Topsail October 14, 2010
Amy Pulliam, from Athens, GA, with a 6+ lb. flounder she hooked on a live pogie in the ICW while fishing with Capt. Wayne Crisco of Last Resort Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are starting to see an improving king mackerel bite along the beaches (with some fish to 30+ lbs.). Live baits like pogies and bluefish are the way to go for the kings.
A few spanish mackerel are in the mix along the beaches as well, and anglers can hook them while trolling Clarkspoons or casting Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and other metal lures.
Some gray trout are showing up at nearshore structure, and anglers can hook them on live baits or while working metal lures like Stingsilvers and Shore Lures just off the bottom.
A bit further offshore, the gag grouper bite has been excellent at bottom structure within 10 miles of the beaches. Live baits are top choices for the biggest groupers, but anglers can also hook up on cigar minnows and other dead baits.
Some large red drum (to 40+ lbs.) are mixed in with the grouper, and anglers are hooking them on the same baits.
Surf fishermen have found an excellent flounder bite lately, mostly on live mud minnows and finger mullet.
The pompano fishing has also been solid (with most fish pan-sized, but big numbers) for anglers baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Plenty of bluefish are also feeding in the surf zone and the inlets, and they’re falling for just about anything that anglers are casting.
The red drum bite has been good inshore, where the fish are feeding in the creeks and marshes and around structure like docks. Live baits and Gulps will fool the inshore reds.
Flounder fishing has also been solid inshore lately, and live baits or Gulps will attract attention from the flatfish as well.
The speckled trout bite is a little bit off, but it may well improve as the weather cools a bit.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the king mackerel bite has been solid offshore (with most action 10-15 miles off the beaches). Live baits like pogies are top choices for the kings, but anglers can also hook up on dead cigar minnows.
Some dolphin are feeding in the same areas and will take an interest in anglers’ king baits. Amberjack are schooled up on structure in the same range and will have a tough time turning down a live bait.
The gag grouper bite is on, and anglers are hooking up with the gags at spots close enough to see land.
Anglers are still seeing a few spanish mackerel along the beaches, where they’ll fall for trolled Clarkspoons.
Gray trout are feeding at structure and in deep holes just off the beach. Anglers can fool them with live baits or jigging lures like Stingsilvers.
All the rain has pushed most of the area’s speckled trout towards the inlets. Live shrimp and a variety of lures will attract attention from the specks.
Red drum are still feeding in the usual places inshore, but with the dirty water, they’ve been a bit hard to find lately. Fishing in the calmer, early-morning hours offers anglers the best chances to see the fish chasing bait or making wakes in the area’s bays and along the ICW.
Flounder are feeding in the deeper holes and around structure inshore, where they’ll fall for small live baits and Gulps.
Randy Barney with a 2 lb. pompano he hooked from Surf City Pier.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that there’s been excellent red drum fishing around docks to the south of the area recently (with most fish running from the middle to just over the slot limit). Most of the reds are falling for live pogies.
Anglers are still catching plenty of flounder, but most have been on the small side lately. Some larger fish have been coming from the Wrightsville area.
Speckled trout are starting to show up in the creeks and inlets, and live shrimp, small pogies, or a variety of lures will get their attention.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are in the midst of one of the best flounder bites in recent memory (with most fish keepers). Live shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows are producing the best results on the flounder.
Bottom fishermen are decking good numbers of whiting and spot at night, and bluefish and pompano during the daylight hours.
Jan, of Surf City Pier, reports that live-baiters on the end of the pier are seeing a solid king mackerel bite develop (with fish to 47 lbs. last week).
Bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and other lures and baits.
Bottom fishermen are decking some pompano (a few citation-sized) on shrimp and sand fleas.
Spot are feeding sporadically at night and eating bloodworms and shrimp.
Sheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with good numbers of pompano on shrimp and sand fleas. Some spot are falling for bloodworms and shrimp.
The flounder bite has been decent for anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom.
King mackerel are showing up along the beach (and anglers landed fish to 26 lbs. last week).
