Topsail Island – May 7, 2015
Dan, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, spot, and black drum while bottom fishing from the beach and piers. Most are falling for shrimp and sand fleas.
There’s also been some good red drum action for surf casters on the north end of the island and down on Lea Island. Cut baits are fooling most of the reds in the surf.
Kevin Wade, of Erwin, NC, with an Atlantic bonito and a little tunny that struck Stingsilvers while he was fishing just off New River Inlet.
Inshore, there’s been some decent flounder action in the creeks and marshes. Most of the flatfish are taking an interest in live baits or Gulps and other scented soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel have shown up off the ends of the piers, where anglers are hooking them on Gotcha plugs and other casting lures. Boaters can cast the same baits or troll Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights to connect with the spaniards.
Atlantic bonito are chasing bait a bit further out in the 3-5 mile range. They’ll respond to the same techniques as the spanish.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent action just off the inlets from New River to Masonboro. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, false albacore, and Atlantic bonito are chasing bait within five miles of the beachfront, where anglers can find the feeding schools by searching for birds diving to the water’s surface to feed on the scraps. Casting metal lures like diamond jigs into the action is drawing savage strikes from all the nearshore pelagics.
Inshore, the red drum that anglers have been seeing for months are finally feeding actively, so anglers are actually catching some fish instead of just looking at them. Topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics, and a variety of other lures will attract attention from the reds.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are finding red drum and some flounder in the creeks and marshes around Topsail. Both will take an interest in scented soft baits like Gulps or live baits fished on the bottom.
Some speckled trout are in the same areas and pouncing on soft plastics and live baits as well.
Out in the ocean, there’s been some incredible action with Atlantic bonito at nearshore structure like Divers Rock. Anglers are hooking some while trolling lures like Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, but the best action and most fun are coming while casting diamond jigs and other metal lures at schools of fish attacking bait on the surface. Searching for working birds will clue anglers into where the fish are feeding.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking bluefish and some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with some sea mullet and healthy black drum.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that there’s been some solid action with black drum and a few puppy drum for anglers bottom fishing with shrimp. Sea mullet and other panfish are mixed in.
Plug casters are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas near the end of the pier.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that there’s been some solid bluefish action for anglers working plugs from the pier during the morning and afternoon hours. Spanish mackerel are mixed in and falling for the same offerings.
Bottom fishermen are landing sea mullet and some black drum while baiting up with shrimp and Fish Bites.
