Topsail – April 28, 2016
Terry, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf anglers are connecting with good numbers of sea mullet. Night fishing around high tide has been the most productive. The mullet are falling for fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and Fishbites. There are a few black drum being caught in the same areas, mostly on fresh shrimp.
The inshore fishing for red and black drum has been improving over the past week. The reds are moving away from the inlets and spreading out in the marsh. They are falling for a variety of artificial and live baits. Scented soft plastics rigged on 1/8 oz. jigheads continue to work well. The fish are beginning to take more of an interest in surface plugs and spoons with the warming water.
The black drum are eating fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs and jigheads (dead sticked on the bottom). The places to look for the black drum are docks, bridges, and hard bottoms.
The speckled trout fishing has been decent over the past week, mostly in the creeks. Using 3.5” Vudu shrimp scented with Pro-Cure has been working well on the trout. Live mud minnows fished under popping corks has been the answer when the fish aren’t responding to artificial baits.
Bonito have been caught in the 3-5 mile range. When the fish are on the surface, they are falling for diamond jigs and Sea Striker Jigfish, and trolling Clarkspoons behind planers has been the best method for catching the bonitos when they aren’t visible.
The wind has been the limiting factor for Gulf Stream anglers. When a window presents itself, the wahoo bite is still going strong. A few sailfish and blackfin tuna have been showing up in the spread as well. Ballyhoo fished behind Blue Water Candy lures has been the best method.
BJ Blackmon, of Sneads Ferry, with a bonito he caught while fishing offshore.
Ricky, of The Speckled Specialist, reports that the red drum fishing has been excellent back along the creeks in the New River. The fish are responding well to Zara Spooks on certain days. When the fish aren’t taking topwater offerings, live bait has been the best. Most of the fish have been found close to oyster beds and on hard bottom flats.
The water temperatures in the backs of the creeks are in the high 60’s right now.
Anthony Osborne with two flounder he landed around the Sneads Ferry area on Billy Bay Halo Shrimp. Photo courtesy of Eastern Outfitters.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that bluefish and bonito are in the 5 mile range off the beach. The fish are being caught on trolled Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows and Clarkspoons behind planers. The best surface action has been in the mornings and evenings.
There has also been a solid gray trout bite in 20-30’ of water. The trout are falling for a variety of metal jigs fished, and just off the bottom.
April, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bluefish are being caught throughout the day on Gotcha plugs. The best bite is taking place in the mornings off the end of the pier. Sea mullet fishing is very good right now; fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and Fishbites are working best. The mullet have been biting better at night and in the evenings around high tide.
Wayne, of Surf City Pier, reports that black drum are biting early in the mornings on fresh shrimp. The best fishing times have been during the outgoing tide, right after the high. Sea mullet are feeding well at night on both sides of the tide using Fishbites.
Bluefish are visiting the end of the pier in the mornings. Silver colored Gotcha plugs have been producing the best on the blues.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that a few keeper and throw back flounder are starting to show up. They are being caught using cut shrimp on the bottom.
At night, there has been a decent gray trout bite. The grays are eating shrimp, but most of the trout have been undersized.
The black drum fishing has been solid recently (including a 7.6 lb. black drum weighed in), and the fish are eating the freshest shrimp available.
