Topsail July 8, 2010
Randy Lykens with a 27", 5 lb., 10 oz. speckled trout he hooked in the New River on a Gulp shrimp.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers are catching spot, some whiting, and a summer mix of other bottom feeders. The best fishing has been at night, as sharks are dominating the catch during the daytime. Bloodworms and shrimp will attract attention from the bottomfish.
The red drum bite’s been hot in the surf at the north end of Lea Island. Gold spoons and finger mullet are fooling most of the reds.
Inshore, the red drum bite’s slowed a bit, but anglers are still catching some reds on the flats and in the area creeks. Gulp Peeler Crabs have been particularly effective lately.
Black drum are still feeding around the bridges, especially the 172 Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on fresh shrimp on bottom rigs. The incoming tide seems to be best, and the fish aren’t shy about feeding at night.
Ladyfish are inshore in the area, and anglers can hook them around lighted docks and bridges at night. A variety of lures will fool the ladies, but Rapala X-Raps have been particularly effective lately.
Off the beaches, anglers are still catching decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while casting Gotcha plugs. They’re also catching them trolling Clarkspoons near the inlets and along the beachfront.
Amberjacks and barracudas are feeding on the artificial reefs, and anglers can fool them on live baits or topwater plugs.
Some king mackerel are feeding from the beaches out to near and offshore structure, and boats are hooking them while trolling live and dead baits.
The dolphin bite has been best 20+ miles offshore, and some sailfish are scattered in with the kings and dolphin all over the places. Rigged ballyhoo are top choices for the sails and dolphin.
Aurie Nier, of Smithfield, NC, with a fat red grouper she hooked on a squid strip while fishing some bottom structure offshore of Topsail Beach aboard the headboat "Vonda Kay" with Capt. Dave Gardner.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are hooking up with some king mackerel and dolphin, with the best action around Christmas Rock, the D Buoy, and spots on out to the 30 mile range. Live and dead cigar minnows and rigged ballyhoo are fooling the kings and ‘phins.
Bottom fishermen are finding some gag grouper at structure 8-10 miles and further offshore. There’s been a good sea bass bite at structure even closer to the beaches.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding along the beaches. Trolled Clarkspoons will draw strikes from both species.
Inshore, the flounder bite is solid around the area bridges, channel markers, and deep holes near the inlet. Gulp baits and small live baits are fooling the flatties.
The red drum and speckled trout bite has slowed a bit lately, but anglers are catching some fish around inshore structure and in the creeks on live baits, topwater plugs, and soft plastics.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the bridges, channel markers, and other hard structure in the area. Shrimp and other crustacean baits will fool both fish.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the flounder bite continues to be strong in the area around inshore structure and deeper water off the ICW and inlets (with fish to 6 lbs. last week). Live pogies and finger mullet are the way to fool the flatties.
Some big black drum are on the feed around the bridges in the area, and they’ve been taking an interest in finger mullet and other baits that anglers are fishing for flounder.
Some speckled trout are feeding around inshore structure as well, and they’ll pounce on a live shrimp fished beneath a float.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that live baiters hooked up with king mackerel and tarpon last week from the end of the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking some pompano, puppy drum, bluefish, speckled trout, and a few flounder on cut and live shrimp and live finger mullet.
Plug casters are hooking up with some spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
Craig Halstead, from Duke Center, PA, with a well overslot red drum he hooked on a cut bait in Masonboro Inlet while fishing with his father and sister.
Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers have been picking up some spot, whiting, a few spadefish, and a variety of other fish while baiting up with shrimp.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier hooked up with decent numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel last week.
Live baiters landed a 37 lb. king mackerel while fishing from the end of the pier last week.
Alex, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing some king mackerel from the end of the pier, but they’ve been tough to hook and land lately.
Plug casters are finding some action with bluefish early and late in the day.
A few small flounder are falling for live shrimp fished next to the pilings.
Bottom fishermen have been decking some whiting, a few spot, and some large black drum.
