Topsail August 28, 2008
Kevin Rervais, from Ashburn, VA, with a king mackerel he hooked on a dead cigar minnow on a Hank Brown head/Blue Water Candy skirt combo at AR 366. He was fishing with Capts. Andy and Adam Powell of All In Charters out of Surf City.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers are finding action with flounder and red drum on the flats and around oyster rocks, with a few trout thrown into the mix, too, especially around structure. Live baits on Carolina and float rigs and Gulp baits should attract attention from all three inshore species.
Sheepshead are searching for meals around the pilings of local bridges and docks. Crustaceans like fiddler crabs and sand fleas dangled next to the structure will fool the sheepshead.
Surf anglers are catching whiting and red drum on the north end of the island. Some black drum are mixed in along the southern part of the island. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits will get attention in the suds.
Red drum and ladyfish are feeding in the surf from the north end of Lee Island, and they’ll fall for cut baits, gold spoons, or other lures.
The piers are reporting some spanish mackerel, so they should be feeding a short distance from the beaches when boats can get to them.
Inside of 20 miles, boats are reporting a few sailfish hookups. Live baits and ballyhoo will fool the sails.
Blake Leigh with a pair of dolphin caught on light-lined cigar minnows. He was fishing with Capt. Dave Gardner on the head boat "Vonda Kay" out of Topsail.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the grouper bite has still been good at bottom structure within 15 miles of land, mostly for gags. Cigar minnows and other baits will get the grouper’s attention.
Some king mackerel are feeding very close to the beaches. Live baits like pogies are the best king baits, and boats can slow-troll them along the beaches and at nearshore structure to hook up with the kings.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are chasing bait in the inlet and along the beaches just outside. Boats should be able to easily hook up with both while trolling Clarkspoons near diving birds or activity on the water’s surface.
Plenty of sharks are still feeding around the inlet. Fishing large live or cut baits in the inlet should produce fast action with the big predators.
Finger mullet, shrimp, and other bait have been extremely plentiful in the river lately, and the inshore fishing has been excellent as well.
Flounder are feeding around the 172 Bridge, in the inlet, and in between. Carolina-rigged finger mullet will fool the flatfish.
Anglers are catching plenty of red drum and speckled trout in the creeks and flats off the New River and ICW. Live baits, Gulps, Billy Bay shrimp, and other lures will fool the reds and trout, and topwater plugs have been especially effective lately.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge, and a bottom rig baited with shrimp should fool both.
Sara Lucas (age 10), from Hampstead, NC, with a 4 lb. flounder she hooked on a Gulp bait at the Washington Acres boat ramp while fishing with her father, Jeff. Photo courtesy of East Coast Sports.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are catching plenty of red drum and speckled trout in the New River. The trout fishing has been best around Sneads Ferry recently; with the best drum action upriver towards Jacksonville. Topwater plugs like the MirrOlure She Dog have been especially effective on the reds lately.
The specks are falling for live shrimp and Billy Bay and Storm shrimp imitations, but when the pinfish get bad and start nipping the legs off the artificial shrimp, a hard bait like an X-Rap will also produce results.
Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching a mixed bag of croaker, bluefish, flounder, spot, and whiting on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Spanish mackerel are falling for diamond jigs (with many in the 2-3 lb. class.).
Live baiters landed several king mackerel over the week.
Marion, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching some croakers and black drum at night. Shrimp are fooling both.
The water is 80 degrees.
Jason, of Seaview Pier, reports that there’s been a solid run of bluefish and spanish mackerel early in the mornings for anglers casting diamond jigs.
Whiting and black drum are falling for shrimp fished on bottom rigs in the evenings.
Small live baits on the bottom have been producing a few keeper flounder.
Live baiters had strikes from tarpon, barracuda, and kings last week, and they landed several king mackerel (up to 35 lbs.).
