Topsail – March 3, 2016
Adam, of East Coast Sports, reports that the surf zone is offering up little action this time of year. Blow toads, skates, and a few dogfish are being caught on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, squid, and mullet.
The few anglers riding just off the beach this time of year will find black sea bass, tautogs, and dogfish. All will eat natural baits fished on knocker and other bottom rigs, with the larger sea bass being found in the 5-10 mile range.
Red drum and speckled trout are mostly being targeted with soft plastics. Saltwater Assassins, Billy Bay Halo Shads, Z-Man MinnowZ, and Gulp scented baits are all working in the cold water. Pumpkin and chartreuse, pearl, chicken on a chain, new penny, and space guppy are popular color choices, but perhaps more important is the weight of the jig head they are fished on.
These winter fish are less inclined to chase a bait down or respond to a bait falling quickly. A jig head that is just heavy enough to cast is the ticket, as 1/16 or 1/8 oz. heads will allow the plastic to hang in the strike zone longer and convince cold water reds and trout to eat. The addition of scents to soft plastics will improve hookups.
Cut bait and shrimp fished on the bottom this time of year can prove to be deadly on red drum and trout. Black drum will also be tempted by shrimp. Anglers should seek out docks, bays, and creeks along the ICW for locations to use bait this time of year.
The fish are being caught in their typical wintering grounds around Topsail Island, and anglers focusing their efforts during the middle part of the day stand the best chance of hooking fish as the water temperatures peak.
When the weather allows the offshore anglers to venture out to the Gulf Stream, wahoo and blackfin tuna should present opportunities. In winter and early spring, locating warmer water on surface temperature charts is the best way to decide where to troll and what days to make the run. Naked and skirted ballyhoo fished on the surface and on planers, along with artificial trolling lures, will get attention from the tuna and wahoo.
Jack Flannery, of Sanford, NC, with a slot red drum that struck a Storm shrimp under a Cajun Thunder popping cork while he was fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Mike, of No Excuses Charters, reports that a tremendous amount of spikes have been around all winter, offering 100 plus fish days without a keeper sometimes. The mild temperatures this winter reduces fish mortality and the brood stock appears to be strong, so the future trout population is exciting to anglers in the area.
Plenty of schools of lower to mid slot reds are throughout the gin-clear backwaters from Wrightsville to North Topsail. Gulp and plastics with Pro-Cure work great when fished slow, but cut shrimp is a great backup for when they get lock jaw.
Upper and over slot reds are being found throughout the area in the surf zone. The dredge area around Mason Inlet would be the only exception.
Eric Fowler with a 30 red drum caught and released in North Topsail waters. The fish was hooked on a speckled chartreuse 4 jumping mullet.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that black sea bass are feeding well in the 20-25 mile range out of New River Inlet. These fish are being caught in water temperatures in the low 60’s. Stingsilvers and cut squid are the preferred methods for these quality 18-20” fish.
As the water temperatures rise, anglers will start looking for the arrival of bonito and false albacore, and bluefish will also accompany these small tunas. The bluefish will start to move towards the beaches once the water gets in the low 60’s, and the magic number is 63 degrees for the bonito’s arrival. The alberts will be slightly cooler.
Joe Williams with a redfish that fell for a soft plastic while fishing off the ICW near Topsail Island.
Charlie, of Surf City Pier, reports a few blow toads, dogfish, and skates being caught from the season pass holders. These fish are falling for shrimp, cut bait, and Fish Bites on bottom rigs, with the dogfish biting better at night. The Surf City Pier is opening for the season on March 19, and the pier will be holding a tournament once the doors are open. The first angler to bring a live sea mullet to the pier house will win a season pass.
Perhaps the most exciting report is that of the harbor seal visiting the Topsail beaches over the past few days. The occurrence is rare for this part of the world. It is thought that the juveniles will migrate further south during the winter to avoid the stress from the larger animals to the north.
Tim Chavez won the1st annual Team Mack Attack Dogfish Tournament with a 9.8 lb. dogfish. He topped a field of 180 anglers (and 47 other dogfish) to take home $740, narrowly edging out Wayne Houseman in second place with a 9.6 lb. dogfish.
Phil, of Seaview Pier, reports the anglers in the first annual Team Mack Attack Dogfish Tournament landed 48 dogfish, with several weighing over 9 pounds.
