Topsail June 20, 2013
Garritt Jernigan with a slot red drum that bit a Texas Tackle Factory Hackberry Hustler while he was fishing with his father, Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers have been connecting with some citation-sized spanish mackerel from the piers and while live-baiting from boats within a few miles of the beaches.
Cobia are still patrolling the nearshore waters, so anglers fishing the ocean should keep a bucktail jig or live pitch bait ready in case they encounter one.
School-sized king mackerel are making an appearance in the 20 mile range, and some dolphin have also pushed into those areas. Both will bite live baits or dead ballyhoo and cigar minnows.
The dolphin bite is still going strong in the Gulf Stream, where anglers are hooking big numbers on skirted ballyhoo.
Surf casters are connecting with pompano and some big croaker from Topsail’s shores. Red drum are feeding on the shoals near Topsail Inlet, where anglers can tempt them to bite cut baits and finger mullet or cast gold spoons when the water’s clear.
The flounder bite is improving all over the inshore waters, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on live baits and Gulps.
Red drum are also feeding inshore, with the best action in the New River of late. Topwater plugs, Gulps, and a variety of live and cut baits will fool the reds.
The first ladyfish of the year have shown up inshore. Anglers can target them at night around lighted docks and bridges with lures like Rapala X-Raps.
Michael Parks with a citation wahoo that bit a blue/white-skirted ballyhoo while he was trolling 50 miles off New River Inlet.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum action is picking up inshore around Topsail (and anglers are seeing more upper and over-slot fish lately). Live and cut baits are top choices for the reds, but anglers may also be able to tempt them to bite soft plastics or other lures.
Flounder fishing is also in an upward turn (and more keepers are mixed with the short fish). Live baits or Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridges, docks, and other inshore structure, where they’ll take a hearty interest in live fiddler crabs.
Out in the ocean, bottom fishing at nearshore reefs has been producing action with sea bass, grunts, porgies, triggerfish, and some tautogs (an unusual catch for summer). A variety of baits will fool the bottom dwellers.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are connecting with red drum in the bays off the ICW and in the New River. The reds are falling for topwater plugs, weedless spoons, and soft plastic baits.
Speckled trout are a bit hit-or-miss right now, but anglers are connecting with a few while casting for the reds. More specks are falling for live shrimp near local bridges.
Sheepshead fishing has been solid around the bridges as well, with most of the fish taking live fiddler crabs.
Anglers are finding a hot flounder bite on some recent days, with other days producing little to nothing. Giggers are finding big numbers (and some solid fish), so the flatfish are around, just not always in a feeding mood.
Bill, of Fish On Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with dolphin and wahoo while trolling ballyhoo and skirted lures in the Gulf Stream.
Danny Watts and Miles Bunn with a 40 lb. cobia that bit a menhaden under a Blue Water Candy Featherweight skirt near the F Buoy off New River Inlet. Weighed in at East Coast Sports.
Bottom fishing around nearshore and offshore structure is producing plenty of action with black sea bass, grunts, porgies, and beeliners.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some flounder on small live baits fished under the pier.
Black and red drum, spot, sea mullet, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp and other baits.
Casters are hooking some spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Kenny, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot, pompano, sea mullet, and fat croaker on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Some flounder are biting live baits beneath the pier.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and other metal lures.
Danielle, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working.
Live-baiters landed a 43 lb. cobia from the end of the pier last week.
