Topsail April 14, 2011
Capt. Ricky Kellum, of Speckled Specialist Charters, with a 4.5 lb. speckled trout he hooked on a Trigger-X shrimp while fishing a creek off the New River.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that the sea mullet have arrived along the island’s beaches, and anglers are catching good numbers from all three piers. A few croaker and bluefish have been mixed in, and all are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs. The blues should be arriving in force in the next week or two, when anglers will start casting Gotcha plugs and other metal lures for them.
Red and black drum are feeding around Topsail Inlet, and anglers have been getting into them in the inlet and off the beach at Lea Island. Cut baits and shrimp have been the most effective baits lately.
Red drum are still feeding in the creeks inshore. They’ll take a variety of baits, but most anglers have been connecting with them while casting Gulps and soft plastic shrimp imitations. Increasing numbers of flounder are turning up in the creeks as well, and they’re falling for the same baits.
A few trout are around the creeks and inshore structure, but not many people have been fishing for them as they’re closed to harvest until June.
The weather hasn’t let many boats get out the inlets lately, but it won’t be long until Atlantic bonito make their spring showing at nearshore structure off the island.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that there’s been some excellent action with red and black drum lately (with many upper to over-slot red and some black drum approaching 10 lbs.). The best bite has been in deeper (15’+) holes inshore, and fresh shrimp are fooling both types of drum. The reds have also been taking a liking to Gulp baits recently.
Flounder are becoming more numerous as the inshore waters warm, and the flatfish bite will only improve over the coming weeks. Casting Gulp baits to slightly deeper areas in the inshore creeks is the way to connect with the flatties.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the red and black drum are on the move and transitioning from their winter haunts in the creeks to deeper ledges and docks along the ICW. Cut mullet and shrimp are attracting attention from both.
A few flounder are biting Gulp baits in the area’s creeks as well.
Tom Carpenter, from MI, with a 30" red drum that fell for a Gulp bait while he was fishing a deep hole off the ICW with Capt. Wayne Crisco of Last Resort Charters.
Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that there’s been a pretty decent sea mullet bite lately, primarily for anglers baiting up with shrimp. Some pufferfish are mixed in.
Scattered black drum are also feeding along the beach and will fall for shrimp as well.
Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some sea mullet, pufferfish, small spot, and the first few bluefish of the year. Shrimp are fooling most of the bottom feeders, along with plenty of skates, rays, and small sharks.
Larger bluefish should be right behind the small ones starting to show now, so anglers will soon be hooking up while plugging from the pier.
Cheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been catching mixed sizes of sea mullet over the past week, with a few runs of larger fish (mostly at night). Some small croakers are in the mix, and shrimp have been the most effective baits lately.
