Topsail August 1, 2013
Dan Murphy (age 15), of Hampstead, NC, with a 33 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bluefish off the end of Jolly Roger Pier.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers have landed some healthy king mackerel from Topsail’s piers over the past week (to 30+ lbs.). Boaters have also been getting in on the action and are hooking kings from the beachfront to the 15 mile areas. Some large spanish (6+ lbs.) have been feeding within a few miles of the beachfront as well, and they will pounce on live baits just like the kings.
Anglers also reported decent numbers of sailfish inside 15 miles last week. Live baits or rigged ballyhoo will attract attention from the sails.
A few dolphin have also been around Christmas Rock, with more feeding from there offshore to the break.
Bottom fishermen caught surprising numbers of gag grouper around AR-362 last week, and more are feeding around natural bottom structure from there offshore. Live, dead, and cut baits will all get attention from the grouper.
Anglers on the piers also saw a decent spot run in recent days, with shrimp and bloodworms producing most of the fish.
Inshore, the flounder bite is still going strong, with fish coming from the inlets, marshes, creeks, and structure like docks in the ICW. Live menhaden and finger mullet are top flounder baits, but anglers can also hook up while working Gulps and other scented soft lures.
Thomas Bardin, of Wilson, NC, with a 7 lb. sheepshead he hooked on a live crab while fishing in Banks Channel near Topsail Beach.
Ladyfish are all over the inshore waters and are feeding heavily at night around lighted structure like bridges. Casting flashy lures like Rapala X-Raps around surface activity is the way to hook up with the ladies.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes and bays off the ICW and New River. They’ve been rather willing to bite topwater plugs lately, and anglers can also hook them on soft plastics and live or cut baits when they’re not feeding on top.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are still catching solid numbers of red drum in the bays and backwaters off the New River and ICW. They’re biting topwater plugs readily, but can be tempted to eat soft plastic baits with scents like Pro-Cure Super Gel when they’re not fooled by the surface lures.
Plenty of flounder are also in the area. They’ll bite live baits and are also fans of the same scented soft plastics that anglers can hook the reds on.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and other metal lures from the planks.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet and spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are biting small live baits under the pier.
Gary Mcadee, of Richlands, NC, with a stud speckled trout that bit a MirrOlure She Pup topwater plug in the New River near Sneads Ferry. He was fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Dangling sand fleas and barnacles near the pilings is producing some sheepshead.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel (to 37 lbs.) from the end of the pier last week.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers landed several king mackerel from the end of the pier last week while live-baiting with bluefish and other baits.
Some sea mullet, bluefish, and spot are biting bloodworms and shrimp on bottom rigs.
Plug casters are also picking up an occasional bluefish.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers landed several king mackerel from the pier last week when the water was clean.
A few bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs worked from the pier.
Some black drum, sea mullet, and spot are biting shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Sheepshead are feeding around the pier’s pilings, but few people are fishing for them.
