Topsail August 6, 2009
Brian Grier, of Kansas City, MO, with a gag grouper that fell for a cigar minnow at some bottom structure 7 miles off New Topsail Inlet. He was fishing with Capt. Mike Pedersen of No Excuses Charters.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier fishermen have been hooking up with a typical summertime mix of whiting, some spot, black and red drum, pompano, and other bottom feeders. The overall surf action has been best from the north end to the middle of the island, and shrimp are fooling most of the bottom feeders.
More reds are coming from the south end of the island and the north end of Lea Island, and anglers are hooking them on finger mullet, cut baits, and a few on gold spoons.
The winds have had the water dirty lately, slowing down the mackerel bite, but high rising tides have been pushing a few spanish and bluefish into range of anglers casting from the piers. Boats can get in on the spanish action by trolling Clarkspoons or Yo-Zuri Deep Divers when the weather is calm enough to get out the inlet.
Inshore, the flounder bite has been excellent around the inlet, the creeks, and at structure like docks and oyster rocks. Live peanut pogies or finger mullet are fooling many of the flatties, and anglers are also catching good numbers on pearl Gulp baits.
Reds are feeding in many of the same areas as the flounder inside, and live baits or new penny Gulps are drawing their attention.
Some speckled trout are also still on the feed around inshore structure, and anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and Gulps.
Wayne Vaughan, of Raleigh, with a 5.05 lb. sheepshead he hooked on a sand flea from Surf City Pier.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that that gray trout have shown up in the inlet, and anglers are hooking good numbers while flounder fishing with live finger mullet.
The flounder bite has been solid as well, but many of the fish are still shy of the 14” legal limit. The inlet, the 172 Bridge, and area creeks have been producing most of the action with the flatfish.
Black drum and some sheepshead are also feeding around the 172 Bridge, and anglers can hook them on shrimp or other crustacean baits fished close to the structure.
The speckled trout bite is still good in the area, and most of the fish lately have been coming from upriver of Sneads Ferry. Live shrimp are the most effective baits, but anglers are hooking a few on artificials like Billy Bay Halo Shrimp.
In the ocean, the spanish mackerel bite is still good around the inlet and along the beaches, and anglers are picking up a few kings in the same areas. Trolling Clarkspoons is the way to hook up with the spaniards. Live baits like pogies are tops for the kings.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is still solid in the New River (with fish to around 6 lbs.). The best action lately has been upriver towards Jacksonville, especially in the creeks. Some flounder and ladyfish have been mixed in with the specks as well.
Live shrimp under floats are surefire trout killers, and anglers are also hooking up on artificials like Storm and Billy Bay Halo shrimp.
Anglers looking for the real thing should have little trouble catching shrimp for bait, as there have been big numbers moving through the river lately.
Arthur Brownell with a 30 lb. king mackerel he hooked on a cigar minnow on a Blue Water Candy dead bait rig near Honeymoon Rock. He was fishing with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Charters out of Topsail Beach.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the winds have dirtied the water and slowed the bite this past week, but anglers still found some action.
A few flounder are still feeding near the pier, including a 3.7 lb. fish that fell for cut bait last week.
Anglers dropping sand fleas near the pilings hooked up with a few sheepshead last week.
Bottom fishermen have been landing some spot and whiting on shrimp.
Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs hooked up with a few spanish mackerel and bluefish last week.
Speckled trout are still feeding around the pier, and anglers are hooking up with them on live shrimp. A few are also falling for topwater plugs.
Live and fresh shrimp fished near the bottom have attracted attention from some red and black drum lately.
Flounder are also around, and live finger mullet are drawing bites from them.
Juanita, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers caught a few spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs last week.
Live baiters landed several small king mackerel over the week.
Spot and whiting are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp. The bottom rigs are also fooling a few black and red drum.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom last week hooked up with some flounder.
