Topsail – September 15, 2016
Austin, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf anglers are catching sea mullet and black drum on Fishbites. Pompano fishing has improved since the storm passed through, and sand fleas have worked best to hook them. Small sea mullet and a few spots are showing up, and the bite should improve over the weeks to come. There has been plenty of bluefish action on cut mullet. The mullet run has been pretty strong lately, and the flounder fishing has improved right along with it.
There have been some red drum showing up along the surf, especially towards both inlets. The reds have been eating cut baits fished on the bottom. Sharks and rays will inherently take the same offerings after the sun goes down. In the same areas, there have been some bluefish caught on diamond jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Red drum fishing inshore has continued to provide action despite the dirty water resulting from storm. Live baits fished on Carolina rigs and cut baits have been getting bites. The fish are responding to a variety of artificial baits, too. Topwater plugs, gold spoons, scented soft plastics on jig heads, and spinnerbaits are all working on the drum. In the dirty water, the fish have been biting lures with brighter colors like orange and chartreuse.
Flounder fishing has improved throughout the marsh, especially towards the inlets. The mullet are moving in larger schools, and the flatfish are keying in on them. Live finger mullet and Gulp plastics fished along the bottom have accounted for most of the flounder.
Boaters fishing on the bottom beyond the 10 mile range have been rewarded with grouper, snapper, and grunts. The fish are eating cut squid and frozen minnows on knocker rigs and Blue Water Candy jigs. Look for the gag grouper fishing to improve as we get into fall and the fish begin to move up the hill.
Gulf Stream anglers are reporting wahoo, mahi, and blackfin tuna. Wire rigged ballyhoo behind a #8 planer is getting the best results from the wahoo. The blackfin tuna have been relating to bottom structure. Mahi have been holding around grass patties and schools of bait, and there have also been a few sailfish spotted lately.
Lauren Lea, of Hampstead, with an upper-slot red drum she caught on a finger mullet behind Lea Island.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports that the fishing has rebounded nicely after all of the rain Hermine brought in. The water is dirty and tides are higher than normal, but conditions are improving daily.
Red drum and flounder have been chewing pretty good despite all the rain. The reds are responding to a variety of baits, with topwater plugs, Flats Intruder spoons, soft plastics, and live bait producing bites. The fish have been in the 14” range to over-slot.
Flounder have been taking both soft plastics and live bait. A good number of the fish have been undersized, although there are some nice fish in the mix.
Nearshore fishing has been good with a mix of reds and flounder, and most of those species have been larger fish. Carolina rigs with finger mullet and bouncing jigs on the bottom are getting fish to the boat. Fall fishing is kicking off, and the bite is expected to continue to improve.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish and bigger bluefish have been biting just off the beach this past week, with the best bite closer towards the inlet. There is a lot of bait on the beach after this big rain. Casting metal jigs and trolling spoons and planers have been doing well.
Grouper fishing has been good in 70-110’ of water. Cut bait is working the best on them, and keeper sea bass are mixed in the same areas.
Robbie, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that two kings were landed and others were hooked this past week. The fish were 21 and 22 lbs., and they both struck live baits. Spanish and blues are being caught in better numbers over the past week, and most were landed on Gotcha plugs off the end of the pier.
Bottom fishermen are seeing small sea mullet and a few croaker. The bite has been better at night, and cut shrimp has been getting the best results. A few short flounder have been caught, and with the cooler weather, the fishing will only improve.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the bottom fishing has improved after the storm. Black drum, a few spots, sea mullet, pompano, and red drum are being caught. They are taking fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas on simple bottom rigs. The reds have been taking a better interest in cut mullet.
A 38 lb. king mackerel was landed on Saturday. The fish took a live bluefish off the end of the pier, and the king fishing is expected to improve daily with the shorter days and cooling water.
Rich, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that black drum are being caught in good numbers with several just above 14”. Anglers are catching these fish on dead shrimp rigged on the bottom. Bluefish and spanish mackerel are being caught as well with most being caught on metal plugs and jigs. A couple of kings have been landed recently in the past week also on live bluefish.
Since the last storm, there have not been as many red drum being caught but anglers have still been able to catch a few on live and cut baits. Tarpon are also running along the beaches and on the end of the pier but only one has been hooked.
