Added on Thursday, July 16, 2009  Fish Post

Topsail July 16, 2009

Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are finding action with whiting, pompano, and some spot while baiting bottom rigs with shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.

At the north and south ends of the island, anglers are picking up some red drum while baiting up with finger mullet or cut baits. A few flounder are in the mix as well.

Spanish and king mackerel are chasing baits close to shore, and anglers on the piers and in boats are capitalizing on them. Casting Gotcha plugs or other lures towards schools of the fish will fool the spanish, and boaters are also finding some action while trolling Clarkspoons. Live baits are the ticket to fooling the larger kings.

King mackerel and dolphin are feeding together at spots 7-15 miles off the beaches. The fish have been moving in and out by the day, meaning anglers will find them inside of 10 miles one day and have to go 15-20 miles the next. Trolling with dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo is the way to hook up with the dolphin and kings.

Inshore, anglers are catching good numbers of red and black drum, and a lot of flounder (though not all the flounder are legal). Finger mullet and Gulp baits will fool the reds and flatties, and shrimp should appeal to the black drum.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that there’s been an excellent flounder bite lately in the inlet and around inshore structure. Live baits on Carolina rigs will fool the flatties, and anglers can also use Gulps with success.

Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge, and anglers should be able to fool them with shrimp or other crustacean baits.

The speckled trout bite remains good, with most of the fish coming from near the inlets right now, as the rain has slowed things down a bit in the river. Live shrimp under floats are top baits for the specks, and they’ll take an interest in Billy Bay shrimp, Gulps, and a variety of other lures as well.

Off the beach, spanish mackerel are feeding around the inlet and along the beachfront. Boaters can fool the spaniards by trolling Clarkspoons.

King mackerel and dolphin are feeding a bit further offshore, and anglers are catching good numbers on both live and dead baits.

Gag grouper have pushed towards the beaches, and anglers may be able to find some at structure within 10 miles of shore right now. Cigar minnows and northern mackerel are excellent grouper baits.

Boats trolling the Gulf Stream lately have been rewarded for their long run with good numbers of wahoo and dolphin and a few billfish. Trolled ballyhoo are producing the action in the Stream.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are finding good fishing for red drum and speckled trout in the New River and in the ICW around structure and near the inlets. There’s been a good topwater bite in the mornings lately, and anglers can also fool the fish on live shrimp or a variety of lures like Billy Bay Halo and Storm shrimp imitations.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite just won’t quit in the 10 miles vicinity, both off New River and Masonboro Inlets. Dead cigar minnows on skirted Hank Brown rigs or Pirate Plugs are producing big action with the kings and good numbers of dolphin as well (a mixture of gaffers and peanuts).

Inshore, the spanish mackerel bite is still excellent around the big schools of pogies cruising the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons around the margins of the schools is the best way to hook up with the spaniards.

 

Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that when the water’s been dirty lately, anglers are hooking up with spot and whiting on bottom rigs baited with bloodworms.

When it clears, anglers casting diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs are finding action with bluefish and spanish mackerel.

Live baiters caught several kings last week, with the largest weighing 21 lbs.

 

Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that early mornings and late afternoons have been producing action with spanish mackerel for anglers casting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.

Bottom fishermen are hooking some pompano and black drum on shrimp.

Some flounder are also coming over the rails, but many are small.

Several king mackerel were landed over the past week on live bluefish, pogies, and threadfins, with the largest going 35 lbs.

 

Juanita, of Seaview Pier, reports that black drum and a few spot and whiting are taking an interest in shrimp fished on bottom rigs.

Plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.

Several king mackerel (up to 28 lbs.) fell for live baits fished from the end of the pier last week.