Topsail Island – May 21, 2015
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf casters continue to catch solid numbers of keeper black drum (some to 6-10 lbs.). Bottom fishing with shrimp is producing most of the action with the drum.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are also hooking plenty of solid sea mullet on shrimp and Fish Bites baits.
Spanish mackerel have shown up in force, and anglers are hooking excellent numbers while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the piers and while trolling small spoons and diving plugs from boats. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in and biting the same offerings.
David Erickson with a healthy red grouper that bit a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig while he was fishing some bottom structure off Topsail Island with his son on the “Reel Dream.”
Offshore, bottom fishermen are reporting an excellent grouper bite. Gag grouper are holding on structure within 20 miles of the beachfront, and anglers are finding red and scamp grouper further offshore in the 100’+ depths. Live baits, cigar minnows, and squid are top choices for anglers looking for the grouper, and they will also fool sea bass, grunts, and snappers feeding in the same areas.
Not many reports have come in from the Gulf Stream recently, but anglers are connecting with big numbers of dolphin and a few wahoo to the north and south of the area, so it should be on for boats making the run.
Inshore, the red drum action continues to be steady around the inlets and marshy bays and flats. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits will all fool the reds.
Sheepshead have shown up around inshore structure like dock pilings, and anglers are tempting them to bite fiddler crabs and sand fleas dangled close to their homes.
Flounder fishing is improving inshore. Anglers are finding the flatfish in the inlets, creeks, and around inshore structure, and they’re hooking them on live and Gulp baits.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are still connecting with red drum on the flats and in the bays off the New River and ICW. Topwater plugs, gold spoons, and a variety of soft plastic baits will attract attention from the reds.
Speckled trout are feeding in many of the same areas, though often slightly deeper than the reds. Anglers can connect with the specks on the same lures or on suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR17’s.
Flounder continue to become more numerous in the inshore waters. Anglers can tempt the flatfish to bite live baits or artificials like TTF soft plastics laced with Pro-Cure scents.
Richard, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live-baiters landed the first king mackerel of the year from the end of the pier last week.
Plug casters are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel on metal lures like Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking pigfish, croaker, sea mullet, and some gray trout in the evening hours.
Galen, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a few bluefish and spanish mackerel while working metal casting lures from the pier.
Black drum, some spring spot, and sea mullet have been biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
A few flounder are coming over the rails as well.
April, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some bluefish on bottom rigs and casting lures during the daylight hours. Spanish mackerel haven’t been around since last week’s storm, but they should return as the water settles down.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some croaker and a few sea mullet at night.
