Topsail March 29, 2012
Jeff Saunders with a pair of speckled trout that bit a prototype 1/8 oz. bucktail while he was fishing off the New River with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the speckled trout bite is still decent inshore. The best action lately has been around the creekmouths as the fish push out toward the waterway. Most of the fish are falling for the new Yo-Zuri 3D Shrimp and soft plastics like Bass Assassins. Using some Pro-Cure Super Gel scent on the hard and soft baits seems to be improving their effectiveness.
Red drum are still feeding back in the creeks, where Gulp baits and natural offerings like mud minnows, cut mullet, and shrimp will tempt them to bite.
Some flounder are mixed in with the reds and specks, and with the warm temperatures, it shouldn’t be long until the spring flounder bite is in full swing.
Topsail pier anglers are finding action with some large sea mullet from the piers and a few feeding in the surf. Fresh shrimp are the way to go for the mullet.
Off the beaches, the Atlantic bonito have yet to make much of a showing, but the water temperatures are right for them to show up. It traditionally happens in early April, so it shouldn’t be long.
Some king mackerel have moved in a bit closer to shore, and boats found decent action with schoolie fish last week around 20 miles out. Cigar minnows on dead bait rigs are the way to go for the kings in the early season when live bait isn’t plentiful.
Boats making the long run to the Gulf Stream are returning with decent catches of wahoo while both high-speed trolling with lures and slowing down to pull skirted ballyhoo. Some blackfin tuna are also in the mix.
Patrick Atkins, of Wilmington, with a speckled trout that bit a Billy Bay Halo shrimp behind Figure Eight Island while he was fishing with his son Cameron on the "Conchie Tonkin."
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that there’s been a solid speckled trout (some in the 3 lb. class) and red drum bite on the area’s flats and in the bays and creeks. The fish have been feeding in shallow water (less than 4’) and falling for 1/8 and 1/4 oz. bucktails tipped with small Gulp baits.
The flounder are getting more active, and anglers are starting to catch decent numbers (and keepers) on rod and reel. Gulp-tipped bucktails are also proving effective on the flounder. There are large (5-10+ lbs.) flounder inshore, so it shouldn’t be long before the spring flounder fishing is going strong.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the flounder bite is kicking off for the year, an excellent sign in late March. Anglers are connecting with the flatfish while fishing fairly deep (12’+) water around heavy structure like docks and rocks, with some solid keepers (to 18”) in the mix. Gulp shrimp in white and new penny colors are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
There are some red drum feeding around shallow oyster bars in the marshes near the inlets, and the bite’s been best on falling tides lately. Cut mullet is outproducing artificials with the reds right now.
Anglers are finding speckled trout on the feed along grass banks near the area’s inlets, and they’re taking an interest in Storm shrimp and other soft plastic shrimp imitations.
Some black drum (most 2-4 lbs.) are feeding in the creeks and around ICW docks, and fresh shrimp are hard for them to pass up.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with good numbers of sea mullet and pufferfish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp. Some smaller bluefish are also in the mix and falling for shrimp.
Anglers soaking live minnows last weekend managed to put together a decent catch of legal flounder.
Kathryn Stafford, of Goldsboro, NC, with a 28" red drum she caught and released in the south Topsail surf after it struck a fresh shrimp.
Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that good numbers of sea mullet and pufferfish are coming over the rails. Double-hook bottom rigs baited with shrimp are producing most of the action with both.
Some black drum, flounder, and bluefish are also in the mix and falling for shrimp.
Briggs, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that those fishing from the pier in the evening hours are putting together good catches of sea mullet. Cut shrimp and Fish Bites clam strips are both producing action with the bottom feeders.
Bluefish are beginning to show up around the pier, and anglers are hooking a few on Gotchas.
