Topsail – August 18, 2016
Abby, of East Coast Sports, reports that bottom fishermen in the surf have been seeing decent numbers of sea mullet. Bloodworms and fresh shrimp fished on bottom rigs are getting most of the bites. Small black drum are in the same areas, and they’re taking fresh shrimp and Fishbites.
Red drum are becoming more numerous along the surf zone, especially towards the inlets. Shrimp and larger cut baits have been fooling the reds. The better bite has been in the evenings around high tide.
Red drum fishing inshore has been providing some steady action. The fish are still holding a bit deeper with the warm water temperatures. Early in the mornings there have been a few fish responding to topwater plugs, and Rapala Skitterwalks and MirrOlure Poppa Mullet are getting bites.
Live and cut baits fished around waterway docks is providing action throughout the day.
Flounder fishing has improved over the past week. Mostly undersized fish are being landed, but as the mullet run begins, the larger fish will make themselves more available. Drift fishing around inlets and deeper channels with live finger mullet or menhaden is how most fish are being caught. Scented plastic baits by Z-Man and Gulp on 3/8 oz. Blue Water Candy jigheads is fooling good numbers of flatfish.
Sheepshead are holding around structure like bridge pilings and deep water docks. Live fiddler crabs and sea urchins are essential for getting sheepshead to bite.
A few larger-sized king mackerel are being found in the 10-15 mile range. The kings have been taking an interest in slow trolled live menhaden around structure. Skirted cigar minnows fished on downriggers has worked well on the pelagic fish, too.
Early in the morning there have been spanish feeding on the surface towards the inlets. Gotcha plugs and Jig Fish lures cast into the schools has been productive.
Bottom fishermen in 80-110’ of water are reporting good catches of keeper black sea bass. Gag grouper, triggerfish, grunts, and ringtails are being found in the same areas. The fish are taking squid and cut mackerel, along with jigs.
Gulf Stream boaters are reporting wahoo around the temperature breaks. Wire rigged ballyhoo behind Blue Water Candy lures is how most are getting the bites, and wahoo success has been best while using #8 high speed planers.
There has been a scattered blackfin tuna bite. Most of the tunas have been on the small size and fall for skirted ballyhoo on the surface. There has also been an increase in the number of billfish sighted in the Gulf Stream out of Topsail. White and blue marlin have been hooked over the past week, and there have also been swordfish reported for those dropping baits deep.
Ethan Ford with his first red drum, caught on a Carolina rig while fishing with Capt. Chad Davis of Lucky Dawg Guide Service.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports that docks along the ICW have been producing good flounder fishing. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs as well as jigheads with soft plastics scented with Pro-Cure are working well.
Red drum are hanging around some of the same docks and in the marsh. Flats Intruder spoons and topwater plugs are working for the reds. Live finger mullet on similar rigs used for flounder are getting bites.
Spanish are working the beach, and the best bite has been early mornings and late afternoons, if the wind allows. Clarkspoons behind a #1 planer or up top behind a small bird are working well, and casting Blue Water Candy Sparkle jigs is getting bites from surface feeding fish.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are biting best during the early morning hours. The fish are responding best to “00” Clarkspoons in pink and silver flash behind #1 planers.
Flounder fishing has been decent on the nearshore reefs. Bucktails with 4” pearl Gulp shrimp or live finger mullet on Carolina rigs have been working.
Gag grouper and keeper sea bass are holding around ledges in the 15-20 mile range. The fish are taking metal jigs, squid, and dead minnows.
Sam, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that large schools of menhaden and glass minnows are pushing past the pier. There have been a few large spanish mackerel being caught on king rigs, with fish in the 3-5 lb. range reported. There have also been several king sightings lately, but there has yet to be one decked over the past week or so. The king fishing should improve with the increased baitfish activity.
On Saturday a 100 lb. tarpon was landed and others sighted, although sightings in general have been sporadic over the past week.
Bottom fishermen have been connecting with a few croaker, sea mullet, and the occasional flounder. The better sea mullet and croaker fishing has been at night on fresh shrimp and Fishbites.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are getting a mix of pompano, sea mullet, and croaker. The mullet and croaker fishing has been a little better during the evenings on bloodworms and cut shrimp. The pompano are preferring fresh caught sand fleas during high tide.
There have been some nice spanish caught throughout the day on king rigs. Smaller-sized fish are being caught sporadically during the early mornings on plugs.
A 17” mutton snapper was landed this past week.
Richard, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that spanish and bluefish are biting sporadically throughout the day. Diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs are getting the bites casting. The blues are also being caught on cut bait.
Several nice-sized spanish have been caught over the past few days on king rigs. There has been an increase in baitfish around the pier, so kings should be in range very soon. Tarpon continue to migrate past the pier and offer shots for anglers fishing for kings.
