Topsail April 26, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that whiting, puffers, and black drum are biting in the surf along Topsail Island. Pier anglers are catching those same species, as well as bluefish.
Around the swing bridge, a few speckled trout are falling victim to pink shine Gulp Jerk Shads.
Nearshore, at Diver’s Rock, anglers are catching good numbers of bonito, both by casting to breaking schools and jigging deeper. Black sea bass are feeding on the bottom, and they will hit jigs or bait rigs.
Kings are numerous and holding at most of the offshore spots over 20 miles from the beach.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that New River speckled trout fishing is excellent. Anglers are catching up to 40 fish per day, with some mega-trout (weighing up to 9 lbs.) landed recently. The trout are feeding in creeks off the New River all the way from Snead’s Ferry up to Jacksonville.
The prime trout lures are Billy Bait Halo and Storm Wildeye Shrimp, and trout fishing will get even better when anglers can buy or catch live shrimp for bait.
Anglers are also pulling red drum from New River creeks.
Ken, of Swell Rider Sportfishing Charters, reports that the Atlantic bonito bite has been hot at Diver’s Rock. Blues are also schooled up at the rock, and the area is holding sea bass as well, although most of the sea bass are smallish.
Flounder fishing is heating up in creek mouths off the waterway. Virtually every mouth between the Surf City Swing Bridge and the Figure Eight Bridge seems to be holding fish.
Offshore, the weather has slowed things down, but look for kings and dolphin to move closer to the beach as the temperatures come up.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that whiting are hitting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Some 4-5 lb. speckled trout have been caught on the same rigs.
Bluefish have arrived, and they are biting bottom rigs and plugs.
Some keeper flounder are coming over the rails, and the successful flounder fishermen are using live mud minnows.
The water temperature is around 60 degrees.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that blues have been running in the morning and the late afternoon. They’ll hit plugs or bottom rigs.
Both large and small whiting are biting shrimp pinned on bottom rigs. Bottom fishermen are also catching an occasional black drum.
Anglers are catching some small flounder now, and the flounder bite will get much better as May begins and the water warms up a bit.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that whiting and black drum are cruising the surf zone and hitting bottom rigs baited with shrimp. Speckled trout are also in the surf, and they will fall for soft plastic baits.
In the New River, speckled trout and red drum fishing has been productive in the smaller creeks.
Nearshore, anglers can score with bluefish and bonito by trolling Clark Spoons (both with and without planers) around structure or diving birds.
King mackerel are falling for trolled spoons in a variety of areas 15+ miles from shore.
And grouper are holding between 15 and 40 miles from the beach.
