Topsail October 25, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf anglers are catching good numbers of red drum from North Topsail all the way south to Lee Island. Cut baits or finger mullet fished on the bottom should draw drum bites, and the fishing is usually best at night.
In the middle of the island, surf fishermen are hooking up with pompano and whiting. Shrimp and sand flea baits should attract attention from both species.
Inshore, anglers are catching some reds and flounder. Live finger mullet fished on Carolina rigs and Gulp baits will fool the drum and flounder, and anglers can find the fish feeding in the sound and creeks.
Gray trout are holding on structure in 20-25’ of water just off New River Inlet and just off the beach near the checkerboard tower. The trout will fall for jigging lures worked near the structure or baits on bottom rigs.
King mackerel are still feeding very well along the beach and at nearshore structure. Live pogies are the top king baits, but they are often tough to find. Boats have done well while trolling dead baits recently, too.
In the Gulf Stream, boats are hooking up with wahoo and some sailfish by trolling rigged ballyhoo.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that spot fishing has been hit-or-miss over the past week. When the spot are feeding, anglers are landing two at a time. Bloodworms are producing the best action with the spot.
Some pompano are falling for shrimp fished on the bottom.
Anglers are landing decent numbers of flounder, with some keepers mixed in with some throwbacks. Live finger mullet or mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs are the best flounder baits, and some puppy drum have fallen for the live baits recently too.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been feeding sporadically. Diamond jigs will draw strikes from both fish when they’re running.
Live baiters caught big numbers of king mackerel from the end of the pier last week, with the largest weighing 38 lbs.
Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that spot are falling for shrimp and bloodworms fished on the bottom. Some pompano are also taking an interest in the shrimp.
Anglers are catching spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Several kings were caught over the course of the week on live baits.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing is excellent throughout the New River right now. The fish are feeding in creeks and around structure from downtown Jacksonville all the way to Sneads Ferry.
Live shrimp fished beneath floats offer anglers the best odds with the trout, but the fish will also fall for Halo and Storm shrimp imitations and topwater plugs.
Red drum are chasing bait along the banks of the river and the ICW, and they will strike topwater plugs and live baits.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that spot are running well. Anglers baiting bottom rigs with bloodworms are catching the most. Bluefish, pompano, and whiting are also biting on the bottom.
Anglers are landing some spanish mackerel, and diamond jigs are fooling them into biting.
Several king mackerel were landed last week. Anglers hooked the kings on both bluefish and pogy baits.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that red drum and speckled trout fishing in the New River has been excellent recently. Live shrimp are nearly irresistible to both species, but anglers can also get them to bite Halo shrimp, Gulp baits, topwater plugs, and other artificial lures.
Flounder fishing is also good in the river and ICW. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs will tempt the flounder to strike.
Spot fishing has been slow in the river, but bottom fishermen are catching good numbers of croaker and some puppy drum around the 172 Bridge.
In the inlet and at nearby structure in the ocean, anglers are catching big numbers of gray trout. Spec rigs tipped with shrimp, Stingsilvers, and diamond jigs will all draw bites from the trout.
Along the beachfront, bluefish, spanish mackerel, and king mackerel are feeding heavily. Live baits are tough to beat for the larger spanish and kings, but they’ll hit dead baits and trolled Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers as well.
Grouper fishing remains good. Boats are finding gags within 20 miles of the beach, and the reds and scamps are feeding further offshore (from 25 miles on).
In the Gulf Stream, wahoo fishing is still excellent. Ballyhoo trolled under dark colored skirts should appeal to the wahoo and any other gamefish in the blue water.
