Topsail March 8, 2012
Doug Barker, of Wilmignton, with a 28" red drum he caught and released in the Carolina Beach surf wile fishing cut mullet at the end of a long cast with a custom Century CCC surf rod.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that there’s a solid speckled trout bite in the local creeks right now. The best action has been in the creeks off the New River, but anglers are also stumbling upon some specks in the backwaters off the ICW. Soft plastics, like Bass Assassins, and suspending hard baits, like the new Yo-Zuri 3D Shrimp, are both tempting bites from the specks.
Red drum are also feeding inshore, with the bays in front of area creeks seemingly hosting the most fish right now. Soft plastics like Gulp baits on very light jigheads are the way to go for the reds.
A few flounder are taking an interest in the lures that anglers are working for specks and drum, and with the warmer than usual water temperatures (high-50’s), it won’t be long until the spring flounder bite arrives in earnest.
Surf and pier fishermen are connecting with a few pufferfish right now, and the spring sea mullet bite should also be taking off soon. Fresh shrimp on double-hook rigs will tempt bites from both bottom feeders.
Red and black drum should also be joining the action in the surf zone in the coming weeks.
Bill Mowery (age 12) with a 6.5 lb. red drum that bit a Gulp pogy off a South Topsail dock.
Once the water hits the low-60’s, anglers can anticipate the arrival of Atlantic bonito at nearshore structure like Diver’s Rock. While that usually isn’t until sometime in April, anglers could see these striped nearshore speedsters a little early this year.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that there’s a solid red drum bite in the creeks and bays right now (with fish ranging from undersized to upper-slot). The bite’s been best in shallow water (1-3’) and an occasional speckled trout has been mixed in. Casting 3” Gulp baits on light jigheads has been fooling the trout and the reds.
There are plenty of flounder inshore, but they haven’t begun feeding hard for spring yet. Early April is usually when the bite kicks off, but it could happen a bit early this year.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that there’s a decent speckled trout bite going on in the creeks and man-made canals between Topsail and Rich’s Inlets. Soft plastic shrimp imitations like those by Storm and Gulp have been producing most of the trout action.
Black and red drum are feeding in many of the mainland creeks, and bottom fishing with cut shrimp is tempting bites from both drum.
Giggers are seeing good numbers of flounder in the shallow backwaters. The fish aren’t feeding heavily since the water’s still a little cool. There are plenty of the flatfish still inshore, and they’ll become more active as the water temperatures rise with spring’s arrival.
Since we didn’t see too much cold weather over the past winter, there’s still plenty of bait in the creeks and backwaters, and anglers can expect the inshore action to heat up even earlier than usual this spring.
Kendra Karkoff, of Wilmington, with a 21" speckled trout she hooked behind Figure Eight Island on a jig/grub combo.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports the pier is open and anglers are hooking some dogfish and skates while bottom fishing from the planks.
As long as there aren’t any more strong cold snaps, spring fishing should get off to an early start this year. Anglers can expect to see pufferfish and sea mullet kick off the spring action, with smaller bluefish and plenty more right on their heels.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports the pier will be open March 24, and, per usual, the first sea mullet caught off the planks will earn one lucky angler a free season pass.
