Topsail/Sneads Ferry – June 2023
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that backwater anglers have found the sheepshead action to be picking up nicely. Targeting docks and pilings with live fiddler crabs provides the best chance of success. These tactics will also land some black drum that are mixed in around the same structures.
Nearshore anglers are catching good numbers of spanish mackerel and scattered kings.
The mahi showed up offshore, and they are holding from the deeper nearshore areas (150’) out to the Gulf Stream.
Mixed in the Gulf Stream trolling bite are wahoo and sailfish.
Bottom fishing in the 80-110’ range had produced some nice-sized vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and gag grouper. American red snapper are loaded on these same structures, though their season is closed.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that there have been tons of pogies moving into the area and inshore anglers have seen the red drum action picking up with this arrival of pogies, and cut bait has been producing best.
Though they need to be safely released, there are a bunch of flounder being caught on baits fished on the bottom.
Smaller speckled trout are mixed in, though this bite will slow down with the warmer temperatures.
Anglers are having a great time casting light tackle setups to busting spanish mackerel off the beaches. Pulling larger Drone spoons under #3 planers has also produced strikes from king mackerel that are working nearshore to feed on all this bait.
The Topsail area hasn’t seen much cobia action, but with fish north of the area, it’s a smart idea to always carry a sight-casting setup anytime you leave the inlet.
Hunter Coats, of Sneads Ferry, with a 26″ speckled trout caught on 3″ live mullett floating on a popping cork in Topsail.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that there are a lot of spanish mackerel and bluefish on the beaches. A bunch of menhaden pods are around, and these schools of spanish and blues are just tearing through the bait. The best target depths have been in the 15-35’ range.
Anglers should always be prepared for the possibility of a cobia this time of year. Anglers to the north have done well, and with this much bait around, there is bound to be some cobia landed off Topsail, too.
Inshore red drum are still hit or miss. The bite is scattered, but anglers have been doing well by scouting through areas with topwater plugs to locate any groups of fish.
Speckled trout are mostly up in the river. There are decent numbers around, though many have been smaller fish.
Sheepshead and black drum action is picking up around hard structures in the Topsail area.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that red drum action has been picking up for anglers targeting docks, oyster beds, grass lines, and shallow bays. Cut baits (such as menhaden, mullet, or bluefish) have worked well under Carolina rigs or popping corks. Anglers scouting through areas in search of these small groups are having success with a variety of topwater plugs. Anglers have also done well with Z-Man or Gulp soft plastics.
Bluefish are plentiful and aggressively feeding. Topwater plugs, Rapala X-Raps, MirrOlure MR-17s, and Z-Man jerk shads will all get these fish fired up.
Sheepshead and black drum are staged up around docks, bridges, and bulkheads, and they’re feeding on crabs or shrimp.
Nearshore runs have found plenty of spanish mackerel, and bottom fishing at the local ARs has produced grunts, porgies, black sea bass, ringtails, and small gag grouper.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that Gulf Stream anglers have been catching a bunch of mahi and a few yellowfin tuna.
Billfish are starting to make a better showing, with anglers seeing more sailfish and some blue marlin in the area.
King mackerel are being caught anywhere from the beach out to 30 miles. It seems some of the bigger class kings (20-30 lbs.) are on the beach, with smaller schoolies out in the 10+ mile range.
Spanish mackerel are being found in big numbers along the beach.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that king mackerel fishing has been decent in the 10-mile range. Drone spoons and Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs have been producing a quality class of schoolie-sized fish.
Some amberjack and false albacore are being caught alongside these kings as they frequent the same structures.
The deeper 70’+ structures are holding grouper, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass for those fishing cut bait on bottom rigs.
Spanish mackerel have been thick along the beaches. These 14-20” fish are striking at the smaller 00 Clarkspoons rigged under #1 or #2 planers or behind trolling weights. When busting the surface, anglers are having success casting small metal jigs through the frenzy.
Brian Schomus, of Portland, OR, caught this red drum using a Z-Man soft plastic. He was fishing near Topsail Island with Capt. Allen Cain of Sightfish NC.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers sight casting Gotcha plugs and metals have been tearing the spanish mackerel up. Mixed in are good numbers of the larger bluefish.
Live baiting off the end has produced a few nice king mackerel (to 33 lbs.), and there are some tarpon being spotted by anglers on the end (none hooked yet).
Anglers bottom fishing are finding a mixed bag of sheepshead, croakers, sea mullet, spots, speckled trout, and pompano.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers out in the mornings have seen a nice run on quality speckled trout (to 6 lbs.).
Bottom fishing efforts have been producing good-eating pompano, spadefish, and sea mullet.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also pushing around the pier and feeding on bait balls moving off the beaches.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers are catching a mix of whiting, black drum, and bluefish, and spanish mackerel have moved in for anglers sight casting plugs.
King mackerel (to 16 lbs.) are now being landed as they move inshore with the warmer water temperatures.
