Added on Thursday, July 2, 2009  Fish Post

Topsail July 2, 2009

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder and red drum in the sound. Anglers can tempt the flounder and drum to strike with live baits on Carolina rigs or while casting Gulp baits on jigheads or other artificials.

Ladyfish have shown up inshore, and anglers are catching them around prominent inshore structure after dark while casting X-Raps and other artificials.

Surf anglers have been hooking up with very good numbers of whiting for late June, mostly on sand fleas and cut shrimp.

Spanish mackerel are still feeding just outside the inlet and along the beaches. Anglers are hooking them from boats while trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, and from the shore and piers on Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and other metal casting lures.

The dolphin bite is still on fire at spots 7-15 miles out of Topsail Inlet. Small ballyhoo under pink skirts are doing the most damage on the ‘phins.

 

Eric, of New River Marina, reports that inshore the flounder bite has been very good lately in creek mouths and around other structure off the ICW and near the inlet. Live finger mullet or other baits on Carolina rigs are excellent ways to fool the flatfish, and anglers are also catching them on Gulp baits.

Black drum fishing is improving near the 172 Bridge and other structure in the area, and most of these striped drum are taking an interest in shrimp fished on bottom rigs.

The red drum bite has been slowing down a bit lately, but there are still some fish around for anglers willing to work hard for them. Topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and spinnerbaits should fool the reds when anglers can find them.

The trout bite has slowed down some, too, but anglers are still putting together decent catches of specks around inshore structure like bridges, docks, and deeper holes. Live shrimp are top trout baits, but anglers can also hook them on Billy Bay and Storm shrimp or Gulp baits.

There are still plenty of spanish mackerel around the inlet and nearby along the beaches, and anglers trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers or Clarkspoons should be able to find the fish.

Further off, anglers live and dead-baiting around Christmas Rock and the D Buoy are hooking up with good number of dolphin and schoolie king mackerel along with a few cobia.

Bottom fishermen have found a good gag grouper bite as close as 10-12 miles offshore. Fishing bottom structure in that area with cigar minnows, mackerel, or cut and live baits will produce action with the grouper.

In the Gulf Stream, anglers caught good numbers of dolphin and some yellowfin tuna last week while trolling ballyhoo.

A few sailfish and blue and white marlin releases have been reported as well.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of speckled trout action in the New River and the ICW around Sneads Ferry. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but the pinfish and other bait stealers have become so prevalent lately that anglers are better off casting shrimp imitations by Billy Bay and Storm.

Red drum are feeding up the New River in shallow water. Anglers have to search for the fish, but once a school is located, the fish have been responding well to topwater plugs lately.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the hot king mackerel bite continues around Christmas Rock and Honeymoon Rock, and the fish are getting larger (several over 25 lbs. caught last week). Both live pogies and dead cigar minnows are producing the fish.

Decent numbers of dolphin (most smaller gaffers) and a few big spanish mackerel are mixed in with the kings, and one sailfish was released last week in the same area.

 

Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers casting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Bottom fishermen are finding action with spot, whiting, and small sharks while baiting up with shrimp.

Live finger mullet fished on the bottom are producing action with some flounder.

Sheepshead are feeding near the pier pilings, and anglers are hooking them on fiddler crabs and shrimp.

 

Jonathan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are picking up some black and red drum on cut baits and shrimp.

Flounder are taking an interest in live baits on the bottom.

Plug casters have hooked decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish over the past week.

 

Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with a few spot and whiting.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs.

Live baiters hooked some big spanish mackerel (5-7 lbs.) on the king rigs last week.