of the action.
There is lots of bait (both finger mullet and glass minnows) in the water right now, and when it’s clear, spanish mackerel and bluefish are slashing at the schools on the surface. Many aren’t taking much of an interest in anglers’ baits due to the abundance of natural schools, but some fish are falling for free-lined finger mullet and diamond jigs.
Jordan Register (age 13) with a 6 lb. 6 oz. flounder she caught on a live finger mullet on her last day of summer fishing at a creek near Topsail before returning to Raleigh for school.
Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few whiting and black drum, pompano, and bluefish on shrimp. Some spot are showing up as well, and they’ll fall for bloodworms or shrimp.
Before the storm, diamond jigs were fooling good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel, and they should be back once the water clears.
April, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching some black drum and whiting on shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been falling for Gotcha plugs.
