Topsail June 17, 2010
Chris Alicea with a 25" red drum he hooked in the backwaters behind Topsail on a Gulp peeler crab and landed on a Penn sg3000 reel. He was fishing with Capt. Phil Leonard.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that the dolphin bite is on off Topsail. Anglers are reporting fish as close in as Christmas Rock and the first and second sets of boxcars off Topsail Inlet. Most of these inshore fish are on the small side, but boats are starting to pick up gaffers in the 25-30 mile range, with the fish generally getting larger the further offshore they are. Dead baits like ballyhoo and cigar minnows are fooling most of the fish.
Big numbers of king mackerel are in the mix around Divers Rock, Christmas Rock, and the first and second sets (mostly teenagers). Live pogies and dead cigar minnows are fooling the kings.
The grouper bite has been best 25-30 miles off and further. Anglers are hooking up with the grouper and other bottom dwellers like grunts, sea bass, beeliners, and pinkies on bottom rigs baited with squid and cigar minnows and while working vertical jigs near the bottom structure.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding strong right along the beaches, and they will take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons or metal lures like Gotcha plugs and Stingsilvers cast to feeding schools.
Surf and pier anglers are getting in on the spanish and bluefish action when the fish are feeding close enough to the beach. Bottom fishing is producing a typical summertime mix of bluefish, whiting, black drum, and more.
Red drum are still feeding hard off the north end of Lea Island, with surf anglers landing a few at south Topsail. Cut baits, finger mullet, mud minnows, and gold spoons are all proving effective on the reds.
Inshore, the red drum bite’s been excellent in the creeks and around structure. Live finger mullet, Gulp baits, and spinnerbaits are all producing results.
The flounder bite has been picking up inshore, with good numbers of fish coming from the inlets, creeks, marshes, and elsewhere. Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulp baits will fool the flatties inshore.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the flounder bite’s been excellent lately, with the best action in deep holes near the inlet. Jigheads tipped with 4” Gulp baits are producing excellent results on the flatfish, and anglers can also hook up while casting Carolina-rigged live baits.
The area’s red drum bite has been on in the usual spots—marshes, creeks, and bays off the ICW and New River. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and Gulp baits are fooling most of the fish.
Speckled trout are still feeding throughout the area, but the bite’s been early and late with all the recent hot weather. The best bet for hooking up with the specks is fishing live shrimp around the bridges and other inshore structure in the area.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still on the feed along the beaches, and they will take an interest in trolled Clarkspoons and other lures.
Anglers also saw and hooked some big (to 70 lbs.) cobia along the beachfront last week. Live pogies were tempting bites from the cobes.
Renee Lewis, from Hampstead, with a dolphin that fell for a skirted ballyhoo 21 miles off New Topsail Inlet while she was fishing with her husband Terry.
A few king mackerel have been feeding along the beaches, with better action at structure in the 3-10 mile range. Live pogies or dead cigar minnows will draw strikes from the kings.
Bottom fishermen are reporting solid grouper fishing at bottom structure 10 miles and further offshore.
The dolphin bite has been excellent lately in the 30-40 mile range, with even larger fish out around Gulf Stream hotspots like the Big Rock.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the flounder bite is on around deeper inshore structure like rockpiles and docks (with plenty of fish in the 2-3 lb. range and some to 6-7 caught lately). Live peanut pogies on Carolina rigs are tempting the majority of the bites from the flatfish.
A few speckled trout are still around inshore structure as well, and they will take an interest in live shrimp fished beneath floats.
Red drum are feeding in many of the same areas and in the inshore creeks, and they have a hard time resisting the pogies as well.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with some spot and whiting while baiting up with shrimp.
Those dangling sand fleas near the pilings are finding action with sheepshead and black drum.
Anglers are picking up a few flounder, and some fat speckled trout were caught last week as well (to 5 lbs.). Live baits like shrimp and mud minnows are best for the flatties and specks.
The spanish mackerel and bluefish are somewhat scattered, but they’re falling for Gotcha plugs when feeding near the pier.
Live baiters hooked a king mackerel and several tarpon from the end of the pier last week.
Steve Wright, of Wilmington, with a red drum that fell for cut shrimp in the surf off Hutaff Island.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some spot, whiting, and a scattered variety of other fish while baiting up with shrimp.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are around. The water’s been stirred up lately, so the bite’s somewhat inconsistent.
Anglers fishing near the pilings with sand fleas are finding some excellent sheepshead fishing.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has been decent early and late in the day. Gotcha plugs are fooling most of the fish.
Live baiter landed a 30+ lb. king mackerel last week.
Bottom fishing with smaller live baits has been producing action with flounder and red drum.
Those baiting up with shrimp are hooking some whiting and spot, and sand fleas are producing action with sheepshead and black drum.
