Topsail April 15, 2010
Bob Blitchington with an Atlantic Bonito that fell for a trolled Yo-Zuri Deep Diver 20 miles off New River Inlet in 80'. He was fishing with Capt. John Mallete of Plan 9 Fishing Charters out of Topsail Beach.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are hooking up with decent numbers of whiting during the evening hours, with a few black drum (averaging around 5 lbs.) in the mix as well. Some pufferfish are biting day and night.
Shrimp are the best baits for all the bottom feeders in the breakers.
Inshore, anglers are finding some action with red drum in the creeks and bays. Gulps and other scented soft baits are producing most of the action with the reds.
The speckled trout bite in the inshore waters is coming around, with some decent fish landed over the past few weeks in the creeks. The large size Betts Spin Grub has been a particularly hot lure for the specks lately.
Some flounder are mixed in with the reds and specks, and they’re falling for the same baits. The flounder bite will be improving over the next few weeks as the water continues to warm up.
Anglers are hotly anticipating the arrival of the spring run of Atlantic bonito, which haven’t really made a showing yet nearshore in the area. When they do, spots like Divers Rock out of New River and the Topsail Ledges are good places to begin looking for them. Small metal lures like diamond jigs are the best casting baits for the bonito, and anglers can also search for action by trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or spoons.
A few gray trout and tautog have been caught by anglers bottom fishing at nearshore structure.
Offshore, anglers are still finding hot jigging action with amberjacks, African pompano, cobia, blackfin tuna, and more at spots along the break. Blue Water Candy Roscoes and other heavy jigs are producing most of the bites.
Trollers are catching decent numbers of wahoo at spots along the break. Ballyhoo under skirted lures (especially in darker colors like red/black) are the top wahoo producers.
Eric Powell, of New River Marina in Sneads Ferry, with a slot red drum that fell for a soft plastic shrimp in a bay around North Topsail while he was fishing with Raeford Brown.
Brent, of Current Adventure Charters, reports that anglers are still finding good numbers of red drum cruising the flats and creeks inshore. The fish aren’t feeding heavily, however, so anglers have to work to make them bite. Gulps and other scented soft baits on light jigheads have been the best bet for the reds lately.
The drum haven’t moved into the ICW spots yet, but there are some pogies moving through the waterway, so it shouldn’t be long.
Some flounder are beginning to become active inshore as well, though most are still on the small side.
The trout bite is beginning, and anglers reported a few from the local creeks over the past few weeks.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that red and black drum are still feeding in the area creeks, with most of the action well towards the backs of the creeks. Some of the fish are falling for Gulp baits, but fresh shrimp and cut baits are producing most of the bites.
Anglers are also beginning to catch a few trout. The action’s been best around inshore structure like marina docks and the swing bridge at Surf City. Gulp baits and soft plastic shrimp imitations will fool the specks.
The flounder bite is getting started, too. Most of the flatties that anglers are catching are still small, but a few keepers are around. Gulp Jerkshads have been the most productive flounder foolers so far this year.
Regina Worrell, of Jacksonville, and Heather Shupert, of Hampstead, with a pair of false albacore they hooked offshore of Diver's Rock on Yo-Zuri minnows trolled on the downrigger while fishing with Mike LaVecchia on the "Reel MCS."
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that the red drum bite remains hot inshore. The fish are feeding in deep holes and around inshore structure like docks. Gulp baits, live mud minnows, and shrimp will all attract attention from the reds when anglers find them.
Some flounder have been mixed in with the reds and, surprisingly, most of the fish have been fairly large for this early in the year (3+ lbs.).
Speckled trout are on the move in the creeks, but it’s been tough to get them to bite lately.
Sheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have had some solid whiting runs at night lately. Some black drum (up to 6 lbs.), pufferfish, skates, and sharks are in the mix, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on shrimp.
Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that there was a pretty good whiting bite last week before the cool snap. The action should be back on track after a few warmer days. Some pufferfish have been mixed in with the whiting, and the pier also saw its first flounder of the year last week.
Shrimp on bottom rigs have been fooling most of the fish.
Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are catching some whiting and pufferfish on shrimp baits, and the main body of whiting is just offshore. Some easterly winds will push the bottom feeders towards the breakers.
Several black drum (3-5 lbs.) were caught on shrimp last week as well.
