Added on Thursday, August 13, 2009  Fish Post

Topsail August 13, 2009

Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that the king mackerel bite turned back on strong last weekend. Anglers caught big numbers of fish around the D Buoy and nearby spots, and some much larger fish at areas in the 15-25 mile range like the second set and the 200/200.

Most boats were trolling dead bait, with cigar minnows producing much of the action and a few fish falling for ballyhoo. Some scattered dolphin are mixed in with the kings, but the dolphin bite isn’t what it was a few weeks ago.

Closer to the beaches, the spanish mackerel bite has improved markedly as the water has cleared up a lot over the past week. Anglers are hooking the spanish from the piers while casting spoons and diamond jigs and from boats while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures. Surf and pier bottom fishermen are finding some action with spot, whiting, bluefish, and some fat pompano. Shrimp are producing most of the action.

Surf anglers at the south end of the island and the north end of Lea Island are still catching plenty of red drum. Cut baits, live finger mullet, and gold spoons will all fool the reds.

The reds are biting throughout the sound and inshore creeks as well.

Good numbers of flounder are also feeding in the inlet and nearby, and live finger mullet on Carolina rigs or Gulp baits will fool the flatties.

Anglers are still catching some speckled trout around the Surf City Bridge, and both live shrimp and artificials are drawing strikes from the specks.

Ladyfish are feeding around inshore structure at night, and they will take an interest in live baits or a wide variety of artificial lures.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the red drum bite has been excellent in the bays and backwaters off the ICW and New River lately. Anglers are hooking them on live baits, soft plastics, and topwater plugs.

The speckled trout bite has been good recently as well. The specks are feeding around the inlet, in the creeks, and around structure up the New River. Live baits and artificials like Billy Bay Shrimp have been fooling the specks.

Sheepshead and black drum are feeding around the 172 Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and crabs.

Flounder are also holding around the bridge and in the inlet. Anglers have had good catches lately on Carolina-rigged finger mullet and other live baits.

The spanish mackerel bite is still solid along the beaches. Anglers are hooking the spanish while trolling Clarkspoons around diving birds and schools of bait.

Decent numbers of king mackerel are also feeding along the beaches and at structure further offshore. Live baits are fooling the lion’s share of the kings.

Some dolphin have been mixed in with the kings recently, and anglers reported action with the ‘phins at AR-355 and Christmas Rock last week.

Grouper are moving inshore, and anglers found some action with gags as close as 5-7 miles out last week.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the trout bite in the New River has been excellent lately. Anglers are catching most of their fish on artificials lately, with a good topwater bite in the early mornings. Later in the day, Billy Bay and Storm shrimp imitations have been fooling the fish.

The red drum bite has also been on lately, and anglers are hooking reds in the bays and flats off the river and ICW. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits are fooling most of the drum.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent just off the inlet. Trolling Clarkspoons has been producing most of the action with the mackerel.

Good numbers of large sharks are feeding around shrimp boats just off the area’s beaches. Anglers can hook up with the sharks by fishing dead and cut pogies around boats culling their catches.

 

Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers landed a few kings at the end of last week on live baits (with the largest a solid 31 lb. fish).

Plug casters have been hooking up with a few spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas and diamond jigs.

Bottom fishermen had several decent spot runs last week and a steady pick of whiting, small flounder, and other bottom feeders. Shrimp and bloodworms produced most of the action.

 

Ashley, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs.

Small live baits fished on the bottom have been attracting attention from some keeper flounder.

 

Danny, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with a mixed bag of whiting, spot, a few black drum, and other species. Shrimp are producing most of the action.

Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs.

Live baiters caught a few king mackerel last week (the largest went 18 lbs.).