Topsail August 16, 2007
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore the flounder are feeding in the creeks and around the inlet. Anglers fishing the Surf City Bridge area are landing some speckled trout. And red drum are feeding around docks and in the marshes. Gulp Alive baits in New Penny and Pearl White are drawing strikes from all the inshore predators.
Surf and pier anglers are catching pompano and whiting on shrimp and sand fleas. Anglers are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel while casting plugs from the piers.
King mackerel are feeding in close to the beaches and at near and offshore structure. Live baits such as pogies are top choices for the kings, but they’ll also fall for cigar minnows.
Sailfish are still feeding in abundance throughout the area, and boats encountered sails at spots 3-7 miles offshore over the past week. Live baits will get attention from the sails, but anglers specifically targeting them are trolling rigged ballyhoo underneath skirted lures.
A few dolphin are feeding 8-20 miles offshore, and they will fall for live baits, ballyhoo, or cigar minnows.
Bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of grouper at spots 20-30 miles offshore. Plenty of black sea bass, grunts, and snappers are feeding around the same structure. Cigar minnows and sardines are both excellent bottom baits.
Mike, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing black drum and a few spot on cut shrimp and squid baits.
Anglers fishing in the early morning hours are landing some nice flounder on live minnows and shrimp.
Bluefish, along with a few spanish mackerel, are falling for diamond jigs.
The water temperature is well over 80 degrees.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are decking some whiting at night. Cut shrimp on bottom rigs are producing most of the action.
A few spanish mackerel are falling for plugs and diamond jigs.
Flounder and sheepshead are feeding around the pier, but due to last week’s heat, not many people were out fishing for them.
Jan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that night has been the best time to fish lately. Bottom fishermen are hooking up with a few whiting and red and black drum during the evening hours. Shrimp are the best bait for tempting bites from all three.
In the early mornings, anglers are hooking up with speckled trout while fishing live shrimp baits.
A few bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha Plugs and diamond jigs.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the hot weather only slowed New River trout fishing down slightly. Anglers are still catching good numbers of trout in the main river and the creeks while casting Halo and Storm Shrimp imitations and live shrimp. Some of the trout are bigger fish than the usual summer catch (up to 5 lbs.).
The area around Brown’s Inlet is holding good numbers of red drum, and they’ve been eager to bite topwater plugs recently.
New River Inlet is holding good numbers of flounder, and anglers can target them by fishing drop-offs in the inlet with live finger mullet or other baits.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are catching plenty of flounder in the creeks and marshes off the river and ICW. Carolina-rigged finger mullet are the top baits for the flatfish.
Red drum are holding in the same areas, and they will fall for the live mullet or a variety of soft plastic baits.
Speckled trout are feeding throughout the river, and live shrimp or Gulp baits should entice them to bite.
Around the 172 Bridge, anglers are hooking up with sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait in the inlet and along the beaches. Trolled Clarkspoons and Deep Divers will draw plenty of bites from both.
Kings are also feeding along the beach, and some are large (20+ lbs.) fish. Live pogies are the top choice in king mackerel baits.
Sailfish are feeding as close as 2-3 miles off the inlets. Live baits or rigged ballyhoo should attract attention from the acrobatic billfish.
Dolphin are feeding from 8 miles off the beach out to the Gulf Stream. Ballyhoo, live baits, and cigar minnows will all draw bites from the dolphin. Wahoo are mixed in with the dolphin from 20 miles on out.
Grouper fishing is still excellent, and boats are landing nice gags just eight miles from the beach. Red grouper and other bottom fish are feeding better 25 miles and further offshore.
