Topsail October 15, 2009
Seth Berkabile, of Wrightsville Beach, with a 31" gag grouper he hooked on a live pogy at some bottom structure in 70' of water 15 miles off Topsail Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Jim Sabella of Plan 9 Fishing Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the spot run is in full swing, and it’s some of the best fishing seen in years. Both surf and pier anglers are getting in on the bite. Bloodworms are fooling most of the fish, and the action’s been best at night.
Surf and pier bottom fishermen are also landing good numbers of whiting and pompano.
The red drum bite’s been solid in the surf at the south end of the island.
Plenty of bluefish are running along the beaches as well.
Inshore, the red drum bite is still solid in the creeks and marshes. Anglers are hooking the reds on live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures.
Speckled trout are starting to show up in the area, and the bite should only get better as the weather and water continue to cool off.
Off the beaches, spanish mackerel and false albacore are chasing bait around the inlets and nearshore, and anglers can hook them by trolling small spoons or casting metal lures like diamond jigs at breaking schools.
King mackerel and cobia are feeding in many of the same areas as the albacore and spaniards, and anglers stand the best chance of hooking up with them on live pogies.
Gray trout are schooled up on nearshore structure like Diver’s Rock, the Surf City Ledges, and other areas within a few miles of the beaches. Vertically working diamond jigs over the structure will tempt the grays to bite.
Some citation-class red drum (40”+) are feeding in the same areas, and they’ll take an interest in live baits, cut baits, and sometimes the jigging lures.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that the red drum bite is still excellent in the bays, creeks, and marshes off the New River and ICW. Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Gulps, and other lures will tempt the reds to bite, and anglers can also use live baits with success.
The speckled trout bite has been decent lately, but the water temperatures still need to drop a few degrees before the fall bite gets in full swing. Fishing live shrimp or shrimp-imitating lures near inshore structure is the way to target the trout.
The flounder bite has been solid everywhere from the inlets to the creeks. Carolina-rigged live finger mullet are top baits for the flatfish.
Jaycob, from Hampstead, NC, with a keeper flounder he hooked on a live bait from Surf City Pier.
Black drum and sheepshead are feeding around the 172 Bridge and other inshore structure, and anglers are hooking both on shrimp and other crustacean baits.
Spot are feeding throughout the inshore waters in the area, and anglers are catching big numbers along the ICW on bottom rigs baited with bloodworms.
The spanish mackerel bite just outside the inlet and along the beaches has been on fire lately, and anglers are catching the fish while trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal lures to the breaking schools. Some false albacore are mixed in with the spaniards and falling for the same baits.
Some big king mackerel (20-30+ lbs.) are feeding alongside the spanish and albies, and live baits like pogies will tempt them to bite.
Bottom fishermen are finding excellent gag grouper fishing within 15 miles of land. Plenty of big sea bass are feeding in the same areas as well.
Gulf Stream trollers are finding a good wahoo bite at local spots like the Swansboro Hole and Big Rock. Some anglers are also reporting some yellowfin tuna action to the north off of Ocracoke.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is excellent around Sneads Ferry and to the east near Bogue and Bear Inlets. Anglers are hooking the specks while fishing the edges of the channels and small sloughs near the inlets and around inshore structure near Sneads Ferry.
Live shrimp or shrimp imitations from Billy Bay, Storm, and Trigger-X will all draw bites from the trout, and anglers may also be able to coax them to strike topwaters in the mornings.
Lauren and Jarrett Caviness, of Hampstead, NC, with spanish mackerel they hooked on gold Clarkspoons behind planers off Lea Island.
Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports that anglers are catching speckled trout, flounder, and red drum around creekmouths between Wrightsville and Topsail. The mouths holding schools of glass minnows seem to be the most productive. MirrOlures are producing most of the action with the specks, and anglers are hooking the reds and flatties on 4” Gulp shrimp.
Offshore, there’s been an excellent king mackerel bite around 10 miles from the beaches (with good numbers of fish to 25 lbs.). Anglers are hooking most of the kings on live pogies.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the spot bite is excellent, and anglers are hooking the majority of the fish on bottom rigs baited with bloodworms.
Some pompano are also falling for the bottom rigs.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are hooking a decent number of flounder.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs worked from the pier.
Live-baiters landed several king mackerel last week (with the largest going 34 lbs.).
Jan, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that there’s been an excellent spot bite lately, and bottom fishermen are also decking some pompano and whiting. Bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp and bloodworms are producing most of the action.
Plug casters are catching some fat spanish mackerel.
Several king mackerel (up to 29 lbs.) fell for live baits off the end of the pier last week.
Eddie, of Seaview Pier, reports that spot and some big pompano are falling for shrimp and bloodworms fished on the bottom.
Anglers baiting up with live finger mullet are catching some flounder.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for plugs worked from the end of the pier.
