Topsail June 3, 2010
Cliff Clement, of Jacksonville, NC, with a red snapper he hooked on a live cigar minnow 40 miles off Topsail Island and released after the photo was taken.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that the spanish mackerel and bluefish bite is still on just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking them from the piers and boats trolling just offshore. Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs will produce from the planks, and trollers are hooking up on Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers.
Surf fishermen are picking up big numbers of bluefish, some whiting, and a few pompano. The pompano bite should be improving as the water warms up and the fish migrate up the coast. Fresh shrimp are fooling the whiting and pomps.
Some black drum and puppy drum are mixed in the surf bag, and anglers are also catching large numbers of reds in the slough at the north end of Lea Island. Gold spoons, finger mullet, and cut baits are all fooling the reds.
Boats are finding some solid king mackerel action at nearshore spots like Diver’s Rock and the Topsail Ledges (mostly with school fish in the 6-10 lb. class). Most are falling for dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo on dead bait rigs.
A few slinger dolphin have been reported a bit further offshore, at Christmas Rock and the first set out of Topsail. Larger dolphin are further out, but they seem to have followed a weedline inshore of the Stream last week. Rigged ballyhoo under flashy skirts are the go-to baits for the larger dolphin.
Not many reports came in from the Gulf Stream last week, but anglers did find some king mackerel way out in the blue water.
Inshore, anglers are still finding plenty of red drum in the creeks, on the flats, and around docks and other inshore structure. Live baits, Gulps, spinnerbaits, and a variety of other lures will fool the reds.
The speckled trout bite has also been solid around inshore structure lately. Live shrimp and soft plastic lures will do the best job of fooling the trout.
The chopper bluefish (to 14 lbs.) seem to have invaded the inshore waters as well, and anglers are catching them incidentally while fishing for flounder, trout, and drum.
Black drum are on the feed around the area’s bridge pilings and will take an interest in fresh shrimp and other baits.
Blake Phillips, from Smithfield, NC, with a 21 lb. king mackerel he hooked on a live bait pinned to a king rig off the end of Surf City Pier.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that anglers are catching a few spanish mackerel along the beaches while trolling Clarkspoons and other lures, but the bite has definitely slowed down since a few weeks back.
The king mackerel bite has taken a similar turn, but anglers are still picking up a few along the beaches and at nearshore structure on live and dead baits.
Bottom fishermen heading 10+ miles offshore are finding some action with grouper, although that bite slowed a bit last week as well, likely due to the full moon.
Inshore, red drum are schooling in the bays and creeks off the river and the ICW. Anglers can tempt them to eat topwater plugs, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, live baits, and a variety of other offerings.
Speckled trout are feeding in the deeper water around bridges, oyster rocks, and other inshore structure, and they will take an interest in live shrimp or soft plastic baits.
The flounder bite has been excellent around the bridges and inlets lately. Small live baits on Carolina rigs are the best flounder foolers.
Black drum are feeding around the 172 Bridge, and anglers can often put together good catches while fishing fresh shrimp near the structure.
Large chopper bluefish are feeding throughout the inshore waters.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing is still solid around inshore structure from New River to Topsail Inlets. Live shrimp fished beneath floats are the best way to take advantage of the specks.
Red drum are feeding in some of the same areas and the creekmouths and flats inshore. Live or halved pogies will attract attention from the reds.
The flounder bite has been solid, both inshore and at nearshore structure. Live peanut pogies, finger mullet, or other baits on Carolina rigs are the way to fool the flatties.
Allen Jernigan, of Sneads Ferry, with an upper-slot red drum he hooked on a topwater plug at a flat off the New River while he was fishing with Eric Powell of New River Marina.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite along the beaches has been excellent lately, especially around the pogy schools working their way up the coast. Live pogies slow-trolled or drifted along the edges of the schools are the way to hook up with the kings (and with the cobia that are also patrolling the nearshore waters).
Inshore, red drum are still feeding on the grass flats and around the docks, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, Gulps, and other lures.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that plug casters are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas.
Black drum and whiting are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp, with the best bite for the whiting in the evening hours.
Some sheepshead and flounder are coming over the rails as well.
Live baiters landed one 22 lb. king mackerel from the pier last week.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of chopper bluefish (5-10 lbs.) on king rigs. A 20 lb. barracuda also fell for a king rig last week.
Bottom fishermen are decking some spot and whiting on fresh shrimp.
Some flounder are falling for live minnows fished on the bottom.
Maryanne, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that plug casters are catching plenty of bluefish and some spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting at night, and the pier also saw a few spot runs last week.
