Topsail – October 9, 2014
Justin and Aaron Holley with a 30″ red drum Aaron caught and released in the surf near Topsail Inlet. The red fell for a live finger mullet.
Kathy, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with spanish mackerel just off Topsail’s beaches. Boaters are hooking most of their fish while trolling Clarkspoons and also connecting while casting small metal jigs to schools of fish feeding on the surface. Pier anglers working Gotcha plugs are also getting in on the action.
King mackerel fishing within a few miles of the beachfront has been excellent lately as well (with some fish 40+ lbs.). The kings are falling for slow-trolled menhaden and other live baits.
False albacore are also chasing bait nearshore, and anglers can connect with the speedy fish while casting the same artficials they’re using for the spanish.
Bottom fishermen are reporting plenty of grouper action around bottom structure 10+ miles off the beaches, and they’re hooking the fish on a variety of live, dead, and cut baits.
Anglers making the run to the Gulf Stream are reporting some stellar wahoo action, with fish falling for both high-speed trolling lures and conventional skirted ballyhoo spreads.
Howard and Tyler Crumpler, Will and Gene Rivenbark, and Jaycob Rochelle with 23, 23, 27, 20, 26, and 23 lb. king mackerel they hooked recently while live-baiting from the end of Surf City Pier.
Inshore, there’s been excellent red drum fishing around the inlets, in the marshes and bays, and around structure like docks. Live and cut baits along with a wide variety of artificials will spark interest in the reds.
Black drum are looking for meals around docks, bridges, and other inshore structure. The crustacean lovers will pounce on fresh shrimp or crab baits.
Speckled trout action is getting better as the temperatures drop a bit, and anglers should see it improve further as fall sets in. The specks are feeding in the creeks and around structure like bridges. Anglers can tempt them to bite live shrimp, soft plastic baits on jigheads, and suspending lures.
Flounder are also making a good showing inshore, with most of the fish feeding near the inlets and around structure. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are top choices for the flatfish, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft baits pinned to jigheads.
Surf anglers are finding action with sea mullet, pompano, red and black drum, bluefish, and more while casting baits from Topsail’s shoreline. Shrimp and cut baits are producing the majority of the action.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with spot and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel from the pier last week.
Troy McGuire with a red drum he hooked on a Carolina-rigged finger mullet inshore of North Topsail Beach.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and other panfish while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. A few black and red drum are mixed in.
Plug casters are finding action with bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working metal lures from the pier.
Live baiters landed impressive numbers of king mackerel last week as well.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers caught several king mackerel while live-baiting from the end of the pier last week, with good numbers of cobia alongside them (many 30-50+ lbs.).
Plug casters are connecting with some fat (2-4 lb.) bluefish while working Gotchas from the pier early and late in the day. A few spanish mackerel are mixed in.
Good numbers of red drum have been biting cut baits and shrimp fished on the bottom.
Panfish action has been sporadic, but anglers are picking up some sea mullet and spot while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
