Topsail July 19, 2012
Jennifer Blaz, of Sneads Ferry, with her first red drum, a 22" fish she hooked on a Gulp pogy in a marsh behind Topsail Island.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf casters are hooking some large pompano and sea mullet from all along the Topsail beaches. Shrimp and sand fleas are producing most of the action with both bottom feeders.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish have been chasing bait to within range of surf casters, and anglers who are prepared with a diamond jig can cast into the action to hook up with both.
Pier anglers are also hooking the spanish and blues on diamond jigs and Gotchas.
Boaters are getting in on the spanish action just off the shoreline while trolling Clarkspoons and squid rigs.
Anglers are reporting action with king mackerel and dolphin as close as 10 miles off the inlets, with a more consistent bite of both at spots in the 15-18 mile range. Live menhaden or dead cigar minnows will tempt bites from the kings and ‘phins.
Black sea bass are feeding at bottom structure from the first set of boxcars off Topsail Inlet out to offshore areas in the 100’ range. They’ll bite just about any bait on a bottom rig or small vertical jigs with abandon.
Gag grouper, pinkies, and other tasty bottom dwellers are holding on structure from 8-10 miles on out, and they’ll fall for dead cigar minnows and sardines or cut and live baits.
Inshore, flounder are feeding in the inlets and around docks and other structure, where Gulp baits or live mud minnows, finger mullet, and menhaden will tempt them to bite.
Red drum are in many of the same areas and also looking for meals on the flats behind the barrier islands. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and live baits will all attract attention from the reds.
Speckled trout can be found around the bridges and other hard structure in the early morning hours, and live shrimp or a variety of soft plastic baits will get their attention.
Ladyfish continue to feed heavily in the evening hours around the bridge and lighted docks. Soft plastics and Rapala X-Raps will produce fast action with the acrobatic ladies.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that red drum are schooled up in the bays and on the flats off the New River and ICW. Large chopper bluefish, jack crevalle, and speckled trout are mixed into some of the schools. Casting topwater plugs like Bomber Badonk A Donks is producing action with all the fish, so anglers may well hook a surprise while casting at a school of reds.
When the fish don’t want to eat topwaters, soft baits from Gulp and TTF will often tempt them to bite.
Flounder action remains steady, with plenty of smaller fish but good numbers of keepers rewarding persistent anglers. Soft plastics and live baits have both been effective on the flatfish.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are still catching good numbers of flounder inshore around structure like drop-offs, bridges, and docks. Gulp baits and live finger mullet or menhaden will all tempt the flatfish to bite.
Red drum are feeding in the marshes and around docks and other structure from Surf City to Figure Eight Island. Live menhaden and mullet are the top choices for the reds as well.
Harrison and Bill Papineau, of Atlanta, GA, with a pair of upper-slot red drum that bit topwater plugs near Sneads Ferry while they were fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking big numbers of speckled trout from the pier (with some limits of 17-23” fish last week). Live shrimp are fooling most of the specks, and the bite’s been best in the early morning hours.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and taking an interest in live shrimp and mud minnows.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet, spot, and sharks in the evening hours on shrimp.
Live baiters have been hooking a few large (4-6 lb.) spanish mackerel off the end of the pier.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and black and red drum while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp and other baits.
Some sheepshead are feeding around the pilings and taking an interest in fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and barnacles.
A few spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live baiters landed a 60 lb. tarpon last week.
Some bluefish are falling for metal lures that anglers are working from the pier in the early morning hours.
Red and black drum are feeding around the pier and taking an interest in shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits.
And bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot at night on shrimp and bloodworms.
