Topsail July 22, 2004
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that all the piers are seeing tarpon, but no tarpon were landed. Surf City Pier has seemed to have the most action with catches of large speckled trout, big flounders, mullet, croakers and spots. Jolly Roger reported a 42 lb. king caught this week. Sea View Pier’s report consisted of mostly spots and spanish.
Surf fishing has seen catches of big mullet at the “S” curve and reds coming from the tower. Red fishing has been better at night. Inside, there are still reds in the ICW and flounder at the bridge. Fish for sheepshead, because they have been biting well over the past week.
Tons of undersized kings are everywhere off the beach. The 23 Mile Rock has seen quite a bit of action on kings and dolphin. The bigger kings are wanting ballyhoo and not live bait. There’s plenty of menhaden in the Beach House Marina. Dolphin seem to be everywhere, but no wahoos or tunas reported this week.
Frank, at Seaview Pier, reports two tarpon hookups with many more fish seen in their baits. Other than the tarpon action, it has been very slow with a few flounder hitting mullet. However, there is not much bait around. The water is churned up and has slowed any mackerel fishing.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports that the speckled trout bite has slowed because the fish are now scattered. However, a 6.5 lb. trout was weighed in this week caught on live shrimp. Flounder are around but not many big ones yet. Big drum, several over 30+”, are in the inlet, and some very small reds are up in the river. Black drum and sheepshead are biting crabs around the bridge on pilings. Spanish and kings are still off the beach, with a better king and dolphin bite coming from about 12 miles off.
