Topsail April 29, 2010
Brent Palmer, of Hampstead, and Frank Coccho, of Corning, NY, with several of many sea bass they caught at bottom structure 8-12 miles out. The bass fell for squid baits while they were fishing with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Charters out of Topsail Beach.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the Atlantic bonito bite is on outside New River Inlet. Anglers are finding plenty of schools of bonito feeding on top near bottom structure 2-5 miles outside the inlet. Casting Don’s Jigs and diamond jigs into the surface activity is producing most of the fish, but anglers can also hook up while trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
Surf and pier anglers are finding a solid whiting bite in the breakers. Most of the fish are falling for shrimp and Fish Bites on bottom rigs.
Some red drum have also been caught in the surf recently, and cut baits are the way to go for them.
A few spanish mackerel have been reported on the piers as well, and anglers are hooking them on Gotchas and diamond jigs. The spanish action will only improve as the water temperatures climb over the coming weeks.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been solid in the creeks and bays, and anglers are fooling the reds on live baits, Gulps, and a variety of other lures.
Offshore, the few boats that have been able to make it out lately have found some decent action with wahoo along the break.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the bonito bite is on fire just off New River Inlet at Diver’s Rock and other nearshore areas. A few spanish mackerel are already mixed in as well. Most of the fish are coming to anglers casting diamond jigs and other metal lures to the breaking schools, but trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers is an effective way to hook up as well.
Anglers working jigs a little deeper in the same areas have been hooking up with big numbers of sea bass (with a surprising number of keepers).
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream have found spotty fishing lately, but a few wahoo and blackfin and yellowfin tuna are rewarding boats who find the fish. Skirted ballyhoo are the baits to troll in the blue water.
Inshore, the flounder bite is getting started off the ICW and in the bays and deeper holes near the inlets. Gulp 4” shrimp in pearl white have been fooling the majority of the flatties.
Red drum are still feeding in the bays and along the waterway inshore, and scented baits like Excite-A-Bite, Bio-Bait, and Gulp are attracting plenty of attention from the reds.
Speckled trout fishing has been a bit slow lately.
Greg Clemmons and Capt. Chris Sewell, of Fishead Charters, with a pair of red drum they hooked in a bay behind Bear Island while casting Deep Creek soft plastics.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on inshore, and anglers are finding most of the fish around bridges and other structure. Live shrimp and mud minnows fished under floats are fooling most of the trout.
Off the beach, the bonito bite has been excellent just outside New River Inlet, where anglers are hooking up with plenty of the striped tunas while casting diamond jigs to the breaking schools of fish.
Sea bass, flounder, and other bottom feeders are looking for meals at the same nearshore structure where anglers are finding the bonito. Carolina-rigged live baits or diamond jigs will attract attention from the bottom feeders.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that deeper holes inshore in the Topsail area are holding good numbers of red drum and flounder. Anglers are fooling the reds and flatties on Gulp shrimp.
Some fat speckled trout are feeding in the tidal creeks inshore, and anglers are tempting them to bite Gulp shrimp as well, with new penny a particularly hot color.
Brent, of Current Adventure Charters, reports that there are red drum schooling on many of the backwater flats at Topsail, but they’ve been a bit tight-lipped lately. Anglers have managed to hook a few on topwater plugs over the past week, so they’re becoming more active as the water warms.
Fishing the Cape Fear River has been producing plenty of smaller speckled trout. The river is full of small pogies, so the trout bite should improve in the near future.
Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been landing good numbers of whiting and some hefty black drum (to 7.5 lbs.) lately. Shrimp are fooling both bottom feeders.
Plug casters have found plenty of action with bluefish lately, and the pier’s first few spanish mackerel hit the deck last week.
Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that plug casters have been finding action with bluefish.
Bottom fishermen are decking plenty of whiting and some black drum (3-7.5 lbs.). Shrimp are the best bait.
Jake, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that whiting are falling for shrimp and Fish Bites pinned to bottom rigs.
Anglers are picking up good numbers of bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
