Topsail July 21, 2011
June Simmons, of Cameron, NC, with a 28" red drum that bit a live pogy in the surf off Lea Island while she was fishing with her husband Jason.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are still catching some quality (many citation-size) pompano in the surf on sand fleas and shrimp. Some black drum and sea mullet are mixed in, and anglers are hooking all three on the piers, too.
Red drum are joining the surf action on the south end and at the north end of Lea Island, and anglers can tempt them to bite finger mullet, cut baits, or gold spoons.
All of the surf fishing has been best early and late in the day lately.
Inshore, flounder fishing has been solid around the inlets, creeks, and inshore structure. Live finger mullet, mud minnows, or menhaden and Gulp baits are all good choices for the flatfish.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas as the flounder, and they’re also on the flats behind Lea Island. Live baits, topwater plugs, and Gulps will tempt bites from the reds.
Big numbers of sheepshead are feeding around the bridges, under docks, and at other hard inshore structure in the area. Fiddler crabs are tough for the crustacean-loving sheeps to pass up.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around the inlet, just offshore, and along the beaches. Anglers can target the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other small, shiny lures from boats or working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the piers.
Amberjacks are schooled up at high-relief structure starting just 2-3 miles off the inlets. Live baits are very difficult for the AJ’s to pass up, but anglers in a mood to fish artificials can tempt them to bite vertical jigs and topwater plugs as well.
Dolphin have been caught as close as 10-12 miles out, with better action further offshore. Live baits, dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows, and artificial trolling lures will all strike the dolphins’ fancy.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the red drum bite is still excellent on the flats behind Lea Island (with many upper to over-slot fish). Live menhaden have been producing most of the action with the reds.
Good numbers of reds are also feeding under docks in the area.
Docks and other structure in 2-8’ of water inshore have been producing some solid flounder action lately. Live baits are the way to go for the flatfish, and finger mullet have been producing better than menhaden and mud minnows of late.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that flounder fishing throughout the area has been excellent lately (though anglers are seeing plenty of undersized fish mixed in with the larger ones). Fishing live baits like finger mullet around docks, drop-offs, creekmouths, and in the inlets is attracting most of the attention from the flatfish.
Red drum are still feeding in the creeks and bays behind Lea and Figure Eight Islands. Live and cut menhaden and mullet will draw plenty of bites from the reds when anglers find the fish.
Kole Meadows, from Mt. Airy, NC, with a 24", 5 lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet near Bogue Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Dale Collins.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are picking up a few speckled trout and flounder while fishing live shrimp and minnows beneath the pier.
Some sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Plug casters are picking up a few bluefish while working Gotchas from the planks.
Jan, of Surf City Pier, reports that bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and bottom rigs near the pier.
Some black drum, spot, and spadefish are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
Flounder are taking an interest in small live baits on the bottom near the pier.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pier’s pilings, and sand fleas, fiddler crabs, and barnacles will tempt them to bite.
Austin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that some red drum are falling for sand fleas under the pier.
Small live baits are producing some action with flounder.
Spot and croaker are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs, especially at night.
Plug casters are picking up a few bluefish on Gotchas.
