Topsail August 23, 2007
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers are catching flounder and red drum in the sound. Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulp Alive baits are the top producers on both species.
Surf fishermen are landing pompano, whiting, bluefish, and some puppy drum on shrimp and cut baits.
In and around the inlets, anglers are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish, both while casting from shore or while trolling the inlet and beaches.
Starting at spots 5-7 miles offshore, boats are landing good catches of king mackerel. Larger kings (20+ lbs.) are feeding further offshore. Most of the kings are falling for ballyhoo or dead cigar minnows, and blue/white, pink, and pink/white skirts seem to be producing better results than naked baits. Anglers should use downriggers to troll baits at 1/2 to 2/3 the water depth, but no deeper, as sharks will be a constant nuisance on baits fished near the bottom.
Anglers are hooking up with dolphin around Christmas Rock and further off the beach. Most are 6-12 lbs., and cigar minnows and ballyhoo should tempt the dolphin to bite, too.
The high temperatures have pushed wahoo inshore from the Gulf Stream, and boats have weighed in fish up to 50 lbs. caught in the 18-20 mile range.
Grouper fishing has been excellent for boats able to make it 25+ miles offshore. Cigar minnows will produce good results on grouper, but lately whole squids seem to be the best baits.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with black drum during the evening and nighttime hours. Both shrimp and sand fleas are drawing bites from the drum.
Anglers fishing with live baits are hooking up with a few flounder.
Spanish mackerel are feeding near the pier in the early morning hours, but most are on the small side. Plug casters are also catching some bluefish.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that live baits are tempting bites from flounder. Anglers weighed in flatfish as large as 6 lbs. over the week.
Shrimp and sand fleas are attracting attention from pompano (up to 2 lbs.) and black drum (up to 5 lbs.).
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in diamond jigs.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing a mixed bag of whiting, croaker, spot, and pompano. Shrimp and sand fleas are the most effective baits.
Anglers caught decent numbers of speckled trout over the week (with several over 6 lbs.).
Some keeper flounder are hitting live baits fished on the bottom.
Bluefish are working bait near the pier, and they’re falling for Gotcha plugs. Spanish mackerel are also taking an interest in the plugs. Anglers are catching larger spanish (up to 6 lbs.) on live baits.
No kings were caught this week, but live baiters did hook a tarpon.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Inshore Charters, reports that trout fishing remains consistent in the New River. Anglers are landing double digit numbers of trout most days, and the fish are falling for live shrimp and Halo and Storm imitation shrimp in pink.
Good numbers of over sized red drum (30”+) are feeding in the same areas as the trout. While the trout are staging in 6-8’ of water along the drop-offs, the reds are chasing bait against the banks in just 1-2’ of water.
The fishing has been hot throughout the river, from Sneads Ferry to Jacksonville.
Glen, of New River Marina, reports that red drum are feeding well in the river and waterway.
In the inlet and along the beaches, boats are hooking up with king and spanish mackerel.
