Topsail October 13, 2011
Steve Thomas, of Sanford, NC, with a pair of 12 lb. flounder he hooked at some structure near Sneads Ferry on live mullet. Weighed in at East Coast Sports.
Phil, of East Coast Sports, reports that the spot bite has been up-and-down from the island’s piers, but anglers are putting big numbers of the tasty panfish in the cooler while bottom fishing along the ICW. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and Fish Bites synthetic baits are top choices for the spot.
Improving action with speckled trout has been the big story inshore lately, with anglers finding the fish feeding in the creeks and around the inlets and ICW structure. Gulps, soft plastics, and suspending lures like MirrOlure MR17’s are top artificials for the trout, and live shrimp are tough to beat when anglers can get their hands on them.
The red drum bite is still solid in the backwaters, and anglers are finding the fish on the flats and in the marshes and creeks. Plenty of reds are also feeding in the surf, particularly around Topsail Inlet. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live baits are the best choices for the reds inshore, and cut baits or gold spoons are the way to go in the surf.
Sheepshead are still feeding around bridges, docks, and other inshore structure in the area, and anglers can tempt them to bite fiddler crabs fished close to the structure.
The flounder bite inshore has been excellent lately (with a 10 lb. fish and two 12 pounders weighed in last week). Fishing live baits around bridges, docks, and inlets is the best way to target the flatfish.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is turning on. Hard structures along the ICW in around 12-15’ of water have been producing the most action in recent days. Live shrimp are the best trout baits, but they can be tough to find, so many anglers are hooking up on artificials as well.
Flounder fishing has been solid in the inlets lately, with anglers putting together good catches of keepers as they feed before the water gets too cool. There have been some small menhaden in the area, and they seem to be outproducing finger mullet with the flatfish.
The red drum bite has been a little slow, but anglers are catching some fat bluefish while fishing cut mullet and menhaden around the inlet shoals.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that speckled trout are showing up throughout the inshore waters. Anglers are finding them around hard structure like bridges and docks, in the creeks, and around the inlets over the past weeks. Live shrimp are the top choice for the trout, but artificials like the classic green grub have been producing results as well.
The flounder bite has been good around Topsail lately, and anglers are finding the best action along ICW docks. Live finger mullet and smaller menhaden are the ticket to bites from the flatfish.
Earl, of Seaview Pier, reports that the rough weather slowed down the bite over the weekend, but anglers saw some good fishing last week. It will likely continue once the wind moderates.
Jennifer King, of Sanford, NC, with a 34" red drum she caught and released after it bit a chunk of cut mullet in the surf off the south end of Topsail Island.
Several solid spot runs helped anglers fill coolers last week, with most of the fish falling for bloodworms and Fish Bites synthetic baits.
Some red drum (from puppies to citation-class fish) are feeding around the pier, and they will take an interest in live and cut baits.
Jay, of Surf City Pier, reports that there were some excellent spot runs last week, but the rough weather has slowed them down. The action should be back on track later in the week when the wind lays down. Shrimp, bloodworms, and Fish Bites baits will tempt bites from the spot when they’re moving through.
Ashley, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some spot, pompano, and sea mullet while baiting up with bloodworms, shrimp, and Fish Bites.
Some bluefish and a few spanish mackerel have been taking an interest in live baits and metal lures worked from the planks.
