Topsail July 12, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are landing a typical summer mixed bag of whiting and other bottom fish. Shrimp have been producing the best results on the bottom rigs.
Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and kings are feeding close to the beach.
Ladyfish are plentiful in the inlets, and they will readily strike gold spoons or Gulp Alive baits.
The flounder bite has been best back in the creeks this week, and Gulp Alive baits are producing most of the flounder bites.
Speckled trout have moved from the inshore waters to the ocean and are feeding near the piers. On calm days, surf anglers can target the trout with topwater plugs in the early mornings.
Red drum are feeding in the creeks, the inlets, and the surf. Gold spoons, Gulp baits, shrimp, and cut baits will all draw the drum to strike.
AR362 is holding plenty of snake king mackerel. The little kings will eagerly attack trolled dead baits or Yo-Zuri Deep Diver plugs.
Sailfish are feeding as far inshore as the inlet sea buoys. The sails are finicky feeders, and anglers who keep their leaders out of the water by fishing live baits from kites stand the best chances of a sail hookup.
A few dolphin are feeding as close as 10 miles off the beach, but more and bigger fish (some up to 30 lbs.) are out around the 30 mile area. Rigged ballyhoo will produce the best results when dolphin fishing.
Grouper fishing has been good around the WR2, mostly for red groupers. Dead baits such as sardines and cigar minnows will attract the grouper’s attention.
Frank, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching black drum, spot, and whiting on shrimp and sand fleas.
Bluefish are biting diamond jigs.
Anglers are landing a few speckled trout and flounder, but most of the flounder are throwbacks.
Live baiters are hooking up with plenty of kings, some sharks, and a few tarpon. Both live pogies and bluefish are drawing strikes from the big gamefish.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that whiting, spot, black drum, and pompano are all hitting shrimp fished on bottom rigs.
Anglers are catching decent numbers of flounder, but many are too small to keep. A few bigger flatfish (up to 3.5 lbs.) were caught last week, however. Live baits are fooling most of the flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pier’s pilings, and most are falling for sand flea baits.
Anglers casting diamond jigs are hooking up with spanish mackerel, and some larger spanish (up to 5 lbs.) are striking live baits on king rigs.
Several kings in the 15-20 lb. range were caught over the week.
Gina, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Flounder and speckled trout have been biting fairly well, mostly on live baits.
Several king mackerel were caught over the course of the week, along with one tarpon.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout and red drum are feeding together in the New River up near Jacksonville. Live shrimp will fool both fish, as will Halo and Storm shrimp imitations.
Some larger upper-slot sized drum are cruising the marsh banks in the ICW behind Bear Island.
Spanish mackerel are thick within 3 miles of the beach, and they’re falling for small swimbaits and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows.
While spanish fishing, several boats have seen sailfish just two miles off the beach.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that trout and red drum fishing is still good in the river. The fish are feeding actively, and they will strike live shrimp or finger mullet and a variety of artificial lures.
New River flounder fishing is getting hot. Anglers fishing live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are having the best luck with the flounder.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the Sneads Ferry Bridge. Most of the black drum are hitting shrimp fished on bottom rigs. The sheepshead are taking an interest in sand fleas fished close to the pilings, and one angler weighed in a 15 lb. sheepshead last week.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the inlet and along the beach. Trolled Clarkspoons and diving plugs will take both fish.
Kings are also running the beaches in search of meals, and they will pounce on slow trolled pogy baits.
Boats are landing gag grouper just eight miles offshore.
Dolphin are feeding in the same area, although most are peanuts.
Larger dolphin are mixed in with sailfish and wahoo further offshore near the inner edge of the Gulf Stream. Troll skirted ballyhoo to hook up with all three.
