Topsail August 2, 2007
Cathy, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching plenty of whiting, pompano, and a few spot while baiting up with shrimp and artificial bloodworms. Flounder and speckled trout are also feeding in the surf zone, and anglers are catching the flounder on live minnows and shrimp, with the trout preferring the shrimp.
King and spanish mackerel are feeding along the beaches, and pier anglers are catching both on live bait rigs. Those fishing from boats are doing well while trolling close to the beaches and at the nearshore structure. Live pogies are the top choice for baits.
Boats are also finding kings, along with amberjacks and dolphin, at traditional offshore hotspots. The best dolphin fishing has been 12-30 miles from shore, and trolled ballyhoo or live pogies should tempt them to bite.
Some sailfish are mixed in with the kings and dolphin, and they will strike the same baits.
Offshore bottom fishermen are landing good numbers of grouper, snapper, and sea bass.
The Gulf Stream is still giving up a lot of dolphin and wahoo for boats making the long run. Anglers should troll ballyhoo and squid baits to produce the best results in the blue water.
Inshore, red drum and flounder are feeding near the inlets and in area creeks. Live mullet or shrimp are the best natural baits, and anglers are also hooking up while casting the new Gulp Alive baits on jigheads.
Frank, of Sea View Pier, reports that whiting, spot, and black drum are biting shrimp and sand fleas fished on bottom rigs.
The speckled trout bite has been good in the early mornings, and live shrimp are fooling most of the trout.
Anglers are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel while casting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Live baiters fishing from the end of the pier landed several king mackerel over the course of the week.
Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that some excellent king mackerel fishing took place from the pier with more than 20 kings landed early in the week. The largest weighed 35 lbs., and most of the kings bit live bluefish.
Anglers fishing for flounder with live mud minnows also had a good week. While there are still some sub-legal fish in the mix, many of the flatfish caught over the week were over 20” and 4+ lbs.
A few speckled trout are also falling for the mud minnows.
Spot, whiting, and pompano are all biting shrimp on bottom rigs.
The water temperature is 82 degrees.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout on live shrimp in the morning hours.
Those fishing with live mud minnows are landing some flounder.
Plug casters are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish, and the blues are also hitting cut baits at night.
Anglers landed a good number of kings while fishing with live baits over the week, and the largest weighed 25 lbs.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout are on the feed in the New River. Anglers are hooking up with the trout while fishing in the creeks and the main river.
Soft plastic Storm and Halo shrimp imitations are the top artificial baits, and the trout have a hard time turning down live shrimp as well.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that inshore anglers are catching red drum and flounder in the creek mouths off the ICW. Live shrimp and mullet are very effective baits for both species, but they’ll fall for a variety of artificial lures as well.
Sheepshead and black drum are still feeding around the 172 Bridge. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs will tempt strikes from both these crustacean lovers.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are chasing bait in the inlets and along the beaches. Boats can target both species by trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
Kings are also feeding right on the beach. Many are snake and teenager-sized, but there are some big 30+ lb. fish around as well. Live pogies will draw bites from the kings.
Boats are finding plenty of dolphin and sailfish at spots 8-20 miles offshore, along with more king mackerel. Live pogies will produce bites from all these fish, but boats trolling rigged ballyhoo can go faster, covering more water.
Grouper fishing remains hot, with boats decking gags just 8-10 miles offshore. The red and scamp grouper are feeding in deeper water 20-30 miles from the inlet. Live cigar minnows and greenies are tough to beat as far as grouper baits go, and these baits have been plentiful around the E Buoy.
