Topsail/Sneads Ferry – November 2024
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers have found red drum starting to school up along grass banks and in the creeks. Topwater plugs have been a consistent way to scout for, and catch, them in the early morning low light conditions. Once moving further into the day, anglers going with cut bait, live bait, or artificials can stay on the bite.
A lot of sheepshead are hanging around inshore structures (such as pilings) for those fishing live fiddler crabs.
The speckled trout bite has picked up now that water temperatures are starting to cool off. Anglers are doing best by targeting current rips along the shoreline banks, and artificial shrimp and other baitfish imitations have been the top producers.
Off the beach, king mackerel are still around, with fish scattered all the way out into the 20+ mile range.
Further offshore, the wahoo bite has been steady, with some sailfish in the mix, too.
Blackfin tuna are scattered around from as close as 15 miles all the way out to the Stream.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that red drum are being caught around docks and in the backs of marshes. A good number of over-slot fish are mixed in with a smaller class, and all sizes of red drum are taking advantage of the bait before it pushes out.
Flounder are all over the place, and they’re hitting soft plastics fished around docks while targeting red drum.
Speckled trout fishing has been getting pretty good. Anglers are doing best along the ICW banks, as these fish are beginning to work their way towards the creeks. It’s been a good class of fish to kick off the season, with mostly 16-20” fish but the occasional 22”+ mixed in. Topwater plugs are having a lot of success early, and then later switch over to Rapala X-Raps, MirrOlure MR-17s, or MirrOdines (if in an area with heavier current).
False albacore have been thick off the beaches and are hanging around the bait pods. The albacore can be really picky about the size of bait they are striking, but if you keep casting into them, they will eventually strike.
A few 2-4 lb. spanish mackerel are also hanging out anywhere from the beaches out to 40’. Pulling live bait is best for the bigger spanish, with spoons behind a #2 planer also working well.
The nearshore reefs are producing porgies and the occasional tautog.
Cash Clement, of Scotts Hill, NC, landed this 33″ red drum while surf fishing on Lea-Hutaff Island using a live finger mullet.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that speckled trout have started showing up fairly well. A lot of this action has been up in the river and creeks off the river. The better results have come from fishing 6-7’ holes with artificials, and the better lures have been Rapala X-Raps and Saltwater Assassin soft plastics. Chartreuse has been good in the dirty water up in the river, and when in the ICW and closer to the inlets, the better colors have been white, green, or gold flake.
The red drum action has been a little spotty, with the majority of fish in the slot but over-slots occasionally in the mix.
Off the beach, some spanish mackerel are still around.
The occasional kings are being caught along the beaches, with more fish out deeper over structure.
False albacore are starting to show up in better numbers.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that nearshore anglers are finding that the spanish mackerel and false albacore are both biting well outside the inlet and along the beachfronts. The best success has come from casting small jigs and throwing flies to surface-feeding frenzies, with trolling spoons also having success if the action is pushed down.
King mackerel are biting well from just outside the inlet to the 10-15 mile range. Dead baits have been working well, and anglers rigged with live baits are hooking into more of the larger fish.
Joe, of Atlantic Sportfishing, reports that the king mackerel bite has been on fire.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing the bigger black sea bass (that have moved in shallow). Other catches when targeting structures in the 90’+ range are triggerfish and bigger vermilion snapper.
Catching a window to run out to the Stream is producing wahoo, and other offshore action includes a few mahi and blackfin tuna.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing a good pompano bite, with some 3-4 lb. fish in the mix.
Those bottom fishing are finding sea mullet and some spots, both of which have been feeding better after dark.
Bluefish are showing up, and they’re hitting Gotcha plugs.
Slot red drum and some speckled trout have been more present as water temperatures cool down.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing a lot of nice-sized sea mullet alongside scattered spot. Better numbers are coming at night, though plenty of fish are around during the day as well.
Anglers fishing around the pilings have landed a few sheephead.
Pompano have made a good showing, with larger fish (to 2+ lbs.) in the mix.
Casting efforts are producing bluefish and the occasional spanish mackerel.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are catching really good numbers of sea mullet. The better bite has been at night, but good numbers of fish are around during the day, too.
Spots are mixed in.
Occasionally, a red drum is in the action, and speckled trout are beginning to show up.
Action off the end hasn’t shut down just yet, as anglers are still seeing some king mackerel (to 36+ lbs.) being caught.
