Topsail August 20, 2009
Eddie Perry, of Raleigh, with a 50.16 lb. king mackerel that fell for a large live greenie under a cotton candy Blue Water Candy skirt. He was fishing near the weather buoy off New River Inlet with Russ Becker on the 21' skiff "Charlette's Web."
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf fishing’s been a little slow lately, but anglers hooked a few whiting and pompano over the past week.
The red drum bite’s been excellent in the sound, and anglers are finding some solid action with black drum as well. Both fish are feeding in the creeks and around oyster rocks, grass beds, and other inshore structure. Anglers are hooking the drum on live pogies and shrimp.
The flounder bite’s been good around the oyster rocks inshore, and it’s been excellent just off the beaches at structure like Diver’s Rock lately. Live pogies on Carolina rigs are fooling most of the flatfish.
Some good numbers of speckled trout are feeding inshore alongside the reds and flatties, but most are on the small side.
Offshore, the king bite’s been excellent, but anglers are having to run 35-40 miles to find the best action. Live baits like pogies are fooling the largest fish, but anglers are catching plenty of smaller kings while trolling dead cigar minnows.
Some dolphin are feeding in the same areas as the kings, and they’re falling for the same baits.
The wahoo bite has been excellent in the Gulf Stream lately, but anglers have been tight-lipped about where.
Clayton Parcell, of Hillsboro, OH, with a 20 lb. gag grouper he hooked on squid. He was fishing out of Topsail Beach on the headboat "Vonda Kay" with Capt. Dave Gardner.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that inshore anglers are catching a few trout and flounder in the creeks and near the inlet still. Live shrimp are top choices for the specks, with mullet and pogies best for the flounder, but both fish will take an interest in a variety of artificials as well.
There’s been excellent black drum fishing around the 172 Bridge with a few sheepshead mixed in, and both fish are falling for dead shrimp on bottom rigs.
The red drum bite in the area is still excellent, and anglers are finding the fish in the bays and creeks off the New River and ICW. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and Gulps will all fool the reds.
There’s still excellent spanish mackerel fishing just outside the inlet and along the beaches. Anglers are hooking the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
The inlet is full of large sharks as well. Live or cut baits will tempt these bruisers to strike.
King mackerel are feeding from the beaches out to offshore structure. Dolphin are mixed in offshore, and anglers found action with the kings and dolphin around the E Buoy, Christmas Rocks, Jesse’s Ledge, Honeymoon Rock, and other offshore structure lately.
Bottom fishermen have been hooking up with good numbers of gag grouper within 10 miles of the beaches lately.
Live pogies or dead cigar minnows are fooling the kings and ‘phins.
The wahoo bite is on fire in the Gulf Stream. Decent numbers of sailfish have been mixed in with the ‘hoos, and rigged ballyhoo will draw strikes from both fish. The bite’s been best around the Big Rock and the Step lately.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that plug casters caught some spanish mackerel and bluefish last week on Gotchas and diamond jigs.
Decent numbers of flounder fell for live shrimp and finger mullet fished on the bottom.
Bottom fishermen decked spot, whiting, and pompano on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder on live finger mullet.
A few bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Some larger spanish (3+ lbs.) are falling for live baits on the king rigs, and the live baiters also landed some barracuda and saw several king mackerel last week.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers hooked decent numbers of speckled trout last week on live shrimp (with some fish in the 4-5+ lb. range).
Plug casters found some action with bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas and diamond jigs last week (with Gotchas producing the larger fish).
Some flounder are falling for live baits fished on the bottom.
Anglers also decked a few spadefish and sheepshead last week.
Live baiters landed one king mackerel last week, weighing 21.4 lbs.
