Topsail August 25, 2005
Ricky, at Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that trout are still biting early in the mornings, with some nice 4 lb. class fish this week. The gray trout have arrived on live bottoms and were caught on diamond jigs. Flounder are still biting on the nearshore reefs, as well as light lining live bait for kings and spanish in the same areas. And red drum are biting pretty well up the river.
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that surf fishermen picked up a number of spots over the past week. No strong runs, but several were caught. People were using either real bloodworms or the new Fishbites artificial bloodworms. The surf also saw some sea mullet at night and flounder during the day.
Lots of spanish are just off the beach, but they’re all small.
Bluefish are still in the inlet. They’re all small (less than 1 pound).
Inside there are redfish around the docks. The south end of the island has seemed to be the best area. Most are in or under the slot size, and guys are using finger mullet to pick them up.
Sheepshead are on the bridges and piers. Guys who target the species have been doing well.
As for offshore, anglers are continuing to catch plenty of kings, with the sizes ranging from the teens to the 20 lb. class. King fishermen have also been finding a few sails. They are as close as four miles off the beach.
Jeff, at Surf City Pier, reports that they’ve been picking up a few spots, with the emphasis on few. Anglers have been catching some blues, but nothing really over 3/4 pound. There were no spanish this week, but they did pick up a few flounder. The heaviest flounder were in the 1-2 pound class.
Frank, at Seaview Pier, reports some keeper spanish being caught, with one weighing in at 5.5 lbs. this week. Small blues, sea mullet, and the occasional spot are coming off the bottom rigs. Anglers flounder fishing have done okay with more keeper size fish. No kings this week, but the full moon is a good time for a tarpon. There have been hookups but none landed.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports that the high tides this week have helped the red drum fishing in the waterway. Spanish have pushed in from the inlet into the waterway. Kings and dolphin are still pretty consistent at Christmas Rock, AR355, and Honeymoon Rock. In the river, the trout bite has slowed somewhat due to the heat, but sheepshead and black drum fishing is still good around the high rise bridge.
