Added on Monday, March 1, 2021  Fish Post

Topsail/Sneads Ferry – March 2021

Chuck, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers continue to catch speckled trout in the typical winter-time holdover spots. Look for muddy bottoms in the backs of creeks to have the most action, with even the slightest sunshine quickly bringing water temperatures up.

Red drum are moving in schools around flats inside the inlet. These fish are strictly looking for food, and it has been tough to nail down a pattern of where the school is even the next day.

Surf anglers are having some luck landing sea mullet and small black drum with shrimp on bottom rigs.

Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that anglers look forward to more stable weather for pleasurable fishing days, and the speckled trout have been reacting the same, with warm stretches having the bite picked up around inland creeks.

A few striped bass are holding in similar areas of New River that have structure.

Black drum are a great target in these cooler months, as they aren’t as affected by the water temperatures. Carolina-rigged baits fished around oysters and holes near docks have been producing action.

 

Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that red and black drum are dominating the inshore action through these colder months. Anglers have been most successful while fishing Carolina-rigged shrimp around docks in mainland creeks out to the ICW. Some red drum are being found out over shoals in the surf zone, but the right conditions haven’t made it easy for anglers to target them. It takes clear water conditions from dry weather and calm winds, and neither have been prevalent this winter.

Speckled trout fishing has been slower than normal in mainland creeks and up in New River. These fish have been only responding to really slow lure action: a simple bottom bounce, and then a long wait, when working baits back. A variety of Saltwater Assassin, Z-Man, and Storm shrimp soft plastics have all worked well for this application.

 

John, of One More Cast Fishing Adventures, reports that March anglers will be targeting the inshore waters as weather transitions towards spring.

Speckled trout fishing is getting better with every uptick in water temperature. Soft plastics are the go-to setup until more live bait arrives in the area.

Red drum can be found up on the flats, with soft plastics also being a productive bait.

Nearshore and offshore fishing is hampered by a combination of water and wind temperatures. Anglers hope there can be a significant shift over the next few weeks to spark action, but the reality is it may be closer to April.

 

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that bottom fishing is only picking up as it gets further into March. Anglers targeting the 10-20 mile range should find plenty of black sea bass, grunts, and porgies.

Around the middle of the month, the bluefish should begin arriving along the beaches as they push inshore.

Schools of red drum will be cruising the beaches just beyond the breakers. It just takes the right conditions to sight-fish and target them.

False albacore typically start showing up in March and can be found feeding on the surface in the 10-20 mile range. These albacore (as well as mixed in bonito) start to push more nearshore as the month progresses.

Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that not much has been happening on the fishing front with winter weather still in full swing. Going into March, anglers look forward to sea mullet and bluefish showing up, along with more comfortable conditions.

 

Surf City Pier is closed for the winter and will reopen in spring.

 

Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that a recent local tournament gathered anglers to the pier for good numbers of dogfish sharks providing action on cut baits.

Bottom fishing has been a bit slow, with sea mullet just starting to be caught in decent numbers.

Over the next few weeks, look for better numbers of sea mullet, with bluefish and puffers mixed in.