Topsail/Sneads Ferry – June 2022
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that offshore bottom fishing in the 20-40 mile range has been producing great action on gag grouper, red grouper, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and pinkies.
Nearshore anglers have been finding some good king mackerel action in the 5-20 mile range, with the farther end of that scale seeing some of the first mahi moved in off the break.
Cobia are starting to show up nearshore, and over the coming weeks, favorable conditions will start to show the true state of their migration.
Spanish mackerel are plentiful for anglers trolling off the beach.
The backwater action has been focused around the red drum that are breaking up and spreading around. Target these small groups (sometimes one or two fish) in smaller marsh pockets and up on flats.
There has been a decent speckled trout bite for anglers fishing back up in New River.
Black drum are becoming more plentiful along the waterways, and sheepshead have moved in and staged up around inshore pilings. Live fiddler crabs or sandfleas fished on First Flight jigs have been a great way to fool these fish to feed.
Christopher Papalia hooked this 41 lb. citation wahoo with a ballyhoo on a planer rod while 60 miles offshore of Topsail Beach in 140′ of water. He was fishing with Capt. Will Bridges of Topsail Island Fish and Dive Adventures.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that red drum have stayed true to their summertime patterns and are scattered about inshore. Anglers have had to keep active to pick away at a bite, targeting oyster bars and deeper holes where you can find some bait schooled up. Topwater plugs make great scouting lures for anglers on the water early, with bottom-fished cut bait working well from mid-morning throughout the day.
Speckled trout are tough to strictly target once inshore water temperatures warm up. Anglers can find the most success while fishing topwater plugs very early (at daybreak).
Nearshore trips are producing some spanish mackerel, as more schools move in with the warm waters.
Some king mackerel (to 15 lbs.) have also started moving into the area, with larger fish mixed in.
Cobia are also beginning to migrate through the area, as anglers have found some strikes while fishing around nearshore structure.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that red drum fishing has been steady, though a bit scattered, behind Topsail Island. Running up into the river has provided more success, as finding favorable conditions has been a bit easier. Some of these lighter wind days have been great for anglers looking to find action fishing Rapala Skitterwalks and similar topwaters or sub-surface plugs.
Speckled trout are scattered around some of these same areas, as they have moved out of the creeks and run down the banks of the river on their way out.
Nearshore anglers have been able to locate plenty of spanish mackerel. Some good-sized king mackerel (to 20 lbs.) are mixed in, as these kings are moving in with the bait, and with the arrival of bait balls tends to come cobia.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that red drum action has been picking up as fish scatter throughout the inshore areas. Anglers are having success while targeting anything from docks, oyster beds, and grass lines back into shallow marsh bays. There is a wide variety of setups anglers are finding success with, such as topwater plugs, sub-surface lures, and soft plastics, but redfish are always keen on hitting natural bait offerings fished on popping corks, Carolina rigs, or knocker rigs.
Some speckled trout are being caught around the deeper creeks with just the right amount of tidal flow. The top setups have been topwater plugs or Z-Man soft plastics, but if fishing live bait, look for smaller finger mullet or mud minnows and rig up under a slip float.
Sheepshead and black drum are staged up on inshore structures such as docks, bridges, oyster beds, and bulkheads.
Nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel while casting jigs. Trolling Clarkspoons will also get fish onto the grill.
Bottom fishing is producing black sea bass, grunts, porgies, pinkies, and smaller gag grouper.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that some good-sized king mackerel (to 37 lbs.) have started to show up just off the beaches. Warmer water has pushed in close, and that’s all it took to fire off the bite. Anglers will also find success targeting the kings out over nearshore wrecks and ledges.
Spanish mackerel are in the area, though fairly scattered for this time of year.
Cobia have started to move in with the bait. Anglers have the best chance for success when targeting ledges out in the 10-mile range with bottom-rigged live baits.
Offshore anglers have found a good mahi bite around weed lines out near the Rise area. Look for more fish to move into the 30-50 mile range, and this early summer offshore fishery could also produce a few yellowfin tuna.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel are biting better every day. These schools are right outside the inlets out to about 40’.
Good numbers of bluefish are feeding right alongside the spanish.
Grouper action has been awesome in the 80-100’ range for anglers fishing a variety of cut baits.
Keeper black sea bass and vermilion snapper are also included in the offshore bottom fishing bags.
Some kings are being caught around the deeper structures by anglers pulling Drone spoons and deep diver plugs.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that king mackerel action is picking up, with some larger fish (to 34 lbs.) being caught off the end.
Bluefish are becoming more plentiful as we move into summer. Most have been smaller-sized fish, with a run here and there of the chopper blues.
Anglers are catching spanish mackerel while sight-casting Gotcha plugs, and bottom fishing has been producing some nice-sized sea mullet.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that good numbers of bluefish, including choppers (to 14 lbs.), have moved into the area.
A few schools of spanish mackerel are also, at times, moving within casting distance.
Anglers live-baiting off the end are landing some king mackerel (to 18 lbs.).
Bottom fishing in the evenings has been producing sea mullet and smaller croakers.
Joseph, of Seaview Pier, reports that there has been a good spanish mackerel bite for anglers casting plugs, as more schools have pushed closer onto the beach.
Bluefish are around, with some chopper blues (to 7 lbs.) in the mix.
Bottom fishing anglers anticipate seeing more pompano showing up as water conditions clean up.
