Topsail – June 9, 2016
Brittany, of East Coast Sports, reports that bluefish are biting well in the surf, with cut menhaden and mullet on two hook bottom rigs getting most of the bites. When the conditions allow, the blues can be caught on spoons and diamond jigs. Spanish mackerel are being caught around deeper areas along the beach. The beach along the south end of Topsail offers the best shot at a spanish from the suds.
Pompano are being caught up and down the beaches. Fresh shrimp and sand fleas fished on the bottom is working best. Black drum are biting in the same areas, but most of the fish have been on the small side.
The sheepshead bite has been consistent over the past week. Anglers are finding the fish suspended along bridge pilings and docks. Fiddler crabs on Carolina rigs are how most anglers are connecting with the fish. Adjusting the amount of weight in accordance with the amount of current will increase hookups.
Red and black drum are holding around area docks. The black drum are responding best to cut shrimp (fresh) on jigheads and Carolina rigs. The reds are attacking topwater plugs fished around grass shorelines and oyster beds. The best results have been with walk-the-dog style baits such as the MirrOlure Pups and Rapala Skitterwalks.
Flounder are increasing in numbers and feeding heavily. Gulp shrimp fished on Blue Water Candy jigheads have been working well for anglers casting to the fish. Boaters drift fishing are having luck with live mud minnows on Carolina rigs, and deeper channels towards the inlets are giving up decent numbers of fish, with most around the 15” mark.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent over the past week. Boaters are finding fish along the beachfront out 6 miles. Surface feeding fish are responding to Sea Striker Jigfish and Epoxy jigs. Spoons and planers, small Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, and birds and daisy chains are getting most of the action while trolling. There are a few bluefish in the mix, too, but they are closer towards the beach.
Black sea bass are being caught just outside the inlets all the way out to the deep water. The larger fish are being found deep, though. Also in the deeper water, metal jigs, squid, and live pinfish are getting most of the attention from the grouper.
When the weather allows, Gulf Stream anglers are connecting with blackfin tuna, mahi, and a few wahoo. Blue Water Candy Witches and Jags fished with ballyhoo are getting the bites.
Saylor Crisco (age 7) with her first red drum. The fish was caught in the backwaters of Surf City on a floating shrimp under a Betts bobber. She was fishing with her father, Capt. Wayne Crisco, of Last Resort Charters.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports that red drum are biting in the marshes, creeks, and docks along the ICW. Topwater plugs and gold spoons are the best bet when searching for the reds. The more stubborn fish can be tempted with live and cut baits on Carolina rigs, and mullet or menhaden are preferred.
Flounder are holding around nearshore structure. AR’s, ledges, and wrecks are all holding fish. Live baits on Carolina rigs and bucktails tipped with scented plastics are fooling most fish. The inshore flounder bite is getting hot, and the fish are holding around creeks mouths, oyster rocks, and deeper water docks along the ICW.
Speckled trout are taking a preference to topwater baits fished early in the mornings. As the day wears on, the best tactic is live baiting under floats and popping corks.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are along the beaches in good number. The bite should continue well into summer. Clarkspoons on #1 planers are getting most of the bites.
Jennifer King, of Surf City, with a red drum she caught and released in the Topsail surf. The fish fell for cut mullet.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish are around New Topsail Inlet. The bite has been from the inlet and to the south, as well as from north of the inlet to just north of the Jolly Roger Pier. A water depth of 20-35’ seems to be holding the most fish. Planers and spoons have been putting most of the fish in the cooler.
Mahi are biting well inside of the break around the 30 mile range. Trolling skirted ballyhoo is getting most of the attention.
April, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that a few spanish and bluefish are being caught on plugs. Gotcha plugs in red/white, blue/white, and yellow/white have been catching both.
Bottom fishermen have reported a few sea mullet at night.
Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are catching a good number of croakers. Bloodworms and Fishbites have been working best. Pinfish and lizardfish are making a strong presence, eating most offerings fished on the bottom.
Earl, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that a couple of tarpon have been hooked this past week on king rigs. One cobia was landed, and more have been spotted over the past few days.
Plug fishermen are connecting with a few bluefish and spanish mackerel. The surf conditions have been a little rough, so conditions have slowed the bite.
Sea mullet are being caught at night on fresh shrimp.
