Topsail July 29, 2010
Owen Alphin (age 13), of Topsail Beach, with his first pier king mackerel, a 37 lb. fish he hooked on a live bait while fishing from the end of Surf City Pier.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that when the winds let anglers get out, there are plenty of dolphin feeding from 20 miles offshore to the Gulf Stream. Anglers can hook them while slow-trolling live baits like pogies or pulling dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo a bit quicker.
Some sailfish are feeding in all the same areas as the dolphin, with a few scattered even closer to the beaches. Live and dead baits will fool them as well.
Closer to the beaches, bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding just outside the inlets. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and trolling weights will attract attention from both nearshore pelagics.
Large sharks are feeding in the inlet and around shrimp boats just offshore. Cut and dead baits will tempt them to bite.
Inshore, black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge and other hard structure in the area. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other crustaceans are the best baits for both species, and fishing at night is often more productive than in the daytime.
Red drum are feeding on the marshy flats throughout the area. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and live baits will fool the reds.
Ladyfish are feeding strong inshore. Fishing in the ICW and other high current areas around lighted docks is the most productive, and lures like X-Raps will tempt them to bite.
Surf anglers are still finding an excellent red drum bite at the north end of Lea Island. Cut baits, finger mullet, and gold spoons will all attract attention from the reds.
Sharks are dominating the catch for surf anglers along most of the island. Fishing at night will up anglers’ odds of hooking up with surf bottom feeders like whiting, spot, and pompano.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are catching a few king mackerel along the beaches and nearshore, but the best bite has been 15-20 miles out when the weather lets boaters get that far. Some dolphin are mixed in with the offshore kings, and both will fall for live or dead baits.
Bottom fishermen are finding action with gag grouper at structure in the 10 mile range. Red and scamp groupers are feeding out deeper. Cigar minnows, spanish sardines, and Boston mackerel will fool the groupers.
Anglers are catching plenty of large sharks around shrimp boats culling their catch within a few miles of the inlet. Cut baits will tempt bites from the sharks.
Samuel Thomas Shrum (age 11), of Ocala, FL, with a 6 lb. gag grouper he hooked offshore of Topsail Beach while fishing with Capt. Dave Gardner on the headboat "Vonda Kay."
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in the inlet and just offshore, and they will take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons.
Inshore, the flounder bite is solid in the bays and creeks, deep holes near the inlet and in the ICW, and around the 172 Bridge. Anglers can hook up with the flatfish on Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulps.
Red drum are feeding in the same bays and creeks and will fall for topwater plugs, Gulps, live baits, and more. Good numbers of reds are also feeding in the surf. Plenty of large sharks are around as well, so anglers should be careful if wading for the reds.
The black drum and sheepshead bite remains consistent around the 172 Bridge. Shrimp and other crustaceans will fool both.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that red drum have been providing plenty of action for anglers lately. The bite’s been best between Topsail and Figure Eight around inshore docks. Live and cut pogies have been outproducing finger mullet with the reds lately.
With inshore water temperatures nearing 90, the best flounder fishing has been around deeper structure inshore. Live finger mullet and pogies will tempt bites from the flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding around inshore structure like bridges and docks. Fiddler crabs will get their attention.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that bluefish have been providing the bulk of the action lately and are falling for Gotcha plugs and a variety of baits.
Ken Holt and John Keene hold a fat wahoo that took an unhealthy interest in a ballyhoo under a black/orange Ilander 45' deep while they were trolling out of New River Inlet near the Rise on the "Cattle Company."
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are still picking up some spanish mackerel, but the bite’s much better early and late than in the middle of the day. Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and live baits are fooling the spaniards.
Live baiters are seeing plenty of tarpon.
Bottom fishermen have had the best luck at night lately, when they’re hooking up with some spot and whiting.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live baiters landed a 13 lb. king mackerel last week and have been getting plenty of bites from tarpon, though they’re tough to land.
Plug casters are catching a few bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and a few small flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding near the pier’s pilings and will bite sand fleas and other baits.
