Topsail September 13, 2007
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are landing some nice spot on both artificial and real bloodworms. Fat pompano and whiting are falling for shrimp and sand fleas.
Anglers are beaching some slot and over-slot red drum near the old house on Lea Island. Cut baits or finger mullet will draw attention from the drum.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding right on the beach. From the sand and pier decks, anglers are hooking up by casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs. Those chasing spanish from boats are trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers with success.
The largest concentrations of king mackerel are feeding 7-12 miles offshore. Live bait has been difficult to come by lately, and the kings aren’t showing much of an interest in artificials, so most boats are trolling dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo. Baits with chartreuse, blue/white, and pink/white skirts are getting more attention than naked ones.
The grouper bite has been good, with boats landing gags at structure 18-20 miles offshore. Reds, scamps, and other bottomfish are further off the beach (30+ miles).
When the winds lay down enough for boats to get out to the Gulf Stream, the wahoo bite has been excellent. Skirted ballyhoo are the wahoo baits of choice.
Inshore, some speckled trout are feeding in the creeks and around the bridge. Gulp and live baits will tempt the trout to strike.
Flounder and red drum are feeding in the creek mouths, and they will also take an interest in live or Gulp baits.
Ladyfish are hanging around the bridge and the inlet. They are easiest to catch at night, when they’ll fall for finger mullet or Gulp baits fished on the surface.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that New River speckled trout fishing remains solid. The fish are coming from a variety of areas in the river, all the way from Jacksonville down to Sneads Ferry. Billy Bay Halo shrimp imitations in pink and white are the top artificials, although a live shrimp fished under a float is tough for the trout to resist.
Red drum are cruising the grass banks of the ICW looking for meals, and they’ll readily attack topwater lures. Most of the reds are 27-34”.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the spot runs have started. Some anglers are catching 40 or more fish per day, but the bite can slow down, too. Bloodworms offer the best chance of a good spot catch. And whiting are mixed in with the spot at night.
Spanish and bluefish are feeding around the pier, but there is so much bait in the water that it can be difficult to get them to strike a hooked offering. Anglers are landing few of both species on diamond jigs.
Flounder are taking an interest in live finger mullet fished on the bottom.
A few pompano, puppy drum, and trout are also coming over the rails.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for diamond jigs. Live finger mullet free-lined on the surface are also drawing strikes from the spanish.
At night, bottom fishermen are hooking spot and whiting on cut shrimp.
Flounder and puppy drum are biting shrimp and live baits.
Live baiters caught a king and a tarpon last week.
Frank, of Sea View Pier, reports that anglers fishing with live shrimp are landing speckled trout.
Bottom fishermen are catching spot on bloodworms. Black and red drum are falling for shrimp fished on the bottom.
Anglers casting diamond jigs are hooking up with good numbers of bluefish.
Tarpon are feeding off the end of the pier, but none were landed this week.
The water is still around 80 degrees.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that speckled trout and red drum fishing are still going strong in the river and ICW. Gulp baits, shrimp imitations, and live baits should tempt the drum and trout to bite.
Flounder are feeding in the river, the ICW, and the inlets. A Carolina-rigged live bait offers anglers the best chance of hooking up with the flatfish.
Croaker and spot have made their way into the inlets and the river. A two-hook bottom rig baited with shrimp or bloodworms will draw strikes from both species.
Around the 172 Bridge, anglers that are bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking up with black drum (averaging 3-5 lbs.) and good numbers of sheepshead.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding close to and in the inlets. Boats are hooking up with the blues and spanish by trolling Clarkspoons and diving plugs and by casting small metal lures to the breaking schools.
Boats are finding a few cobia and king mackerel feeding right on the beach, along with more spanish and blues.
Gray trout are schooling up on nearshore ledges and structure, and they will fall for vertically jigged Stingsilvers and diamond jigs.
Some gag grouper are feeding at structure just 5-8 miles off the beach. Red grouper and other bottomfish are farther offshore at the 30+ mile spots.
