Topsail August 27, 2009
Phil and Isabelle Morocco, of Sharon, PA, and Capt. Adam Powell with a wahoo Isabelle hooked on a cigar minnow pinned to a Blue Water Candy Dead Bait Rig. She was fishing at the 200/200 with Capts. Andy and Adam Powell of All In Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that some wahoo have moved inshore of the Stream, and anglers reported catches from 30-45 miles off Topsail last week. Dead baits like cigar minnows and ballyhoo have been drawing bites from the ‘hoos.
There are still some kings feeding close to the beaches and on out to the areas where anglers are hooking up with the wahoo. Both live and dead baits are producing action with the kings.
Flounder are feeding well at nearshore structure like Diver’s Rock. Carolina-rigged live baits like finger mullet are producing action with the flatties. Some gray trout are showing up at the same areas where anglers are finding the flounder, and anglers can hook up with them on the same baits or on jigging lures.
Inshore, the red drum bite has been excellent lately, mostly in the ICW and backwaters just off of it. Live baits and Gulps have been attracting most of the attention from the reds.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the speckled trout bite’s been solid lately. Anglers are finding the specks at creek mouths off the river and the ICW and around the 172 Bridge. They’re catching most of them on live shrimp.
There’s been excellent flounder action inshore lately as well (with big numbers of fish but not many doormats). Live finger mullet or other baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish.
Spanish mackerel have been on the feed in the inlet and inshore in the ICW, and anglers are hooking them while trolling spoons or casting lures like MirrOlure MR17’s to breaking fish.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge. Anglers are finding action with both fish while baiting bottom rigs with shrimp and other crustaceans.
The red drum bite’s been on in the bays off the river and the ICW. Topwater plugs and Gulp baits (particularly pogies) are fooling most of the reds.
Taylor Brown, of Mebane, NC, with a teenager king mackerel he caught while fishing with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Fishing Charters out of Topsail Beach. The fish ate a cigar minnow fished on a Bluewater Candy dead bait rig with pink Bling skirt near Honeymoon Rock.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing in the New River was excellent last week (with many fish 18-24”). Creeks and structure off the main river and the ICW are producing most of the trout action, and anglers are catching the fish on live shrimp and Billy Bay, Storm, and Trigger-X shrimp imitations.
Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, pompano, and ribbonfish are all mixed in with the specks and falling for the same lures, adding some variety to the catch.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that the flounder bite is turning on inshore around Rich’s Inlet and the creeks nearby on the west side of the ICW. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
King mackerel are feeding along the beaches and out to the 20-30 mile range, but they’ve been a little picky lately. Live pogies offer anglers the best chances of tempting a king to strike.
Good numbers of peanut dolphin are feeding in the 20-30 mile areas. Anglers who can’t tempt the fish to bite pogies or trolled ballyhoo may be able to fool the peanuts with Clarkspoons.
Stephanie Ose with an 8 lb. red drum that fell for a silver spoon on her third cast while she was fishing for the first time with Capt. Mike Pedersen of No Excuses Charters.
Charles, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking good numbers of spot and whiting at night on shrimp and bloodworm baits.
Some sheepshead have been coming over the rails, and most successful anglers have been hooking them on sand fleas.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel last week (with the largest 21 lbs.).
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that the water temperature fell a bit last week and triggered the bluefish bite for anglers casting Gotcha plugs. A few spanish mackerel are also falling for the Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting and a scattering of flounder, black drum, and spot as well. Shrimp are producing action with the bottom feeders.
One 16 lb. king mackerel fell for a live bait fished from the end of the pier last week.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that live baiters landed an 18 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
Some spanish mackerel have been falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Bottom fishermen are finding a mixed bag of spot, whiting, bluefish, and a few red and black drum. Shrimp are drawing bites from the bottom feeders.
