Topsail June 21, 2012
Alex Padgett weith a 23 lb. red grouper that bit a vertical jig while he was fishing 50 miles off Topsail Beach with Jake Orr on the "Pierless."
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite just off the inlets and beaches has been excellent lately. The fish have been numerous up to a mile offshore, and anglers are catching them while trolling Clarkspoons and casting metal jigs to feeding fish and working birds, with trolling more productive recently.
Large sharks are feeding behind shrimp boats in the same areas, and anglers are having little trouble hooking up with the fish while drifting large cut baits.
A tarpon was caught off Jolly Roger Pier last week, so anglers may spot them cruising just off the beaches.
Surf casters reported an excellent red drum bite at the north end of Lea Island last week (with plenty of over-slot fish). Finger mullet and cut baits are tempting most of the bites from the reds.
The red bite has also been solid inshore, with schools of fish working the flats near the inlets. Topwater plugs have been tempting plenty of bites from the reds recently, but anglers can also hook up on Gulps and other soft plastics or live baits when the topwaters aren’t producing.
Flounder are feeding around docks inshore, and anglers are hooking good numbers on live baits and Gulps.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are still finding some solid flounder action around inshore structure in 10-15’ of water. Some fish are also feeding shallower under docks along the ICW. Live finger mullet and Gulp shrimp have both been producing results with the flatfish lately.
The red drum action has been best down towards Figure Eight recently, with oyster bars and grass edges producing most of the fish. Finger mullet and Gulps are also tough for the reds to turn down.
Paul Lawton with a 26" flounder that bit a 4" Gulp shrimp near Rich's Inlet while he was fishing with Eric Thompson and Rob Nipper on the "Idle Hour."
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are still catching sheepshead at the area bridges, with falling tides producing the best fishing.
Speckled trout action has been good in the creeks and marshes for anglers casting live shrimp and Storm shrimp imitations (with most fish small but some nice keepers in the mix).
Red drum are feeding on the flats and in the marshes in the area, but some days have been better than others lately. When they’re feeding, topwater plugs and Gulp baits will tempt them to bite.
Flounder fishing has been excellent around inshore structure and drop-offs in the marshes lately. Live baits, Gulps, and bucktail jigs have all been producing results with the flatfish (many 19-23”). Giggers have found some fish over 10 lbs. recently, so the possibility of a true doormat definitely exists.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are catching some speckled trout from the pier on live shrimp fished close to the bottom, with the early morning hours producing the best action.
Some flounder (a few to 20”) are taking an interest in live shrimp and mud minnows.
Plug casters are catching a few bluefish on Gotchas and diamond jigs.
Some sea mullet, spot, and croaker are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that there’s been a decent spanish mackerel run recently, with anglers catching good numbers of keepers while working Gotcha plugs and other lures from the pier. Bluefish are also in the mix, and both are biting best in the early mornings.
Jeff Saunders, of Sneads Ferry, with a flounder that bit a 3/8 oz. Prototype Flounder Pounder bucktail tipped with a live menhaden. He was fishing a marsh near Sneads Ferry with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, spot, and small sharks while baiting up with shrimp.
Austin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live baiters fishing from the end of the pier landed one tarpon (150+ lbs.) last week, and they have had more bites.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier in the early morning hours.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some black and red drum, sea mullet, and spot on shrimp and other baits.
