Topsail July 18, 2013
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are seeing some king mackerel showing up along the beachfront, with several weighed in by live-baiters on the Topsail piers last week (including a 42 lb. fish). Anglers are also connecting with the kings from boats along the beach and at offshore structure when it’s calm enough to get out. Live baits like menhaden and bluefish are tough for the kings to turn down.
Spanish mackerel are also making an appearance along the beaches. Anglers are hooking them on small live baits and while working metal lures from the piers. Trolling Clarkspoons and other small, flashy offerings from boats is also getting the job done on the spaniards.
Bottom fishermen have reported some good grouper action around offshore structure, where squid, cigar minnows, and other baits are fooling the delicious fish.
Sheepshead fishing has been excellent along the pilings of the ocean piers lately, where sand fleas dangled close to the structure are tempting them to bite. There’s also decent sheepshead action inshore around bridges, docks, and other structure. Sand fleas or fiddler crabs will fool the sheeps in the backwaters.
The topwater red drum action on the flats and in the bays inshore has been excellent lately, with big numbers of reds willing to commit to surface lures. When they don’t want to eat on top, live baits and soft plastics like Gulps will fool the reds.
Some flounder are in the same areas, and they’re also feeding around inshore structure and in the inlets. Live baits and Gulps will both get attention from the flatfish.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of red drum in the bays off the ICW and New River right now, and they’ve been rather willing to bite topwater plugs recently.
Some flounder and speckled trout are feeding in the same areas as the reds. The trout have also been interested in topwaters lately. Soft plastics laced with scents like Pro-Cure Super Gel are fooling the flounder, and they’re getting the job done on the reds and trout when they don’t want to bite on top.
Jeremy Jeffers, of Goldsboro, NC, with a 45 lb. cobia he hooked 40 miles off New River Inlet while fishing with Ken Dawson. Weighed in at East Coast Sport.
Richard, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the early morning hours while baiting up with live shrimp.
Some recent mornings have seen a spanish mackerel bite, primarily for anglers working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with sea mullet and some scattered spot on shrimp and bloodworms.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking a mixed bag of sea mullet, spot, bluefish, black drum, and more while soaking shrimp and other baits on double-drop rigs.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Speckled trout have been taking an interest in live shrimp in the mornings.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish.
One 23 lb. king mackerel was landed on a live bait fished off the end of the pier last week.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are seeing a typical summer pattern with better action often happening at night right now.
Some spot are biting bloodworms and shrimp during the evening hours. A few black drum and sea mullet are mixed in and also biting during the day.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish.
