Topsail – September 1, 2016
Austin, of East Coast Sports, reports that flounder fishing inshore is improving, especially towards the inlets. The fish are staging up in anticipation of the fall mullet migration. The bait is beginning to form larger schools and moving towards the ocean. There have also been plenty of bait and flatfish scattered throughout the marshes and along waterway docks. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs and Z-Man soft plastics fished on Blue Water Candy jigheads are getting nice results.
Anglers targeting red drum have noticed better numbers of feeding fish over the past week. The water temperature has cooled off a little, and the fish are responding well. Topwater plugs fished along grassy shorelines is producing bites early and late in the day. Live finger mullet and peanut pogies fished along waterway docks and oyster beds have been producing good numbers of slot and above slot fish. Cut menhaden has also been working in similar areas.
Bluefish are scattered all throughout the marshes and near deeper creeks towards the inlets, and they will take a variety of artificial baits and live mullet. The blues have been found recently feeding on the surface on glass minnows in the channels. Small metal jigs and even topwater plugs have been getting bites from these fish.
Anthony Nevins, of Topsail, with a 22” king mackerel caught on live menhaden off Seaview Pier.
Surf anglers are reporting croaker, sea mullet, and black and red drum. The fish are taking shrimp and cut bait on the bottom. The better bite has been during the night around high tide. Towards the inlets there has been some action with spanish mackerel and bluefish on plugs and metal jigs.
The flounder fishing along the surf zone has improved lately. The fish are eating live mud minnows and finger mullet on Carolina rigs. Be sure to fish the baits all the way up to your feet because the fish will often be really close to the shoreline.
Nearshore boaters are connecting while trolling with spanish mackerel. The fish are taking small Clarkspoons behind #1 planers and Blue Water Candy Spanish Daisies. Surface feeding fish are being found close to the inlets, especially on the last half of the outgoing tide.
Gag grouper, sea bass, beeliners, and grunts are being hooked by boats dropping baits to the bottom starting in the 60’ range. The best bite has been in 80’+ on frozen mackerel and squid. Blue Water Candy Roscoes are accounting for good numbers of fish as well.
Out in the Gulf Stream, boaters are reporting a few mahi, blackfin tuna, sailfish, wahoo, and swordfish. The northeast wind has improved the fishing over the past few days, and the bite should only get better as we get into fall.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports that red drum fishing in the marsh and along the docks has been good over the past week. Targeting the fish in the surf zone has also been paying off well. Some large reds are being caught fishing the ledges just off the beach, and anglers should also be able to get tight on some nice flounder in the same areas. Live baits on Carolina rigs has been the best way to hook up with these fish.
The inshore red drum bite has been solid using anything from topwater plugs, spoons, and soft plastics with Pro-Cure to live and dead baits fished on Carolina rigs. Flounder fishing has been best with live baits on Carolina rigs and soft plastic jerk baits rigged on jig heads. Fishing around docks and structure in the ICW has been the best area to target for flounder.
Speckled trout should start picking up in the south Topsail area with these cooler mornings. Prospecting with topwater plugs is very effective for locating the trout, especially some of the larger fish. Working grass banks early in the morning and late in the evening near some deeper water is a good place to find them.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that gag grouper and sea bass are being found in the 20 mile range. Squid and metal jigs are getting the bites with these fish. In the same areas, mahi and king mackerel are being picked off trolling with Blue Water Candy rigs with dead baits.
Spanish mackerel and false albacore are being found close to the inlets and up to 5 miles off the beach, with spoons and jigs providing the best action.
Flounder fishing continues to produce around the AR’s and ledges on bucktails and live finger mullet.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that a 30 lb. king was just landed this week. There has also been quite a few tarpon hooked lately on live baits.
Some really nice spanish have been caught on the same rigs used for kings, with 5+ lb. fish recently reported.
Bottom fishermen are seeing sea mullet, croaker, and black drum. Cut shrimp, Fishbites, and bloodworms are accounting for most of the action. The best bite has been late at night for the bottom fish.
The flounder bite has really improved with a nice mix of keeper and throwback fish. The northeast wind direction has kicked the fishing off and is a nice indication of the fall fishing to come.
Wayne, of Surf City Pier, reports that spanish and bluefish are being caught early and late in the day on Gotcha plugs. There have been a few spots and black drum late at night.
Richard, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that bluefish are being caught in good numbers, mostly by plugging. A 22 lb. king was landed earlier in the week, and more fish have been spotted.
Over-slot red drum are connecting at night on cut mullet. There have also been some slot-sized reds and a few black drum on fresh shrimp. The slot reds have been caught early in the day on live mullet.
