Topsail August 3, 2006
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that the piers have seen some sheepshead and a few trout and flounder. Tarpon have been spotted, but no catches to report.
Surf fishing continues to produce the usual summer variety of a few flounder, croakers, bluefish, whiting, black drum, and pompano.
Inside, there has only been an occasional report of some specks caught. Most everything is biting live shrimp.
Off the beach, Dallas Rock has seen some action with sailfish recently.
Smaller dolphin are being caught in numbers. Find a weed line, and you should have all the dolphin you want.
The 23 Mile Rock has been steady producing kings and dolphin, as well as a few sails.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports inshore fishing is consistent in the waterway and river. There are 27 to 30 inch redfish being caught in the waterway on live bait and artificials.
Smaller fish are in the river, along with some speckled trout.
Black drum and sheepshead are hitting clams and crabs around the bridge.
Spanish and king mackerel (up to 25 pounds) are being caught just off the beach, while the dolphin are being caught as close as 5 miles out.
Jimmy, at Bad Attitude Charters, reports good constant action this week offshore. Plenty of king mackerel and dolphin are as close as 7 to 8 miles off the beach. They’re hitting live or dead baits.
Trolling around 4 knots has kept the sharks away without hurting the king bites.
Bait can be jigged up around the E Buoy.
Grouper are being caught in good numbers, but most of the fish are 18 to 19 inch throwbacks. The bigger fish have scattered out. Grunts and sea bass are also biting well.
Greg, at Sea View Pier, reports black drum biting at night. Most fish are pan-sized, but drum up to 12 lbs. have been weighed. Shrimp are the best bait.
Bluefish are biting cut baits fished on bottom rigs.
A few flounder have been caught this week.
Many trout have been around the pier, but only a few were caught. Mirrolures and Yo-zuri plugs have tricked the trout that have been caught.
A 25.5 lb. king fell for a live bait fished off the end of the pier.
Ed, at Surf City Pier, reports slow action but nice fish. Live minnows seem to be the bait of choice. A 5.26 lb. speckled trout, a 2.5 lb. flounder, and a 6 lb. puppy drum all fell for minnows this week.
A 5.7 lb. sheepshead was caught on a sand flea.
Some bluefish are being caught on plugs.
Bottom fishing with shrimp is producing some whiting.
An 11 lb. king mackerel was weighed this week.
The water temperature is 82 degrees.
