Topsail July 26, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that flounder and black drum are searching for meals around oyster rocks in the sounds. The flounder will fall for a variety of live baits fished on Carolina rigs, or try the new Gulp Alive series baits.
Anglers trying to hook up with the black drum should fish shrimp or other crustaceans for bait.
In the surf, anglers are landing some big speckled trout and red drum. The action has been best towards the southern end of the island. Anglers weighed in good numbers of 4+ lb. citation trout over the week, as well as some fish in the 6 lb. range. Live shrimp are the best baits for both the trout and drum, but anglers can also target the trout very early in the morning with topwater plugs. Calm mornings make for better topwater action.
Boats are still finding plenty of sailfish chasing bait along the beach and further offshore. Anglers looking for a shot at sailfish should troll rigged ballyhoo. Those pulling live baits for kings will also attract some attention from the sails.
Kings are feeding along the beach as well, and good catches are coming from the piers and boats trolling close in. Most of the kings are in the teens, with a few larger ones mixed in.
Tarpon are joining the kings and sails feeding close to shore, and several have been hooked from the piers.
Live pogy baits should tempt the kings and tarpon to strike.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are still finding good catches of dolphin and wahoo. Most of the dolphin are smaller gaffers, and the wahoo are running up to 60 lbs.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing pompano, whiting, black drum, and a few over-the-slot red drum.
Those fishing live baits on the bottom are hooking up with some flounder (up to 19” this week).
A few bluefish are hitting diamond jigs. Anglers are decking some spanish mackerel, but most are biting live baits on king rigs. Those spanish are big (some up to 7 lbs.)
Live baiters are also hooking up with kings and a few tarpon. Last week’s largest king was 14 lbs., and one angler landed a 68 lb. tarpon.
Charles, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers fishing live minnows on the bottom are catching some nice flounder and speckled trout.
Those baiting up with shrimp are landing a few whiting, spots, and some small bluefish.
The king mackerel bite has been excellent over the past week, with over 15 kings landed last weekend alone. The largest was 27 lbs.
Jan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that some fat pompano and black drum are falling for shrimp and sand fleas fished on bottom rigs. A few pompano are also hitting Gotcha plugs.
Plug casters are catching decent numbers of bluefish as well.
Live mud minnows are fooling a few flounder.
Some 2-4 lb. speckled trout are biting live shrimp and Gotcha plugs.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pilings.
Live baiters caught several tarpon and a 20 lb. king mackerel last week.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that trout fishing is still good in the New River. Halo and Storm shrimp imitations are the top artificial lures, but live shrimp should produce the most bites. Most of the fish are 2-3 lbs., with an occasional larger one thrown in.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that speckled trout fishing remains solid throughout the river. Live shrimp are the top trout producers, but soft plastic baits will also fool the specks.
Flounder fishing is good, and most anglers are hooking up with the flatfish by fishing live mullet or small pogies on Carolina rigs.
Around the 172 Bridge, anglers are landing sheepshead and black drum while fishing with shrimp on bottom rigs.
Plenty of shrimp are on the move in the creeks, so anglers should have little difficulty catching some for bait.
In the inlet and along the beachfront, boats are catching plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish on trolled Clarkspoons.
Cobia and king mackerel are also on the feed along the beach, and both will fall for live pogies, mullet, or dead cigar minnows. The king bite has been solid from the beach out to spots 20+ miles offshore.
Gag grouper are holding on bottom structure 8 miles and further from the inlet. Reds and scamps are still out in deeper water 25+ miles from shore.
Dolphin are feeding 10 miles and further offshore. Live baits, cigar minnows, and ballyhoo should tempt strikes from the dolphin.
Some sailfish are looking for meals along with the dolphin.
Out in the Gulf Stream, boats are hooking wahoo, dolphin, and a few blue and white marlin. The Swansboro Hole and Big Rock are good places to begin looking for these blue water predators.
