Added on Thursday, June 5, 2008  Gary Hurley

Topsail June 5, 2008

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers are finding red drum working the creeks in search of meals. Speckled trout are hanging around the creek mouths. Billy Bay Halo shrimp are getting plenty of strikes from both fish.

Bluefish are now feeding just about everywhere in the inshore waters, and they will strike a variety of baits and lures.

The piers are reporting good numbers of king mackerel and cobia.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also showing up well on the piers, and they should respond to trolled Clarkspoons or other lures from boats.

Surf anglers are landing whiting, red drum, and some bluefish along the length of the island and from the north end of Lee Island. Some big bluefish are feeding in the surf off Lee Island. Cut baits and shrimp should attract attention from the surf fish.

Cobia have arrived along the beaches, and boats can target them while chumming and fishing live blue crabs and bluefish.

King mackerel are schooling at most of the nearshore hotspots, with the F Buoy and AR-355 hosting hot bites recently.

The Gulf Stream is producing more big gaffer dolphin than anglers have seen in a long time. The fish are feeding hard, and fair numbers of sailfish are mixed in with them. Ballyhoo beneath skirted trolling lures are top notch Gulf Stream trolling baits.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing remains solid throughout the New River and the ICW nearby. Good action has been coming from spots all the way from downtown Jacksonville to Sneads Ferry. Live shrimp beneath floats are the top baits, but they can be hard to find. Billy Bay Halo shrimp and suspending MR MirrOlures will tempt bites from the trout as well.

Schools of reds are also feeding throughout the area, and many anglers are chasing them in the shallows while pre-fishing for the Surf City redfish tournament next weekend.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that boats are finding fast action with spanish mackerel while trolling just outside the inlet and along the beaches. Clarkspoons should produce results with the mackerel.

Kings are feeding around structure and bait just a bit further off the beaches. Dead cigar minnows are producing plenty of action with the kings, but anglers can raise the odds in their favor by jigging up some live cigar minnows around the D Buoy.

Bottom fishing has been producing good catches of red and gag grouper at spots 15-20 miles offshore. Cigar minnows and spanish sardines should prove attractive to the grouper.

The dolphin bite has been incredible lately around the Big Rock, and boats are also landing some wahoo in the same area. Skirted ballyhoo will get attention from both species.

Inshore, trout and red drum fishing remains good. Gulp baits are producing well on both the trout and drum.

Flounder fishing is improving as well, with anglers finding more and larger flounder throughout the inshore waters. Gulp baits, especially the New Penny shrimp, are producing well on the flounder, and live baits on Carolina rigs will draw plenty of strikes as well.

Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge. Shrimp fished on bottom rigs should get attention from both, and anglers can also target the sheepshead with fiddler crabs fished close to the structure.

 

Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish fishing have been excellent over the past week. Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs are both proving effective on the spanish ans blues.

Live baiters landed a 41 lb. cobia and several king mackerel (15-19 lbs.) last week.

Bottom fishermen are catching some fat pompano and black drum on sand fleas.

Those fishing with live mud minnows are decking some keeper flounder.

 

Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that double digit numbers of king mackerel were landed last week (the largest weighing 28 lbs.).

Spanish mackerel and bluefish (with some choppers still mixed in) are biting Gotcha plugs well, and anglers are also hooking the blues on live and cut baits.

Anglers fishing with live shrimp under floats are catching good numbers of speckled trout (some up to 20+”). An 18 lb. cobia was caught on a live shrimp and trout tackle last week as well.

Black drum are falling for sand fleas fished on bottom rigs.

Anglers baiting up with mud minnows and strip baits are hooking some flounder.

 

Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that flounder are biting live baits on the bottom.

Anglers fishing shrimp on bottom rigs are hooking some pompano.

Bluefish and spanish mackerel are striking Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs. Anglers are also hooking some chopper blues on live baits.

Live baiters had a good week, landing a 40 lb. cobia and a number of kings (