Added on Thursday, July 17, 2008  Gary Hurley

Topsail July 17, 2008

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier fishermen are catching a typical summertime mixed bag, but with a decent number of pompano in the mix. Shrimp and sand fleas are effective baits.

Surf fishermen are also starting to catch some speckled trout in the breakers. The best action has come from anglers casting MirrOlures and Gulp shrimp into the sloughs at night. Some ladyfish are also feeding in the surf at night.

Inshore, the flounder bite has been good in the creeks and near the inlet. Gulp baits and live baits fished on Carolina rigs should tempt the flounder to strike.

Offshore reports have been scarce due to last week’s rough weather.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are still finding good speckled trout action throughout the New River and the ICW nearby. Drop-offs and structure are holding the trout, and a live shrimp fished under a sliding float should produce nearly foolproof results with them.

Red drum are schooled up on the shoals of New River Inlet. Anglers can cast topwater plugs or a variety of soft plastic baits to the reds with success.

There are also a lot of large blacktip sharks feeding in the inlet right now, and it is sometimes making landing the reds or other gamefish an issue. Anglers who want a big fight can set out a live or cut bait near the inlet with great chances of a shark hookup.

 

Tyler, of New River Marina, reports that the black drum and sheepshead bite has been excellent near the 172 bridge over the past week. Bottom rigs baited with barnacles or fresh clams will get attention from both species.

Speckled trout are feeding well in Brown’s Inlet. Live shrimp and a variety of artificials will attract attention from the specks. Anglers are also finding a few trout around the 172 Bridge.

There are plenty of flounder around, and some up to 22″ have been landed lately.

Anglers searching for inshore baits should have little trouble locating shrimp and finger mullet in the creeks and bays, but few king mackerel-sized pogies are around.

The spanish mackerel bite has slowed down a bit, but boats are still finding a few around the inlet. Trolled Clarkspoons will get their attention.

The main body of king mackerel seems to have moved offshore after the recent rain and wind. Boats are reporting good catches at spots around 20 miles off the beach, but the fish should be moving back inshore with some stable weather.

Anglers are landing keeper gag grouper as close as 12 miles off the inlet. A better concentration of gags is feeding around bottom structure in the 20-25 mile range.

 

Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing a mixed bag including sheepshead, black drum (most 5+ lbs.), whiting, ladyfish, and other species. Shrimp, squid, and cut baits are producing action on the bottom rigs.

Anglers fishing with live shrimp and mud minnows are hooking up with some speckled trout and flounder.

Anglers are hooking decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish, and diamond jigs are outproducing Gotcha plugs with both fish.

 

Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that live baiters landed two tarpon last week, along with some big spanish mackerel (up to 5 lbs.).

Some smaller spanish and bluefish are falling for diamond jigs with gold hook rigs.

Anglers fishing with live shrimp are hooking flounder and speckled trout.

Bottom fishermen are landing black drum and whiting on cut shrimp.

 

Laura, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are landing speckled trout and flounder on live shrimp and mud minnows.

Plug casters are hooking some bluefish and spanish on Gotchas.

Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are landing a few whiting.