Topsail May 13, 2004
Chris Medlin, at East Coast Sports, reports that guys are picking up flounder on the sound side, but most have been measuring about 13″ with only a few going over the minimum size restriction. There are still citation-sized pompano coming off of the beach. This has been happening for a little over a week now. May 7 saw the first Spanish run for the island. While there were a few caught at the other piers, the Spanish action was best at Jolly Roger Pier. Saturday saw the Spanish action slow down all over. On that same Friday there was a chopper blue run up and down the beach. Many of the blues landed weighed in at over 5 pounds, and some went as heavy as 12 to 13 lbs.
Offshore guys have been finding yellowfin and wahoo. A hot spot has been south of the Same Ole. The dolphin fishing has also improved in the last week, with the dolphin ranging from peanut size up to 14 lbs. Kings have been found at about 18 miles offshore.
Capt. Dave Gardner, of Topsail Offshore, reports that bottom fishing has been both good and varied. He’s been seeing a little bit of everything, including beeliners, grunts, bass, cobia, dolphin, porgies, grouper, flounder, and even a blackfin tuna was put on the boat this past weekend. The beeliners are perhaps the most welcome, as they have been a species he hasn’t seen much of over the last couple of years. He’s finding it necessary to go out about 40 miles, and some days the action is north and some days the action is south.
Capt. Jim Sabella, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the inshore areas around Topsail have been a little slow, so he’s been fishing inside to the south. He’s heard several reports of bonito off of Rich’s Inlet, but he hasn’t spotted any himself. For bottom fishing he likes the 200/200 line for sea bass and snappers. Kings and dolphin are being found at 23 mile rock.
Eric and Tyler, at New River Marina, report that trout in the river is the best inshore action. One angler targeting trout brought in 6 fish over 5 pounds. He was using Mirrolures and pink Trout Killers. The offshore guys have been finding dolphin and yellowfin everywhere. They are traveling offshore about 50-60 miles to find water temperatures in the mid-70’s. Most of the dolphin are in the 10-12 lb. class. Most of the yellowfin have been in the 25-30 lb. class, but they have seen some go as large as 45 lbs. On May 8, a number of anglers targeting king mackerel limited out with little trouble. The hot spot was in the 30 to 32 mile range, particularly around Jessie’s Ledge.
Jill and Lynn Hinnant, at Sneads Ferry Campground and Marina, have seen the black drum and sheepshead fishing pick up over the last two weeks. It was late April when anglers first started to pick up a few on hook and line. Now guys are finding them with some consistency, and the primary bait has been clams and shrimp. On Friday, May 7, the pier produced some nice spots. There have also been some flounder caught, but most right now are small and below the minimum size limit. Just a few miles off the beach guys have been finding plenty of black bass. Kings have moved in to the 15-18 mile range where they have been marking water in the low 70’s. Tuna and dolphin continue to bite from the Swansboro Hole to the Simee Hole.
