Topsail September 13, 2012
Capt. Jason Dail, of Silverspoon Charters, with a 32 lb. red drum that bit a topwater plug in 2' of water in a marsh near North Topsail Beach.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier bottom fishermen are seeing some excellent mixed bag action with the cooler weather lately. Shrimp and bloodworms fished on double drop rigs are getting attention from sea mullet, black drum, pompano, spot, and more. The bite should continue to improve over the coming weeks.
Bluefish are feeding all along the beachfront and just offshore. Some spanish mackerel are mixed in, but they’ve been a bit tough to find lately. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting lures like Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs to fish feeding on the surface will produce plenty of action with the spanish and blues.
Red drum are still feeding around the south end of Topsail and north end of Lea Island, and a good topwater bite has materialized in Rich’s Inlet in the past few days.
There are also plenty of reds feeding on the flats and around creekmouths inshore, where live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other lures will appeal to them.
Flounder fishing remains strong inshore, and anglers are finding them in the inlets and around structure like bridges and docks. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits are tough to beat for the flatfish.
Speckled trout are beginning to make their fall showing in the area, with most of the action lately coming from the New River. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the specks, but anglers can also hook up on a variety of soft plastics and suspending lures like Rapala X-Raps and MirrOlure MR17’s.
Sheepshead continue to feed around the bridges and other inshore structure in the area (with big numbers of large 5-8+ lb. fish lately). Dangling fiddler crabs tight to the pilings is the way to connect with the sheeps.
DJ Kolosky and Eric Fowler with a 100 lb.-class tarpon that bit a live menhaden on a king rig off Seaview Pier. The fish put up a 45 minute fight and was released just after the photograph.
Ladyfish are still inshore and feeding around lighted docks and bridges at night, where soft plastics or suspending lures will get their attention.
Offshore, bottom fishermen have reported action with gag grouper at bottom structure 4-20 miles off the inlets lately. Live baits and dead cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel are tempting most of the bites from the gags.
Sailfish and some dolphin are still feeding around 23 Mile Rock. Ballyhoo trolled with dredge and daisy chain teasers are the way to fool the sails and ‘phins.
Boats making the run to the break are reporting that the excellent wahoo bite is still going when the seas allow the long run.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the flounder bite is starting to improve as the inshore waters flush out from the recent rains. The best action has been in deeper water near the inlets, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on Gulps and live finger mullet.
Red drum are feeding on the flats near creekmouths and oyster rocks. The moving tides have been producing much better action than slack water, and live finger mullet, menhaden, or soft plastic jerkbaits will tempt the reds to bite. Calmer days have also been producing good topwater action in the morning and evening hours.
Speckled trout are beginning to show up around Topsail and in the New River. They’re a bit scattered now, but the bite will get better by the week as summer turns to fall. Live shrimp and shrimp-imitating soft plastics are the best bets for the specks, and anglers should fish productive areas at a variety of tidal stages to nail down the pattern of the day.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that black drum, small puppy drum, and some fat sea mullet are feeding around the pier and taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
A few flounder are falling for live mud minnows and mullet fished under the pier.
Plug casters are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas and diamond jigs.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are finding mixed bag action with black drum, pompano, sea mullet, spadefish, flounder, and more. Most of the bottom feeders are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on two-hook rigs.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs worked from the pier.
Cindy, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that sea mullet and pompano are taking an interest in shrimp and sand fleas fished on bottom rigs off the pier.
A few flounder are biting small live baits near the pilings.
Some over-slot red drum are feeding around the end of the pier, and anglers are hooking them on live finger mullet and cut baits.
