Topsail October 27, 2011
Stan Owens, of Jacksonville, NC, with a sand tiger shark he caught and released in the surf at New River Inlet after it bit a chunk of mullet.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the speckled trout bite has been excellent in the creeks over the past week (with fish to 7 lbs. weighed in). Anglers are connecting with the specks while casting live shrimp, Gulp baits, MirrOlures, and other artificials.
The red drum bite has been solid on the inshore flats behind Topsail and Lea Islands. Topwater plugs are producing exciting surface action with the reds, but anglers can also hook up while casting Gulps and a variety of other baits and lures.
Flounder fishing inshore is also going strong (with some solid citation-class fish weighed in). Inshore structure is where to look for the flatfish, and Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulps and other soft plastics on jigheads will tempt the fish to bite.
Surf casters have been connecting with some fat sea mullet and a few black drum and pompano around Surf City, mostly on shrimp and sand flea baits.
Some upper and over-slot red drum are feeding around Topsail Inlet, with the best action in the early mornings lately. Live and cut baits will get attention from the reds.
The spot bite has slowed down, but the return of northeast winds should trigger another run or two before the season is done.
Out in the ocean, anglers are finally seeing some decent king mackerel fishing, with action from 4-40 miles offshore reported last week. Live baits are tough to beat for the larger kings, but anglers can also tempt plenty of bites while trolling dead cigar minnows.
Gag grouper have started to make their fall move inshore, and anglers have landed keepers within five miles of land recently. Live, cut, and frozen baits will all tempt bites from the gags.
Noah Kannan with his first red drum, a 28" fish he caught and released in the Lea Island surf after it bit a dead finger mullet while he was fishing with his dad and Steve Caudill.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the flounder bite has been getting better (with several 4-5 lb. fish lately). The best action has been in the deeper holes (10-15’ or more) inshore. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits fished on Carolina rigs have both been producing plenty of bites.
Red drum are still feeding in the marshes, though they’ve been holding a little deeper in recent weeks. Targeting oyster bars around the mid and higher tides has been the most productive strategy, and live finger mullet are tempting them to bite.
The speckled trout action is heating up in deeper holes and the creeks inshore. Live shrimp on float rigs are the way to go for the trout.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot, pompano, and black drum while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms from the pier.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some pompano, black drum, and smaller speckled trout while bottom fishing with shrimp during the daytimes.
The spot action has been up-and-down recently, with some good runs and some slow days. The bite is definitely better at night, and intermittent runs of the fish should continue through the first few weeks of November. Natural and artificial bloodworms are the way to go for the spot.
John C. Cruise and "Big" John Tedder with a wahoo that bit a purple/black wahoo bomb whiel they were trolling the Gulf Stream in 200' of water off New River Inlet.
Tim, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have seen some solid spot runs over the past week, with a few sea mullet thrown in. Bloodworms and shrimp on high-low bottom rigs are tempting the tasty panfish to bite.
Bluefish, and on some days solid numbers of speckled trout, have been falling for Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the planks.
