Added on Thursday, October 11, 2012  Gary Hurley

Topsail October 11, 2012

Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers on the island’s piers are seeing the first few spot runs of the year, with some cooler-filling catches during the evening hours over the past week. Natural and artificial bloodworms are the best bets for the spot, though shrimp and other baits will also produce at times.

The spanish mackerel bite has been excellent off the piers lately, with anglers catching big numbers on Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and smaller live baits.

The piers are also seeing some king mackerel for anglers fishing live baits on pin-rigs.

Boaters are getting in on the mackerel action, and anglers slow-trolling live baits nearshore landed several 30-lb. class fish last week.

Trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal lures to fish feeding on the surface is producing most of the action with the spaniards for boaters.

Bottom fishermen are reporting some solid gag grouper action at structure within 10 miles of the inlets. Live and dead baits are both effective on the gags.

Surf casters are connecting with good numbers of sea mullet and black drum along the length of the island. Shrimp and sand fleas are top choices for both bottom feeders.

Inshore, the red drum bite has been phenomenal around docks and other structure in the sound recently. Live and cut baits or Gulps and other artificials will all attract attention from the reds when anglers find the feeding fish.

The speckled trout bite keeps getting better, with most of the action coming around hard structure in the ICW and sound. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but a variety of soft and hard plastic baits will also get their attention.

Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the fall fishing is kicking into gear, and on most trips anglers are connecting with inshore slams of flounder, red drum, and speckled trout.

The drum are feeding around inshore structure on the moving tides. Most are falling for live finger mullet, but some larger, over-slot fish seem to be showing a preference for menhaden, so it pays to have both.

Flounder are feeding around docks and other structure in deeper water. Both live finger mullet and Gulp baits are proving effective on the flatfish.

The speckled trout bite is getting better by the week. Some big fish are just now showing up, so it looks to be a good fall. Live shrimp and shrimp-imitating lures have been the best bets for the specks lately.

Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers caught some impressive numbers of king mackerel while live-baiting from the end of the pier last week (the largest 37 lbs.).

The spanish mackerel bite has also been excellent for anglers working Gotcha plugs, and a keeper cobia was caught on a Gotcha recently as well.

Anglers have seen a few spot runs, but the action isn’t non-stop yet. Some pompano and sea mullet are rounding out the panfish action. Shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the smaller bottom feeders.

Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that some pompano, sea mullet, spot, and other bottom feeders are taking an interest in shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits on double-hook bottom rigs.

A few flounder are biting small live baits fished under the pier.

Spanish mackerel are feeding around the pier in good numbers and taking an interest in Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and other flashy metal lures.

Live baiters landed several king mackerel last week (the largest over 30 lbs.).

Austin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live-baiters on the end of the pier produced numerous kings last week.

Some spot and sea mullet are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms, and black drum have been taking an interest in the shrimp at night.

Plug casters are hooking big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish while working Gotchas and diamond jigs from the planks.