Topsail / Sneads Ferry – May 9, 2019
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that the nearshore bite has been excellent, with both Atlantic bonito and spanish mackerel schooled up in the 2-5 mile range. Trolling Clarkspoons behind a planer will catch a good number of fish, but anglers most enjoy targeting these fish as they feed on surface baits. Casting glass minnow jigs and smaller flies (for the fly angler) is getting great reaction bites, though boats have to move a bit to stay on the schools.
A few false albacore are mixed in with the other fish, and they’re also feeding on the bait pushing inshore.
Smaller king mackerel (to 26”) are being caught in the 3-5 mile range while trolling spoons.
Inshore anglers have been targeting bluefish around deeper channels with topwater plugs.
Speckled trout are being found in creeks off the ICW with topwater plugs and soft plastics.
Red drum are moving through the inlets and staging on flats and shallow grass banks.
Garrett McCoy and Josh Sloop with a 25 lb. blackfin tuna they caught using a skirted ballyhoo rig in 200’ of water. They were fishing with Capt. Daniel Batts, of Surf City Charters.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that there is a good red drum bite, with many slot to over-slot fish hitting topwater plugs and soft plastics on the flats around the inlet. These fish have just stared pushing inshore, and the coming weeks should bring better numbers.
Black drum are feeding on Carolina-rigged cut baits around drop-offs and oyster beds.
A few bluefish are scattered in the deeper holes and shorelines. The blues will strike most any bait presented.
Ray, of Spring Tide Charters, reports that spanish mackerel and bonito are schooled up off the beach and anglers are finding great action by casting jigs as they feed on the surface.
King mackerel are skying throughout the area, and some smaller ones are being caught while trolling spoons.
Bluefish are feeding just past the breakers and have been landed on casting jigs and trolled spoons.
Inside, speckled trout are being caught in really good numbers, and though many fish have been shorts, the topwater action has kept anglers excited.
A few bluefish are hitting these same walk-the-dog style plugs in the trout holes.
Red drum are showing up in good numbers as they push into the inlets. Look for these schools of fish to move onto the flats and be hooked on cut baits and soft plastics.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers are finding nice-sized bonito, spanish mackerel, and bluefish from the beach out to 5 miles. Trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri deep diver plugs have been the most productive lures.
Smaller king mackerel (to 28”) are mixed in with the bonito around local wrecks and ledges.
John, of Pelagic Hunter, reports that the nearshore bite has been hot, with a good mix of bonito, spanish, and king mackerel being caught on the surface with glass minnow jigs. Trolling has been very productive in landing good numbers of fish, with Clarkspoons behind a planer and deep diving plugs being the most popular.
Grouper are biting cut baits fished around structure and live bottoms.
Offshore anglers have been pleased at the quality of wahoo they are catching in the Gulf Stream. Yellowfin tuna and mahi are hitting trolled ballyhoo and plugs around the temperature breaks.
Nic Hooker, of Clayton, NC, with his first flounder. The fish measured 25″ and weighed 6.9 lbs. He was fishing around Sneads Ferry, NC.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that spanish mackerel are being caught out near the end with Gotcha plugs.
Anglers are landing sea mullet and nice-sized black drum (to 4 lbs.) on bottom rigs tipped with shrimp.
Schools of bluefish have been hanging around the pier, and anglers are hooking them while casting jigs and plugs to the feeding fish.
A few keeper flounder are being caught on baits fished closer to the breakers.
Edwin, of Surf City Pier, reports that nice-sized spanish mackerel (to 4 lbs.) and bluefish have been schooled up and feeding on all the bait around the pier. Anglers are having success while casting glass minnow jigs and Gotcha plugs at the frenzied fish.
Some large false albacore (to 8 lbs) are also hitting the smaller casting jigs, with most fish being caught early in the mornings.
Sea mullet and blow toads are biting shrimp and Fishbites strips on bottom rigs.
A few scattered “short” flounder are hitting both baits fished on the bottom and soft plastics.
Anglers fishing Carolina-rigged cut bait and shrimp are catching nice-sized black drum.
Brandy, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers near the end of the pier have been catching good to great numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish with Gotcha plugs.
A few schools of larger false albacore are breezing through, and they have preferred smaller casting jigs.
The sea mullet bite has been great later in the evening after the sun goes down. Anglers are catching double-digit numbers of fish with bait shrimp fished on the bottom.
Good numbers of smaller flounder are chewing as the fish move closer to the beach. Anglers anticipate seeing more legal fish caught in the coming weeks.
