Topsail July 19, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching a mixed bag of whiting, pompano, spot, croaker, bluefish, red drum, and black drum. Fresh shrimp and cut baits should produce strikes from any of these bottom feeders that happen by.
Inshore, anglers are catching big speckled trout around the bridges on Gulp baits.
Red drum are on the feed in the creeks and bays. Gulp baits are also proving effective on the drum.
Flounder fishing has been good in the creeks off the waterway as well. The flatfish will eagerly strike Carolina-rigged live baits and they’re responding to Gulp baits as well.
Spanish mackerel are on the feed along the beaches and at the nearshore structure. Trolled Clarkspoons will take plenty of spanish, but anglers wishing to target larger fish should pull live baits.
Kings are also feeding along the beaches and at structure both near and offshore.
Anglers have seen sailfish from several Topsail piers this week, and boats have hooked up with sails from the inlet sea buoys on out. Live pogies, rigged ballyhoo, and cigar minnows should all get attention from the sails.
Plenty of peanut dolphin are feeding nearshore, and boats are catching larger dolphin by trolling ballyhoo 30+ miles offshore.
Boats making the long run to the Gulf Stream this week have been rewarded with catches of blue and white marlin. While skirted ballyhoo will produce plenty of bites in the blue water, Mold Craft chuggers and other lures allow boats to troll faster, covering more water.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing pompano, black drum, whiting, and a few spot. Shrimp and sand fleas are the prime baits, and the pompano and black drum are showing a preference for the fleas.
Those fishing live baits on the bottom are hooking up with good numbers of keeper flounder.
Sheepshead are milling around the pier’s pilings, and anglers are catching them by baiting up with fiddler crabs. Sheepshead up to 6 lbs. were weighed last week.
While no kings were caught last week, live baiters enjoyed plenty of action. Several tarpon were sighted from the pier over the week, and pier anglers also saw a sailfish.
The king riggers also landed a 25 lb. jack crevalle and plenty of large (4-6 lb.) spanish mackerel.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that flounder (up to 4 lbs.) are hitting live baits on the bottom. Mud minnows have been the best live baits.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are landing whiting and pompano.
Those casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs are hooking up with good numbers of spanish mackerel.
King riggers caught several teenager size kings over the week, along with a 60 lb. tarpon.
Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that pompano are biting diamond jigs and shrimp on bottom rigs.
In the early morning hours, anglers are landing flounder and speckled trout by fishing live shrimp on the bottom. Some of the trout are approaching 4 lbs.
Large numbers of bluefish are striking live baits and Gotcha plugs.
Those fishing on the end of the pier sighted several tarpon and a sailfish last week.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Fishing Charters, reports that New River speckled trout fishing is still excellent, although not many anglers are targeting the trout right now. Storm Wildeye and Billy Bay Halo shrimp imitations are the top artificial lures, but anglers fishing live shrimp under floats will catch as many or more fish.
The trout action has been hot from Sneads Ferry upriver to downtown Jacksonville; however, the recent rains may push the fish towards the ocean.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the speckled trout bite is still good in the river. The trout will bite live baits or a variety of lures.
Red drum are on the feed in area creeks, along with a few flounder. Live baits on Carolina rigs will tempt both fish, as will Gulp baits.
Tripletail are holding tight to crab pots and other buoys in the river.
Around the 172 Bridge, anglers are hooking up with 10-15 lb. black drum on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Sheepshead are also feeding near the bridge, and they will strike fiddler crabs and other crustacean baits.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding outside the inlets and along the beaches. The inlet tide lines are good places to begin looking for both. Live pogies should get attention from the kings, and smaller live baits and spoons will tempt the spanish.
Grouper fishing has been excellent, and boats are finding gags feeding just eight miles offshore. Reds are further out in the 30+ mile areas.
Dolphin fishing is still good, and most of the fish are 10 miles and further off the beach. Go with live baits, frozen cigar minnows, and rigged ballyhoo.
Sailfish are pleasantly surprising anglers fishing for the dolphin and kings.
