Added on Thursday, June 25, 2009  Fish Post

Topsail June 25, 2009

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that pier anglers have been catching some fat sheepshead over the past week. Fiddler crabs and sandfleas are especially good baits for the sheeps.

Plenty of flounder are also coming over the rails on the piers, but most have been throwbacks lately. Live mud minnows or finger mullet will help fool the larger flounder.

Speckled trout are also feeding near the piers, and anglers are catching plenty in the early mornings on live shrimp.

Anglers casting Gotcha plugs and other metal lures are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel from the ends of the piers.

Bottom fishing in the surf and from the piers is producing action with whiting and some small spot. Bloodworms and shrimp are top choices for these bottom feeders.

In the sound, fishing near structure with live baits or Gulps is drawing bites from good numbers of flounder and red drum.

Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding in the inlets, and anglers are hooking both while casting metal lures from the beaches and trolling Clarkspoons from boats.

King mackerel (most 10 lbs. and smaller) and dolphin are feeding fairly close to the beaches, with action reported this past week starting at 6 miles. Live or dead baits will produce action with the kings and dolphin.

Boaters are seeing some sailfish, and a few releases have been reported reasonably close to shore as well. One fish came from the second set of buoys 14 miles off the inlet. Live pogies or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will spark the sails’ interest.

Bottom fishermen have been catching plenty of grunts, black sea bass, and other smaller bottom dwellers within 20 miles of land. The best grouper fishing lately has been in the 30-40+ mile range. Cigar minnows, cut baits, live baits, and vertical jigs are all producing action with the groupers.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that king mackerel fishing is still going steady in the 5-15 mile range. Most of the kings are schoolies up to about 10 lbs., and they’re falling for cigar minnows on Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs. The fish are a bit more scattered than they’ve been, but putting a limit together isn’t unrealistic for anglers who are willing to search for the fish.

Some dolphin and cobia are likely still in the same areas, but, like the kings, they’ve become a bit more scattered recently.

 

Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching a mixed bag while bottom fishing, including spot, whiting, croakers, spadefish, and other miscellaneous bottom dwellers. Shrimp and bloodworms will both produce action with the bottomfish.

Some large sheepshead have also been caught lately (including a 7 pounder).

 

Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few spot, puppy drum, black drum, and small sharks while bottom fishing with shrimp. Spot have been making an appearance as well, and most are falling for bloodworms.

Early and late in the day, anglers are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs.

 

Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some spot, bluefish, black drum, and an occasional whiting or flounder. Shrimp are producing most of the action.

Live baiters hooked a tarpon and several large sharks last week.