Topsail – September 29, 2016
Winter, of East Coast Sports, reports that red and black drum are working the surf zone. The reds are taking fresh cut mullet and menhaden on fish finder rigs, and the black drum are eating fresh cut shrimp and Fishbites on the bottom.
Bluefish are thick in the surf zone, and the fish are taking fresh cut mullet and casting spoons. There have been a few early speckled trout showing up in the surf, too, and the trout are being hooked on live minnows and MirrOlures.
Towards the inlets, a few spanish mackerel are being caught on the back side of the waves, and in the same areas there are hefty number of bluefish. The best bite has been on an incoming tide.
Inshore boaters are reporting catches of flounder, mostly on the smaller side. There are larger fish being reported as the water temperatures begin to creep down.
Red and black drum are being caught around docks and oyster beds. The reds are also being found chasing mullet along grassy shorelines and points along the ICW. Due to the dirty water, the fish have responded the best to popping corks, gold spoons, and spinnerbaits.
Bluefish are scattered throughout the marsh. They will take the same offerings used for red drum. Speckled trout are beginning to show up with more regularity, and areas offering current breaks in close proximity to deep water have been the best. Topwater plugs and suspending twitch baits are getting the trout to bite.
King mackerel fishing has really picked up closer to the beach. Boaters are hooking up with a good number of larger fish. Slow trolled live baits and cigar minnows on Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs has fooled most of the kings.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been solid. The fish are being found just past the breakers and on out to the 40’ mark. The inlets have been fishing well on an outgoing tide, but most of the fish have been on the smaller side. False albacore are making a strong showing in the same areas. They are also being found in good numbers out to the 16 mile range.
On the bottom, gag grouper, black sea bass, and grunts are beginning to move closer to the beach. The best fishing is beginning in the 60’ range. These fish are taking frozen minnows and squid fished on two hook bottom rigs. The grouper are preferring live pinfish and frozen cigar minnows.
Gulf Stream boaters are reporting sailfish, mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna. The tuna are being caught on plugs and skirted ballyhoo. The wahoo bite has been the best on a planer rod with a wire rigged Blue Water Candy Seawitch or Jag.
Carl Banks, of Sneads Ferry, with a 24 lb. king mackerel caught while kayak fishing off Topsail Island. The king fell for a live bluefish trolled behind the kayak.
Chad, of Lucky Dawg Guide Service, reports that big red drum are cruising the surf zone and ledges just off the beach. Flounder are also relating to the same structure as they start their migration out of the inland waters. Look to the inlets as well for slot-sized reds and flounder this time of year.
Spanish, false albacore, and king mackerel are also nearshore right now. Live baits slow trolled is working well for the kings. Trolling Clarkspoons behind a #1 or #2 planer will bring bites from both the spanish and false albacore. When the fish are up top busting bait, quickly retrieving small jigs like the Blue Water Candy Sparkle jig and Don’s Jigs are getting the bites.
Alaina Messick, of Hampstead, with a 2 lb. 6 oz. citation pompano that was caught behind Lea Island on a white beetle spin.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king bite has been very good in the 6-12 mile range, with a nice mix of fish from 5-15 lbs. Dead cigar minnows on Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs are getting the bites.
False albacore are thick in the waters around Topsail. Just outside the inlet out to the 15 mile line has fish. Casting small metal jigs and fly fishing is providing great action.
Bottom fishing has picked up considerably closer to shore. Grouper and larger sea bass are biting well in the 15-20 mile range. Squid, mackerel, and cigar minnows are all producing.
Brandy, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that 14 king mackerel were landed over the past week. The kings are up to the low 30 lb. range are being caught on live bait. Solid numbers of bluefish are being caught on cut bait on the bottom as well.
A few spanish mackerel are being caught on plugs early in the morning. Flounder fishing has picked up a little, but mostly throwback fish are being caught.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that a few kings are beginning to show up. Nice flounder are making their way over the rail, as a 5.64 lb. fish was weighed in (caught on a live finger mullet).
A few pompano have been caught recently, and some nicer sea mullet have showed up. A bite of 2-2.5 lb. speckled trout occurred one evening last week. The fish were caught on live shrimp and minnows.
David, of Seaview Pier, reports that bluefish are being caught in large numbers plugging throughout the day. The blues are also being landed on cut bait. Sea mullet are being hooked on fresh shrimp, and the better fishing has been at night.
Three king mackerel were landed last week, and the largest fish was 28 lbs.
