Topsail September 15, 2011
Henry (age 9), Piper (age 5), and Tracy Moore with a 35.6 lb. cobia that bit a live menhaden under the boat while they were bottom-fishing 10 miles off New River Inlet. Henry and Piper took turns landing the cobe while they were fishing with their dad, Henry Moore, on the "Bobcat."
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the wahoo bite has been excellent in the Gulf Stream off the area lately. The ‘hoos have been biting up and down the break, and trollers have also been finding some blackfin tuna and a few yellowfins up around the Big Rock. A few sailfish have been reported alongside the wahoo and tuna. Naked and skirted ballyhoo will produce action with all the Gulf Stream predators.
Bottom fishermen continue to hook some gag grouper and black sea bass at spots within 10-15 miles of the inlets. Scamp and red grouper are feeding at structure 30+ miles out. Live and cut baits are top choices for the grouper, and smaller cut baits or squid will fool the bass and other bottom feeders.
Pier anglers are starting to hook some spot. They’ve also been catching some flounder in the early mornings on live baits. Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs and live baits from the piers. Sheepshead are feeding around the pilings, and anglers can hook them on sand fleas, fiddler crabs, or other crustacean baits.
Surf casters are connecting with some pompano and sea mullet while baiting up with shrimp and sand fleas.
Good numbers of over-slot red drum are also feeding in the breakers, and cut baits, finger mullet, or gold spoons will get their attention.
The red drum bite has been on inshore as well, where anglers are hooking them in the marshes and creeks. Topwater plugs have been rather effective on the reds lately, and anglers can tempt them to bite live baits, Gulps, or a variety of other lures when they don’t want to feed on top.
The flounder action is still solid around docks and other structure in the ICW and the sound. Live finger mullet, mud minnows, or peanut menhaden and scented soft plastics like Gulp baits will attract bites from the flatfish.
Speckled trout are beginning to make an appearance in the area, and they should only get more numerous as the water temperatures drop with the coming of fall. Night fishing around inshore structure has been the best tactic lately. Live shrimp are far and away the best trout baits, but they’ll bite a variety of artificial lures as well.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that fishing is heating back up after the recent storms. Red drum are feeding around docks and other structure along the ICW. The best action has been around the middle of the tides when the current is moving, and menhaden have been outproducing mullet with the reds lately.
Flounder are also feeding around ICW docks and at inshore ledges and other bottom structure. Live finger mullet have been the flounder’s favorite baits lately.
Black drum are feeding around the bridges and heavy structure along the ICW and elsewhere inshore. Fresh shrimp are the ticket to hooking up with the black drum.
Charlie Musselwhite with a 26" red drum that bit a live finger mullet in Pages Creek.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot and a few pompano while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. Black drum have also been taking an interest in the shrimp.
Small live baits on the bottom are producing some action with flounder and red drum.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs worked from the pier.
Terry, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are starting to hook decent numbers of spot in the evenings lately. Bloodworms and shrimp on high-low rigs are producing most of the spot action.
Some pompano are taking an interest in shrimp on bottom rigs in the daytime.
Anglers are catching a few flounder on live baits fished on the bottom.
Some bluefish are falling for all of the baits, and anglers are also hooking them while working small metal lures from the planks.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish and a few larger spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
Some spot and sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms at night. Pompano are falling for the bottom rigs during the days.
Some red drum are biting live and cut baits around the pier, but most have been too large to keep lately.
