Topsail – May 26, 2016
Allison, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf anglers are connecting with bluefish. They are falling for both cut bait on the bottom and Hex Head jigs. Sea mullet and black drum continue to bite around high tides, with fresh shrimp and Fishbites producing the best results.
Red drum have been more numerous in the surf over this past week. Fresh shrimp, cut mullet, sand fleas, and even Fishbites are tempting the reds. Pompano fishing is beginning to pick up, too, and most anglers are targeting them with fresh shrimp and sand fleas.
The flounder bite in the surf has been providing consistent action. Live mud minnows on a Carolina rig and scented plastics fished slowly along the bottom has worked best.
Red drum fishing in the backwaters has continued to improve. The reds are taking an interest in topwater plugs and suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR 17’s. Creeks, oyster beds, docks, and grass flats are all holding reds now. When the fish aren’t responding to artificial baits, live mud minnows and cut baits are tempting the more stubborn fish.
Sheepshead fishing around the bridges and deeper docks has been producing larger than average fish. Sea urchins and fiddler crabs fished on bottom rigs is offering the best results. Black drum are holding in the same areas as the sheepshead. The drum prefer fresh shrimp on jigheads or Carolina rigs.
Speckled trout fishing has been sporadic in the Topsail area, but the better bite has been in the New River area. Zara Spook Jr.’s and Rapala Skitter Walks have been producing the larger trout.
Flounder fishing in the sound is getting better by the day. The flatfish are being found near the inlets and are beginning to show up more back in the marsh.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are biting well just off the beach. Spoons and planer combinations along with deep diving plugs are producing the best results. School-sized king mackerel in the 30” range have been mixed in with the spanish and blues.
Gag grouper are being found in 60’ of water and deeper. Live pinfish, squid, and cut bait are fooling the gags. Black sea bass are being found just outside the inlets on structure all the way out to the grouper grounds, with metal jigs and cut squid working best.
Gulf Stream anglers are experiencing great mahi fishing. The blackfin tuna and wahoo fishing also remains solid. The fish are eating a variety of trolled lures made by Blue Water Candy, Fathom, and Ilander. Ballyhoo trolled on the surface, both behind a lure and naked, will attract all of the offshore pelagics.
Lisa Rayburn, from Jacksonville, with a spanish mackerel she caught in the south Topsail area on a gold Clarkspoons.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports solid action with flounder and red drum in the marshes and docks along the ICW. Topwater baits like Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencils, MirrOlure Top Dog Jr.’s, and She Pups are performing well on the flats and around oyster rocks and points along the marsh. The reds are also falling for Pro-Cure scented soft plastics and Flats Intruder spoons.
Live baits on Carolina rigs pitched around the docks are a good bet for flounder and drum. Sheepshead are hanging around the bridges and deep water docks, and sea urchins and fiddler crabs are a good way to put them in the boat.
Nearshore, the spanish and blues are still biting. Trolling small Clarkspoons on #1 or #2 planers are a sure bet. Casting Sparkle Jigs to busting schools will equal hook-ups for some good light tackle action.
Laura Moffett Myers, of Clayton, caught (and released) this red drum. She was using squid on a single hook bottom rig in Surf City.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been on fire in 35-40’ of water. The fish are just outside the inlets and taking spoon and planer combos. Gold Clarkspoons in “0” and “00” sizes behind #1 and #2 planers have been putting good numbers in the cooler. King mackerel have been biting well over structure in the 10 mile range. Large Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Drone spoons behind planers have been producing most of the bites, and the majority of the kings have been school-sized fish in the 30-34” range.
April, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that plug anglers on the end of the pier are connecting with bluefish and spanish. Orange and white Gotcha plugs have been producing best.
Bottom fishermen have been catching good numbers of croaker and sea mullet at night. Most anglers are using fresh shrimp and clam-flavored Fishbites.
A nice 2.1 lb. pompano was landed over the weekend.
Garrison, of Surf City Pier, reports that black drum and sea mullet are biting. Some larger black drum have been caught this past week, including a 6 lb. fish. Night fishing has produced a little better for the sea mullet. Both the mullet and drum are eating bottom rigs tipped with Fishbites and fresh shrimp.
Bluefish and spanish are being caught off the end of the pier, and red/white and all white Gotcha plugs seem to be working better than the rest.
David, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that a 30.5 lb. cobia was landed using a king rig. There have been more cobia sighted, but there has only been the one to hit the planks so far.
Flounder are beginning to show up, but most of the fish have been throwbacks.
Red and black drum are being caught on bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp.
Bluefish and a few spanish are being caught on Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
