Topsail June 9, 2011
Robert Brown, of Reidsville, NC, with a 38.5" bluefish he hooked in the Hutaff Island surf on a pogy.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are finding some cobia following bait balls along the Topsail beachfront and near the inlets. Blue Water Candy Cobia Jigs have been tempting bites from many of the fish that the boats are seeing.
Spanish mackerel fishing is still a bit slower than usual this time of year, but anglers are picking up a few while working metal lures from the piers and trolling small spoons along the beachfront. Plenty of bluefish are in the mix.
Boaters are finding action with some king mackerel at spots in the 8-15 mile range and tempting them to bite live baits.
Gag grouper are feeding at bottom structure from 3 miles off the beaches out to the 20+ mile range. Red scamp groupers are biting at spots in 80-100’ of water. A variety of live and dead natural baits or vertical jigging lures will tempt bites from the grouper.
The dolphin bite is still solid in the Gulf Stream, with some fish scattered inshore of the break. Rigged ballyhoo under skirted lures are top choices for the ‘phins.
Inshore, anglers are finding a good flounder bite around the inlets and ICW docks. Live mud minnows or scented soft plastics like Gulp baits will attract attention from the flatfish.
Good numbers of red drum are mixed in with the flounder, and anglers are also catching some over-slot fish from the surf on Lea Island. They’ll bite the same baits as the flatties inshore, and cut baits or gold spoons will get the job done in the surf.
Sheepshead are getting more active by the day and looking for meals around bridges, docks, oyster rocks, and other hard structure inshore (with some 7-8 lb. fish weighed in recently). Fiddler crabs are among the best baits for the sheeps.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been solid around structure inshore and just off the beaches lately. Inside, areas like docks and marinas are holding good numbers of flatfish. The artificial reefs and live bottoms just off the inlets are also giving up good numbers. Live baits like small menhaden are the way to go for the flounder.
Red drum are feeding alongside the flounder at much of the same inshore structure, and there’s also been a decent red drum bite taking place in the shallows near Figure Eight Island. The fish are feeding on the grass flats and along the banks, and live menhaden will also attract plenty of attention from the reds.
Shaun Austin, of Richlands, NC, with a healthy speckled trout that fell for a large finger mullet in the New River near Sneads Ferry.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that there’s been solid action with some larger spanish mackerel just off the inlets and beaches recently. Anglers are hooking up with them while trolling Clarkspoons and while casting small metal lures like Kastmasters.
Inshore, black drum are feeding around hard structure like the larger bridges in the area, and they have a hard time passing up a bottom rig baited with shrimp.
Red drum are feeding in the shallows from Surf City to Figure Eight Island. Small live menhaden are hard to beat for the reds, but anglers have been able to hook a few on topwater plugs over the past week.
Flounder fishing has been solid in the channels and deeper holes (8-12’) around Topsail and to the south. Like the reds, they’ll have a tough time resisting a small live menhaden on a Carolina rig.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with some spot, sea mullet, and bluefish on shrimp and bloodworms.
More blues and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs worked from the pier.
Live-baiters have landed king mackerel up to 28 lbs. and a few cobia over the past week.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that plug casters are connecting with some spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish.
Spot and a variety of other bottom feeders are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Sheepshead are swimming around the pilings, but not many people have been fishing for them.
Live baiters landed several king mackerel last week.
Cheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that some bluefish and spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs worked from the pier early and late in the day.
Bottom fishermen have been decking some pompano on shrimp and a few flounder on small live baits.
