Topsail September 2, 2004
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the surf has produced a few sea mullet and lots of small pompano. You can also pick up a few flounder, and Lee Island continues to hold reds at the north end. The piers are seeing a mixed bag of spots, flounder, spanish, blues, mullet, and black drum.
The inlet has been offering blues in the 3 to 6 lb. range, with the incoming tide the best time. There are reports of a spot run at the back gate. You also may pick up a black drum. Brown Inlet is reporting reds, flounder, and gray trout.
Small kings are everywhere, and the spanish bite is picking up just beyond the breakers.
Offshore, try grouper fishing at 20+ miles. A good report of grouper came in from Cripple Rock. There have also been reports of sails and wahoo from the gulf stream
Frank, of Seaview Pier, reports that a nice tarpon estimated around 40 to 50 lbs. was caught and released. Also of note, a 20 lb. red drum ate a king rig and was successfully caught and released. Spanish mackerel are biting much better, with fish not only hitting the live baits but beginning to hit plugs and jigs as well. Plenty of mullet are running, so the drum and trout shouldn’t be too far behind. Flounder are also eating the mullet, and they are ranging up to 16 or 17 inches. Also caught this week were bluefish, spot, and black drum.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that red drum are in the surf and upriver. There have also been a few reports of speckled trout coming from up the river. The bigger reds, however, will be in the surf. Black drum and sheepshead continue to bite around the bridges on crabs. King mackerel were reported anywhere from 10 to 20 miles off, but most were small.
