Added on Thursday, June 12, 2008  Gary Hurley

Topsail June 12, 2008

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are beginning to find some flounder in the creeks. Some speckled trout and red drum are also looking for meals around the creek mouths and other inshore structure. Anglers should be able to hook up with reds, trout, and flounder while fishing live baits, Gulps, or Halo shrimp.

Plenty of bluefish are feeding near the inlet, and some chopper-sized blues are still looking for meals just outside the inlets. The blues will fall for cut baits, live baits, or a variety of lures.

Surf fishermen are landing some whiting and speckled trout on the northern half of the island. Red and black drum are joining the whiting farther south, and anglers are also catching some ladyfish from Lee Island. Shrimp and cut baits should get attention from the surf feeders.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just outside the surf line, and anglers are catching them on Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and other casting lures from the surf and piers. Boats trolling Clarkspoons can also get in on the action.

Cobia and king mackerel are also feeding near the beaches.

Good numbers of kings are coming from boats trolling at Christmas Rock and AR-355. Some big amberjacks have taken up residence at AR-355 as well.

The dolphin bite is as good as it’s been in recent memory out in the blue water. Trolling skirted ballyhoo is rewarding many boats with limits of gaffer dolphin.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing remains excellent throughout the New River area. The best action recently has been around Snead’s Ferry and the ICW. Live shrimp under floats are still excellent baits for the trout, but the fish’s stomachs have been full of small croaker and spot recently. Anglers should be able to cast net the spot and croaker around creek mouths, and then fish them on float rigs just like the shrimp.

There have also been some fat 3-4 lb. trout mixed in with red drum feeding out on the beachfront near the inlet.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that red drum and speckled trout fishing is still going strong in the creeks and shallows off the ICW and New River. Live shrimp, Billy Bay shrimp, and Gulp baits should get their attention.

Some flounder have been mixed in with the reds and trout in the shallows, and anglers are starting to land better numbers of flounder while fishing around the inlet and inshore structure. Carolina-rigged live baits are tough to beat for the flounder.

Anglers are still catching good numbers of sheepshead and black drum around the 172 Bridge. A bottom rig baited with shrimp will attract attention from both species.

Boats are also finding good numbers of spanish mackerel near the inlet and along the beaches, along with some bluefish. Clarkspoons and deep divers are fooling the mackerel, and a few snake kings are mixed in.

The king action has been better at spots 10+ miles offshore. Some pogies are finally showing up, so anglers should be able to find some live baits.

The cobia bite has been good along the beaches and at spots further offshore. Boats are hooking up with the cobia on live baits or by sight-casting bucktails to the fish.

Bottom structure 10 miles and further offshore is producing good numbers of grouper and other bottom fish.

The dolphin bite has been excellent lately, with boats finding some fish well inshore of the Gulf Stream. The Stream fish are still a larger class than those feeding inshore. Trolling skirted ballyhoo should produce strikes from the dolphin.

 

Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been good early and late in the day for anglers casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs.

Live shrimp and artificials are producing good numbers of flounder and speckled trout.

Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and whiting on cut shrimp.

Live baiters are averaging 2-3 kings per day, and several cobia have been caught over the week as well.

 

Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are catching some whiting, black drum, and spot.

Good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for diamond jigs.

Live baiters hooked several tarpon over the week.

 

Will, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that spanish mackerel have been the main story recently. The bite has been best in the mornings, when anglers are hooking up while casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs.

Bottom fishermen are catching some whiting on shrimp.

Speckled trout are falling for live shrimp, and anglers baiting up with squid strips are hooking some flounder.