Topsail – May 29, 2014
Blake Boyd with a 20″ spanish mackerel that bit a diving plug just off Topsail Inlet while he was fishing with his dad and friends.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that boats making the run to the Gulf Stream last week found some excellent dolphin fishing. Trolling skirted ballyhoo along weedlines and temperature breaks is the way to fool the ‘phins. Good numbers of white and blue marlin encounters have been reported by local boats plying the blue water recently as well.
Cobia have shown up along the beachfront, and anglers landed some large ones last week while sight-casting to cruising fish and fishing around bait balls. Bucktail jigs, eel imitations, and live baits are the ways to tempt bites from the cobes.
Spanish mackerel action has been solid along the beaches as well, and boats have been hooking big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers and cigar weights. Anglers are also connecting while casting metal lures at fish feeding on the surface and from the piers.
Surf casters have been hooking plenty of sea mullet on shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas pinned to double-drop bottom rigs. A few reds are also feeding in the surf, but anglers aren’t seeing as many as a few weeks back.
The red drum bite remains solid inshore, where anglers are finding the fish in the bays and marshes. They’ll strike topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics, and a variety of live and cut baits.
Flounder action is improving, and anglers are finding the fish in the marshes, near inlets, and around inshore structure like docks. Gulp baits and small, Carolina-rigged live baits are the tickets to hook up with the flatfish.
Black drum are also making an inshore appearance around bridges, docks, and other hard structure. Shrimp and crabs will get attention from the crustacean-lovers. Not many sheepshead have been reported inshore yet, but anglers are hooking some from the ocean piers and it shouldn’t be long until they’re feeding in the same spots as the black drum.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are still finding some solid spanish mackerel action off New River Inlet. They’re biting Yo-Zuri Deep Divers on the troll and also feeding on the surface and offering anglers sight-casting opportunities at times. Diamond jigs and other small, flashy metal lures are fooling the fish when anglers are able to cast.
Taylor Perdue with a citation 35.9 lb. dolphin that bit a ballyhoo behind a pink squid daisy chain near the Swansboro Hole while he was fishing off New River Inlet on his boat “Reel Return.”
Cobia should also be in the area, so anglers would do well to keep a bucktail jig or other pitch bait at the ready in case they spot one on the surface.
Inshore, there’s been some good red drum action, but it’s inconsistent day-to-day. The fish are feeding along grass banks with moving water and biting live menhaden and Gulp baits.
Flounder fishing is also improving inshore, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on the same offerings.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and black and red drum, but the action hasn’t been very consistent lately. Shrimp are producing most of the action.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs when there’s clean water around the pier.
Live-baiters landed one 5 lb. spaniard on a king rig last week.
Garrison, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier.
Some sea mullet are falling for shrimp on bottom rigs.
John, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with some flounder, sea mullet, croaker, and red and black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Sheepshead are showing up around the pier pilings and will bite sand fleas and other crustaceans.
Plug casters are hooking some bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
One chopper bluefish was landed last week after it bit a live bait on a king rig.
