Topsail – August 14, 2014
Michelle and Melissa Cherry with Michelle’s first dolphin, a cow that bit a ballyhoo behind a black/red chugger 35 miles off Topsail Inlet while they were fishing with Tim Powell on the “Timtation.”
D.J., of East Coast Sports, reports that there’s been an excellent speckled trout bite in the New River in recent days, and anglers are fooling the fish on topwater plugs, suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR17’s, soft plastics, and live baits.
Red and black drum are feeding along the ICW, on the flats, and around structure like docks. Anglers can tempt the reds to bite live baits or a variety of artificials, with shrimp and fiddler crabs as top choices for the black drum.
Flounder fishing inshore has also been excellent lately, with good numbers of fish coming from inshore structure and the creeks.
The flounder bite has been solid in the ocean as well, where the fish are feeding around nearshore rocks, ledges, and artificial reefs. Live baits will work in the ocean, but Gulp baits pinned to bucktail jigs can be even more effective.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the beachfront, and anglers are hooking both while working casting lures from the piers and trolling Clarkspoons and other shiny offerings from boats.
Not many reports have come in from offshore lately, but there is still a decent dolphin bite for boats making the run to the Gulf Stream.
Bonita Rogers Miller, of Jacksonville, NC, with a fat speckled trout that bit a Carolina-rigged finger mullet in the New River near downtown Jacksonville.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are seeing a solid flounder bite in the area right now (along with some big fish). Incoming tides around deeper docks and structure have been producing the best action, and live finger mullet along with white soft plastics are tempting the flatfish to bite.
The red drum action in the area has been excellent recently, with the fish feeding in very shallow water, particularly during falling tides. They’ve been biting live mullet one day and cut menhaden the next, so it pays to have both aboard right now. Anglers are also fooling the reds and some speckled trout on topwater plugs on many days.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some black drum and an occasional red while bottom fishing with shrimp and live baits.
Sea mullet, spot, and an occasional spadefish are taking an interest in cut shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs (with the spot bite best at night).
Spanish mackerel are intermittently coming into the range of pier plug casters.
Chris, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking a few king mackerel while live-baiting from the end of the pier, but sharks have been taking a toll on some of them in recent days.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel in the early morning hours and a few jack crevalle and bluefish later in the day.
Jackson Wright (age 8) holds an 8.2 lb. sheepshead that bit a live finger mullet near some inshore structure at Surf City. Weighed in at East Coast Sports.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with sea mullet and an occasional black drum in the daytime hours and spot at night. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling the bottom feeders.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that despite the dirty water brought on by all the rain, anglers are still hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Mullet are working their way past the pier, and live-baiters fishing from the end have had some shark and tarpon strikes recently.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Black and red drum are taking an interest in live baits and shrimp on the bottom.
