Added on Thursday, July 12, 2012  Fish Post

Topsail July 12, 2012

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that Topsail surf casters are hooking some pompano and sea mullet from the island’s beaches. Sand fleas and shrimp are producing most of the action with both fish.

Spanish mackerel are feeding just off the beaches, and boaters are putting together big catches while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and torpedo sinkers.

Some larger spanish (to 5+ lbs.) are falling for live baits fished from the ends of the piers.

Sailfish have begun to move inshore, and anglers reported seeing some as close as 8-10 miles offshore last week. They’ll likely be feeding from there out to the 30 mile range for the rest of the summer, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits or rigged ballyhoo.

Inshore, the flounder bite has been excellent around docks and other structure. Gulp baits have been producing plenty of action with the flatfish lately, even outproducing live baits many days.

Some speckled trout have been feeding around the bridges and other inshore structure. Live shrimp and a variety of soft plastic and suspending lures will tempt bites from the specks.

Ladyfish are feeding around the bridges and other lighted structure at night, and anglers can hook them on Rapala X-Raps or soft plastic baits on light jigheads.

The sheepshead bite is still strong (with good numbers of 8+ lb. fish weighed in). Fishing live fiddler crabs tight to bridge and dock pilings and other structure will tempt bites from the sheeps.

 

Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the flounder bite has picked up inshore (with plenty of quality keepers). Docks, bridges, and structure like ledges are good places to look for the flatfish. They’ll take an interest in Gulp baits or live finger mullet and menhaden, and they seem to be showing a preference for the menhaden right now. With the hot water lately, incoming tides have been cooling the water a bit and producing better action with the flatfish.

Red drum are still feeding around docks and in the marshes. Live baits have been the most consistent producers with the reds lately. Finger mullet and menhaden have both been effective. The fish seem to key in on one or the other on given days, so it pays to spend the time to catch both.

 

Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that the flounder bite is still solid around Sneads Ferry, but anglers are picking up plenty of small fish between the keepers. Gulp baits fished on bucktails and jigheads or bucktails tipped with live baits are fooling most of the flatfish.

Schools of red drum are feeding on the bays and flats off the New River and ICW (with some approaching 1000 fish). Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and a variety of other soft plastics will tempt bites from the reds.

 

Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with a typical summertime mixed bag: lots of variety, but not many of any one fish.

Those bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking some red and black drum, sea mullet, spot, and some spadefish.

Some flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.

Anglers working diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish.

 

Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that some black and red drum, spot, and sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and cut and live baits.

Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the planks.

 

Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.

Some sea mullet, spot, and croaker are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms at night.

One angler caught and released a 13 lb. red drum from the pier last week.

And live baiters are seeing plenty of tarpon, though not many have been biting lately.