Added on Thursday, June 14, 2012  Fish Post

Topsail June 14, 2012

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers caught good numbers of cobia last week 4-20 miles offshore of the inlets. Slow-trolling live baits has produced most of the fish.

Anglers are finding dolphin in the 13-25 mile range offshore, with plenty of fish still out in the Gulf Stream, too. Live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will draw bites from the ‘phins.

Gag grouper have been reported at spots from 8 miles on offshore. Live baits, cut baits, and dead cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel will tempt bites from the grouper. Plenty of black sea bass are in the same areas, and they will pounce on the same baits.

Spanish mackerel action was excellent last week around a mile offshore for boats trolling Clarkspoons and other lures.

Bluefish are mixed in with the spaniards and feeding along the beachfront where anglers are hooking them on metal jigs and bottom rigs, both from the surf and piers.

Red drum are still feeding on the shoals of New Topsail Inlet, and anglers caught decent numbers while surf fishing from the north end of Lea Island last week. Cut baits and finger mullet are excellent choices for the reds.

Flounder fishing inshore around structure like bridge and dock pilings has been solid lately. Gulp baits and live baits are both attracting plenty of attention from the flatfish.

Sheepshead are feeding around the ocean piers and at bridges and docks inshore. Live fiddler crabs will tempt them to bite, and they will also fool some black drum feeding in the same areas.

Ladyfish have shown up and are feeding around the bridge and lighted docks in the evening hours. They’ll hit a variety of lures, but smaller X-Raps are one of the best choices.

 

Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent spanish mackerel bite 1-1.5 miles off the beach lately. Trolling Clarkspoons and mackerel tree rigs will put the spaniards in the boat, and anglers can also cast diamond jigs to schools of fish they see working on the surface.

Bottom fishing at nearshore reefs and live bottoms is producing plenty of action with sea bass, grunts, triggerfish, and a few flounder. Squid, cut baits, and jigging spoons are tempting the fish to bite.

Some tiger sharks are feeding in the same areas and will fall for large cut baits.

Inshore, the flounder bite has been solid around ledges and holes in 5-10’ of water. Live finger mullet and pogies are fooling the flatties.

Red drum have been feeding way up in the marsh grass on the high flood tides, so fishing around low tides in the creeks and around docks has been the most effective strategy lately. Live mud minnows or other baits will tempt them to bite.

Sheepshead and black drum are feeding heavily around bridge and dock pilings inshore, and live fiddler crabs will attract plenty of attention from both.

 

Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are starting to catch some spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier. Some bluefish are also falling for the lures, but the spanish have outnumbered the blues in recent days.

One 5 lb. spanish mackerel was landed on a grass shad pinned to a king rig last week.

Some speckled trout (many to 20” or so) are feeding beneath the pier. They’re biting live shrimp when the water’s clean and cut baits when it’s murky.

 

Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking up with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier in the early morning hours.

Some spot and spadefish are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs.

 

Austin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers saw a run of big pompano (many 3-4 lbs.) last weekend. Sand fleas fooled most of the fish.

Some red and black drum have also been falling for sand fleas on bottom rigs.

Bottom fishing with shrimp has been producing some smaller spot and sea mullet.

A few keeper flounder are falling for live baits fished next to the pilings, and plug casters are hooking up with some bluefish on Gotcha plugs.