Topsail October 28, 2004
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that all of the area piers have been enjoying the spot runs, especially at night. All the piers are recording catches, with no single pier doing better than any other. He suggests trying Fishbites. During the day, the best bet is flounder or king fishing. You may also find a speck or a gray. In the surf, there are reds in the New River Inlet. The Lee Island reds are back, and there is also an improving speckled trout bite. Browns Inlet is seeing flounder catches in good numbers. You can also look to find big pompano on sand fleas in the sloughs. In the waterway, there are spots at the BC marker and at marker 98. False albacore are everywhere in the nearshore area. The kings have been thick at AR-355, and several anglers are finding big kings just off the beach. Big drum are at Surf City Ledge, and they are being caught on trolled cigars. Grays are definitely making a comeback. Try Divers Rock, Topsail Ledge, and just off the end of the old Barnacle Bills Pier. Catch them with minnows or orange and white sting silvers. Farther offshore, there’s been a great wahoo bite in the Jungle area.
Frank, at Seaview Pier, reports catches of pompano and black drum on sand fleas or shrimp. No kings to report, but the spots are still doing well. Flounder fishermen are still picking up fish on live bait, but no big fish reported this week.
Ricky Kellum, at Speckled Specialists Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing has turned on. He had a couple 30 fish days, with the biggest fish weighing between 4 and 5 pounds. Mirrolures, mullet, and live shrimp are all producing fish in the New River area. Flounder are also biting pretty well but the other good bite is the gray trout just off the beaches. It’s not uncommon to find 3 to 4 lb. fish, and they are holding over structure off the beach from New River Inlet to Browns Inlet.
