Added on Thursday, June 26, 2008  Gary Hurley

Topsail June 26, 2008

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are catching whiting and a few large pompano in the surf. Shrimp are producing action with both.

Red drum are also feeding heavily in the surf, and surf casters are also hooking some spanish mackerel. Gold spoons are drawing bites from the reds and spanish.

The flounder bite has been hot inside, but many of the fish are on the small side. Live baits on Carolina rigs or Gulp baits will attract attention from the flounder.

The spanish mackerel bite in the ocean has slowed somewhat for trollers, but there are still some fish around, and Clarkspoons or Yo-Zuri Deep Divers will get bites from them.

King mackerel fishing is still solid at spots 10-25 miles off the beaches. Most boats are trolling dead cigar minnows for the kings with success, as live baits have been a little tough to locate. Dead baits can be trolled faster to cover ground when searching for fish, and the kings don’t seem to care.

Dolphin have moved inshore of the Gulf Stream, and a boat landed a 15 lb. ‘phin last week just 8 miles off the beach. The dolphin should be feeding in many of the same areas as the kings, and they will fall for the same baits.

Boats have seen a few sailfish around Dallas Rock, though not many have been hooked.

Bottom fishermen have been catching plenty of grouper around structure 20+ miles off the beach. Reds have been making up most of the catch recently. Cigar minnows will tempt bites from the groupers, and anglers are also finding excellent results on the fish while butterfly jigging.

 

Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that trout fishing around the New River area remains hot. Anglers are averaging double digit numbers of trout per day, and many are fat 3-5 lb. class fish. Live shrimp under slip float rigs are the top trout baits, although anglers can also hook up on artificials like suspending MirrOlures and Storm and Billy Bay shrimp.

The trout action has been best to the south in the river, near Sneads Ferry and around structure in the ICW.

Red drum are schooled up and feeding on the shoals of New River Inlet. Topwater plugs and soft plastic baits will get their attention.

 

Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching spot, whiting, and a few pompano. Cut shrimp are enticing them to bite.

Anglers fishing with live shrimp are hooking good numbers of speckled trout.

Some flounder are also falling for the shrimp, and live mud minnows or finger mullet are also fooling some flatfish.

Casters are hooking decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas and Diamond jigs.

 

Kevin, of Seaview Pier, reports that plug casters are catching a few spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotchas.

Live baiters landed two king mackerel last week.

Anglers fishing smaller live baits on the bottom are fooling some flounder.

Bottom fishermen are catching whiting on cut shrimp.

 

Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are catching a lot of bluefish on plugs with a few spanish mackerel mixed in.

Bottom fishermen are enticing some flounder on cut baits.