Topsail October 26, 2006
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that the piers are catching lots of pompano and flounder, with only a few spot runs. The spots are holding just offshore. A NE wind should turn on the spot fishing.
The surf fishermen are picking up plenty of pompano. Reds are also cruising the surf, and a few guys are picking up some specks.
The redfish action is strong on the inside. The flounder bite has also picked up, but there aren’t many flounder over 3 pounds.
The gray trout are still off the beach. Try them at the buoy just out of New River. The weather buoy is also producing.
Spanish have shown up just offshore again, as well as the kings. Look for the grays and spanish just outside the inlet and at the checkered board sign at the military base. Go with orange diamond jigs for the grays and crystal minnow deep divers for the spanish.
Most of the kings are coming on dead bait. Try the Christmas Rock area for starters.
Ricky, at Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout continue to bite well in area inlets such as Bogue, Bear, and Browns, as well as up in the New River. They are schooling up and hitting shrimp imitations and Mirrolures.
Redfish are being caught in the surf and along the inlet shoals, and the smaller fish are being caught inshore in the river.
The most consistent bite has been the gray trout off of New River Inlet on the nearshore hard bottoms by jigging or using live bait.
Bill, at Sea View Pier, reports several good spot runs over the week, but the bite is either on or off. As usual, bloodworms and shrimp are the choice baits.
While waiting for the spots, the bottom fishermen are having good luck with black drum (up to 3 pounds), good sized pompano, and whiting.
A few keeper flounder have come over the rails. Most have been on live baits, but a few are being caught on dead shrimp.
Plug casters are battling bluefish up to 5 pounds, with an occasional speckled trout thrown in.
Vinita, at Surf City Pier, reports that the spot runs have been coming and going. When the fish are abundant, the artificial bloodworms will work; however, to catch a few when the runs are not as strong, fish the real thing.
In the early mornings, bottom fishing with shrimp has put many 2 to 3 pound black drum into anglers’ coolers.
A few flounder and trout are biting, but not in great numbers.
Some sheepshead have been caught over the past week, with the largest weighing 9.82 pounds.
Live baiters have decked several kings (up to 28 pounds) over the week, with most bites coming on bluefish.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports that gray trout continue to bite very well on the nearshore areas out of New River Inlet.
Kings are in decent numbers along the beach feeding on the cigar minnows and numerous schools of bluefish.
Grouper have moved closer to shore. They’re in the 10 mile range on ledges and hard bottoms.
Inside, the speckled trout fishing continues to get better both in the river and in the creeks feeding into the area inlets. Catches have been about 50/50 between live bait and artificials.
