Topsail – May 25, 2017
Austin, of East Coast Sports, reports that sea mullet and black drum are biting in the surf zone on fresh cut shrimp. The fish are biting two hook bottom rigs on both sides of the high tide. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are being hooked from the shore while fishing towards the north and south ends of the island. Sharks and stingrays are biting cut baits while fishing at night.
Trout and red drum are being found in the bays and along the ICW. Popping corks fished with a variety of shrimp and paddle tail soft plastics are getting bites. Topwater fishing has picked up for red drum and the occasional trout, especially at first light in the morning.
Black drum, sheepshead, and flounder are being found around waterway docks and bridges. The drum are biting fresh shrimp. The sheepshead will also eat a piece of shrimp, but the best offering for them are urchins and fiddler crabs. Flounder are biting live minnows fished on Carolina rigs, and there have been decent numbers of keepers reported.
Cobia fishing this past week has been good along the beach. The fish are being caught while sight casting with bucktails. There has also been a few fish caught while using cut and live menhaden near the bottom.
King mackerel have been biting well starting in the 15 mile range on Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs and Mackahoos. Grouper, sea bass, and grunts have been active in the same range. Frozen minnows and squid have been getting most of the bites.
Gaffer mahi have made a nice showing in the 45 mile range. The fish have been biting Mackahoos and skirted ballyhoo. There have also been a few wahoo caught high speed trolling and planer fishing.
Good numbers of blue marlin have moved into the area, starting in the 45 mile range and working out to 65 miles.
Francesca Derderian of Sneads Ferry caught this 18″ red drum while fishing inside New River Inlet. The fish was caught on squid.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that spanish mackerel has been really good around the inlet and along the beach. Most of the fish have come on Clarkspoons and #1 planers. School-sized king mackerel are biting well starting in the 8 mile range. Rapala size 20 and 30 deep diving plugs have been hooking most of the fish. The majority of the fish have been in the 24-30” range, with the occasional larger fish.
Gag grouper, sea bass, and grunts are biting metal jigs tipped with squid. Live pinfish and Z-Man 10” HeroZ fished close to the bottom have been getting most of the hookups from the gags. A few large groups of amberjacks have shown up in the same areas, and they’re taking live menhaden, poppers, and Z-Man plastics fished on 2-3 oz. TT jigs.
Cobia are along the beaches following bait schools, turtles, and pods of stingrays. Blue Water Candy cobia jigs and Z-Man 10” HeroZ fished on 1 oz. ChinlockZ hooks have both been working well. Fishing live and cut menhaden near the bottom has accounted for most of the hookups.
Spinner and blacktip sharks have shown up near the beach and are following behind the shrimp boats. Live menhaden fished under a balloon while chumming has been getting the fish to bite.
Red drum and flounder fishing along the marsh has improved over the past week. The reds are feeding more heavily along the docks and oyster bars, and the majority of strikes have come on live peanut pogies fished near the bottom.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that spanish mackerel are in large numbers just off the beach. The best fishing has been with 00 Clarkspoons and #1 planers, and the majority of action has come in 20-30’ of water.
King mackerel have been thick nearshore, and dead cigar minnows on Blue Water Candy dusters are getting the bites. The largest numbers of fish are holding near live bottom and popular AR’s.
Cobia are on the beach and being hooked on live menhaden near the bottom and sight casted to with bucktails.
Flounder are moving inshore in good numbers and attacking Z-Man jerk shads “slathered” in Pro-Cure.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish bite has been good in the 20-30’ range. The best action has been using 0 Clarkspoons and small Drone spoons. King mackerel have been mixed in with the spanish, and pulling deep diving plugs will offer shots at the larger kings.
The best king fishing has been in the 7-10 mile range. Dead bait rigs, spoons, and Yo-Zuri plugs are all getting bites, and pink and chartreuse seem to be the best color choices right now.
Cobia are showing up behind schools of bait, and the fish have been scattered from just beyond the breakers out to 50’ of water. Bucktails and live bait will get the fish to eat when they are found.
Matt Curyto, of Surf City, NC, landed this 35.6″ bluefish using mullet while fishing about one mile north of Seaview Fishing Pier.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent this past week. The fish are biting Gotcha plugs the best, especially early and late in the day. There are also some nice bluefish being caught while plugging for the spaniards.
Bottom fishermen are seeing black drum and sheepshead, mostly using fresh shrimp on the bottom. There have been a few large cobia spotted.
Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that there has been lots of blues and spanish caught this past week while using Gotcha plugs off the end of the pier. There have been spanish caught up to 4 lbs. and a few chopper bluefish on live bait.
Bottom fishing has slowed a little in general, but there are a few pompano beginning to show up. There have been numerous cobia sightings, including a couple of fish hooked that were in the 60 lb. range.
Joe, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that sea mullet are still biting throughout the day, and fresh shrimp has been the ticket. Spanish mackerel has been good early and late in the day while casting plugs.
