Topsail – August 28, 2014
Mac McLemore with a Topsail Island red drum that struck a soft plastic shrimp in the sound at Topsail while he was fishing with Capt. Jason Dail of Silverspoon Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the weather has kept many boats from making the run to the Gulf Stream recently, but those who’ve been report that the excellent wahoo bite is still going strong. The ‘hoos are falling for traditional skirted ballyhoo spreads, along with baitless high-speed lures, which allow anglers to cover more water in search of active fish. Some dolphin and blackfin tuna have been feeding in the stream and biting trollers’ baits as well.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid action with gag grouper close to land right now, with legal fish coming off spots 4-12 miles offshore. Live, dead, and cut baits will all fool the groupers. Red and scamp grouper are feeding further offshore around structure in 100’ and deeper.
Spanish mackerel are looking for meals along the beachfront, and anglers are hooking them while working casting lures from the ends of the piers and while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy offerings from boats. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spaniards.
Surf and pier anglers are hooking solid numbers of black drum right now, with most falling for shrimp.
Anglers are also seeing some black drum action inshore around structure like docks and bridges. Sheepshead are feeding in the same areas, and both fish will fall for shrimp, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans fished close to the pilings.
The red drum bite inshore has been on fire recently, and anglers are finding action with the reds along ICW structure (like docks) and in most of the marshy bays and creeks off the waterway. Topwater plugs have been particularly effective recently, but anglers can also toss soft plastics, spinnerbaits, gold spoons, or a variety of live and cut baits to tempt bites from the reds.
Flounder are feeding around the inlets and inshore structure and drop-offs along the ICW. Live baits are the best bets for the flatfish, but Gulps and other scented soft baits can be effective as well.
Clint Oneal, of Fayetteville, NC, with a bigeye tuna that attacked a Shimano Waxwing jig 24 miles off New River Inlet while he was fishing with Joe Rhodes, Jr.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers saw some dynamite speckled trout fishing over the past week as the new moon approached. The bays and backwaters off the New River and ICW have been producing the best action, and anglers are hooking the fish on topwater plugs, MirrOLure MR17’s, and soft plastic shrimp imitations.
Red drum are also on the feed in the same general areas, and anglers have been hooking big numbers on topwater plugs and gold spoons in recent days.
Flounder giggers are putting together some impressive hauls, but the hook-and-line flatfish action has been a bit inconsistent lately. Anglers are catching some decent fish, but the bite’s been slow on many days and plenty of small fish are in between the keepers.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are seeing a solid flounder bite in the area right now. Incoming tides around deeper docks and structure have been producing the best action, and live finger mullet along with white soft plastics are tempting the flatfish to bite.
The red drum action in the area has been excellent recently, with the fish feeding in very shallow water, particularly during falling tides. They’ve been biting live mullet one day and cut menhaden the next, so it pays to have both aboard right now. Anglers are also fooling the reds and some speckled trout on topwater plugs on many days.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Ezekiel Wiggins, of High Point, NC, with an overslot red drum that struck a gold spoon while he was fishing the New River with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Some larger spaniards (4+ lbs.) are biting live menhaden on king rigs. Live-baiters fishing the end of the pier also hooked a king mackerel last wek.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with a few spot at night, along with some sea mullet, black drum, and scattered gray trout.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are seeing decent spot action right now. Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms are also hooking some black drum.
Plug caCheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot while baiting bottom rigs with shrimp and bloodworms. A few puppy drum are also falling for baits on the bottom.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and other casting lures that anglers are working from the pier.
