Topsail April 12, 2007
Chris, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that the Gulf Stream action is hot. Boats are finding dolphin, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, and wahoo around the Same Ole and the Swansboro Hole. Pull skirted and naked ballyhoo for best results.
The grouper bite has been on in the 30-35 mile areas. Reds are making up most of the catch, with bigger gags mixed in.
Speckled trout and small bluefish have shown up along the beach, and a few red drum are still coming from the surf as well.
Most of the drum are moving into the inlets, the waterway, and creeks.
Flounder and speckled trout are feeding in the waterway and creeks along with the drum. Soft plastic baits on jigheads will get the attention of all three species. The inshore fishing will really come alive as the water warms over the coming weeks.
Anglers fishing the piers are coming up with a few flounder and whiting.
The water temperature is right for Atlantic bonito and false albacore to arrive at nearshore structure, but only a few have been sighted yet. Search for these battlers around the Liberty Ship, John’s Creek, and Sheepshead Rock.
Jim, with Plan 9 Charters, reports fantastic variety fishing on the nearshore ledges and reefs. Bottom fishing has been producing sea bass, gray trout, bluefish, and fat tautog. Bait up with squid to get in on the action.
Whiting up to 15” are schooled up in the Cape Fear River mouth, and they have a hard time turning down fresh shrimp on bottom rigs.
No bonito have been caught yet, but there are some false albacore offshore of Topsail and Figure Eight.
Red and gag grouper are on the feed, and the biggest concentrations of fish are 30+ miles offshore.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports that some cobia have already been spotted in the area. They’ve been found 7-10 miles from the beach. Menhaden are returning to the area, and the cobia have a tough time turning down a live one.
Trolling double pogy rigs around structure 20+ miles off the beach has been effective on king mackerel.
Grouper, mostly reds mixed with some big gags, are around 40 miles out.
Inshore, red drum and speckled trout are hitting MirrOlures around the Masonboro jetties. Small bluefish are mixed in.
Randy, of Cutting Edge Charters, reports that jigging nearshore structure like the Liberty Ship is producing a mixed bag of gray trout, black sea bass, sharks, and other species. Atlantic bonito and false albacore should begin feeding at the nearshore structure any day now.
Inshore, anglers are finding speckled trout and red drum at the Masonboro jetties. The trout and drum bite is heating up in the creeks as well.
James, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports plenty of action for bottom fishermen. Black drum up to 5 lbs and big whiting are hitting shrimp, as are spiny and smooth dogfish. The black drum are running between 2 and 5 lbs. Whiting are feeding better in the evenings and at night.
Bluefish are hitting cut bait on the bottom.
Anglers are decking some keeper flounder already. Some are biting shrimp and cut baits, and Carolina-rigged Slurp baits are fooling some flatties as well.
The water temperature is 61.2 degrees.
