Topsail November 8, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are landing spot, whiting, pompano, and increasing numbers of red drum. Shrimp and bloodworms fished on bottom rigs will attract attention from the spot, whiting, and pompano.
The drum are feeding along the length of the island, especially just south of the inlet at North Topsail and in the slough off Lee Island south of New Topsail Inlet. Cut baits and finger mullet should entice the drum to bite, and anglers stand the best chance of hooking up with the reds at night.
Spot are also beginning to show up in the sound, and while they aren’t abundant yet, anglers willing to work hard should be able to put together a decent catch in the channels near the inlets.
King mackerel are still feeding well along the beachfront, and they are hitting dead baits, such as cigar minnows, well. The area around Jolly Roger Pier has had a particularly good king bite recently.
Gray trout are schooling up on the live bottoms and structure in 20-25’ of water off New River Inlet. Jigging a diamond jig or other metal lures just off the bottom should draw plenty of strikes from the grays.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that New River speckled trout fishing is hot and improving with the falling water temperatures. Anglers caught specks up to 8 lbs. last week. Live shrimp fished on sliding float rigs are the top trout producers, and that setup allows anglers to make nearly instant depth adjustments when changing locations.
The trout have also been hitting topwater plugs well recently, and will also fall for Billy Bay Halo and Storm shrimp imitations.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the spot run is still going strong. Both natural and artificial bloodworms are producing good catches of the spot. Bottom fishermen are also picking up a few black drum while baiting up with shrimp, as well as a decent number of whiting at night.
Pier anglers are picking up a few flounder, but most are a bit small.
Those fishing with finger mullet at night are hooking up with some trophy-sized red drum, and a 48” long, 25” girth drum caught last week set a new pier record.
Anglers casting plugs and diamond jigs are catching bluefish and a few spanish mackerel.
Jan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers fishing live baits landed quite a few kings last week, including one weighing 34 lbs. Live bluefish produced most of the king bites.
Plug casters are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel, and several spanish mackerel have also been caught on bloodworms by anglers fishing for spot.
Spot fishing has been excellent over the past week, and bottom fishermen are landing croaker, whiting, black drum, and puppy drum as well. Fresh shrimp and bloodworms fished on bottom rigs have been fooling all these bottom feeders.
Anglers also decked several speckled trout (in the 4-5 lb. range) while casting grubs from the pier over the week.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing spot, whiting, pompano, and black drum on cut shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers are also landing bluefish on the bottom rigs and on plugs.
The muddy water has slowed down the king and spanish mackerel bite.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are hooking up with some nice red drum in the ICW and New River. The reds will eagerly pounce on live shrimp or finger mullet, and lure casters will have success while using topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other soft plastic lures.
Speckled trout are also still feeding strong in the river all the way from Sneads Ferry to Jacksonville, and they will fall for live shrimp, topwaters, and shrimp-imitating lures.
Anglers are also landing a few flounder in the river, but the speck and red bite has been much better.
Spot are schooling up in the ICW, and anglers bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms are putting together decent catches.
In the ocean, king and spanish mackerel are still chasing bait along the beachfront, and anglers can troll live or dead baits, spoons, and plugs to attract attention from the mackerel.
The nearshore structure off New River is holding plenty of gray trout. Boaters vertically jigging Stingsilvers or other lures just off the bottom should have little trouble hooking up with the grays.
Gag grouper and some reds are holding at structure around 20 miles off the inlet, and they should be hungry when boats can get out to them.
Wahoo are still abundant in the Gulf Stream, where anglers can hook up with them by trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures.
