Added on Thursday, July 3, 2008  Gary Hurley

Topsail July 3, 2008

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are catching plenty of flounder in the creeks around Topsail. Many are undersized, but there are good numbers of keepers mixed in. Carolina-rigged finger mullet or other live baits should get attention from the flatfish.

Ladyfish are beginning to make an appearance, and anglers should be able to find them feeding around the Surf City Bridge and other lighted spots at night.

Surf anglers are catching red drum and whiting all along the island and some black drum along the southern part of the beach. The whiting and black drum should take an interest in shrimp. The red bite has been especially hot at the north end of Lee Island, where anglers are hooking them on gold spoons and a variety of baits.

Pier anglers are catching a few king and spanish mackerel, and bottom fishermen are starting to land a summertime variety of fish.

King mackerel are feeding around the first and second sets of buoys in the inlet and around the River Bed. Off North Topsail, AR-355, the F Buoy, and the Gill Hole are holding the kings. Dead cigar minnows or live baits should get their attention.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are still catching a lot of speckled trout in the ICW and near New River Inlet and in the river between Snead’s Ferry and Jacksonville. Anglers are catching a few of the trout on topwaters and other lures, but live baits have been producing the most action lately. While live shrimp are one of the best trout baits, pinfish and other bait thieves are getting bad, and anglers are hooking up with the specks while fishing with live peanut pogies and small pinfish.

A lot of blacktip sharks are feeding in and near the inlet, and anglers should be able to hook them on large cut or live baits.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the black drum and sheepshead bite has been excellent near the 172 Bridge. Shrimp or clams fished on two-hook bottom rigs should get attention from the drum and sheeps.

Speckled trout and red drum are still feeding around structure and creeks off the New River and ICW. Live shrimp are the top baits, but they’ll take a variety of artificials as well.

Flounder fishing has been fair instead of red hot lately around New River. Live baits on Carolina rigs will get the flounder’s attention.

Tripletails are beginning to show up around crab pot floats and other floating structure in the river.

Plenty of sharks are feeding right around the inlet, and cut baits should get their attention.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding right along the beaches, and anglers should be able to hook both while trolling Clarkspoons.

Kings are also chasing down meals along the beaches and at structure nearby. Live baits are producing the best results on the kings, and anglers can either catch pogies in the river or jig cigar minnows and other baits from the nearshore buoys.

Grouper fishing has been productive as close to the beach as seven miles over the past week. Cigar minnows, northern mackerel, and other baits will get attention from the groupers.

 

Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are beginning to catch a summertime mixed bag including spot, whiting, croakers, some lookdowns, and other species on bottom rigs.

Anglers fishing with live shrimp are landing some speckled trout and flounder.

There are still some spanish mackerel and bluefish around, and diamond jigs are getting attention from both.

Live baiters caught several kings last week, the largest weighing 27 lbs.

 

Earl, of Seaview Pier, report that bottom fishermen are landing a few black drum, spot, and some whiting on shrimp.

Earlier in the week, anglers were landing some spanish mackerel and blues on Gotchas, but the winds have the water dirty and the bite slow.

 

Will, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are landing some speckled trout on live finger mullet and shrimp. Some flounder are also falling for the live baits.

When the water is clear, the bluefish and spanish mackerel bite has been good for anglers throwing Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are landing some whiting.