Topsail/Sneads Ferry – November 2023
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers fishing the surf zone have seen some great feeding action with the mullet run happening. The bite has mostly been a mix of Spanish mackerel and bluefish tearing through these bait balls. Some red drum are mixed in the surf, and they are mostly being caught with fresh cut mullet. Some spot are showing up on the local piers, but numbers haven’t really fired off just yet. Anglers in the backwaters are seeing good red drum numbers. Going forward, cooler weather will get the topwater bite more fired up. Speckled trout season is coming. We just need to wait for the water temperatures to cool a bit more. Nearshore anglers are finding the king mackerel action to be really good, with large fish (to 30+ lbs.) staged close enough that the local piers have been getting in on the bite.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that the cooler weather has anglers thinking about speckled trout, but the area is seeing a slow start to the season with water temperatures on the higher side. For now, the early morning bite has remained best, with anglers able to entice some strikes on topwater plugs. A lot of red drum are in the marshes. The reds have been a little scattered, but this has meant that small pockets of fish can be found all over the place. Nearshore anglers were seeing some good grouper fishing right up until the season closure. For now, heading out over the nearshore reefs can help find some schools of false albacore which will strike at diamond jigs. Some larger Spanish mackerel are lingering around (2-3 lb. class), but most should be moving on with water temperatures on their way down.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that the speckled trout bite has been a little slow to kick off moving into late fall. Water temperatures have stayed pretty warm, and anglers really looking are finding the best bite in areas around the inlet. Over the coming weeks, anglers will see a bunch of different lures get strikes from the trout moving in. Anything from soft plastics on jig heads and artificial shrimp to twitch baits (such as Rapala X-Raps) will work. Red drum fishing has been really good back in the shallow marsh bays. Some productive topwater action can be found in the mornings or on overcast days. Runs out of the inlet are seeing big Spanish mackerel and false albacore.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent from right off to the beach on out to 15 miles. Anglers have been finding a big variety in sizes, from schoolies right up to 20+ lb. smokers. The bigger kings are falling for mostly live bait, with dead bait producing strikes from all sizes. Schools of bluefish are both right inside and just outside the inlets, and on some days the blitz has lasted all day long. False albacore are mixed in with the blues in the shallower waters, but schools are being seen anywhere from the beachfront out to five miles. The nearshore reefs are holding good numbers of larger gray trout (20”+). Bottom fishing in the 60-100’ range has been really good, with catches of gray snapper and black sea bass. Grouper are also being caught if fishing the deeper end of that range (100’+). Cut baits have been working best for all the bottom fishing action.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that Gulf Stream trips are starting to see the action pick up with these cooler temperatures. Wahoo and sailfish have been the most common catches. King mackerel have largely pushed out into the 10-20 mile range where they stage up until water temperatures push them well offshore. Bottom fishing has been excellent, with some nice-sized black sea bass showing around those 60-70’ bottoms. Inshore anglers await the speckled trout bite to kick off. Some specks are being caught, but the area hasn’t quite seen the bigger fall numbers just yet. Red drum have been a consistent bite and will remain strong into November.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have enjoyed some king mackerel being caught over the past few weeks, with larger fish (to 35 lbs.) in the mix. Bluefish action has been really strong for anglers casting Gotcha plugs both in the mornings and evenings. A few speckled trout are starting to show up in the surf now that temperatures are cooling down along the coast. Bottom fishing anglers are catching gray trout, pufferfish, spot, and sea mullet.
Mike Edwards, of Surf City, NC, found this African pompano fishing in 90′ of water off of Surf City using a 100g slow pitch jig.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that some king mackerel (to 22 lbs.) have been caught during the run of kings seen along the coast in recent weeks. Anglers casting plugs or metal jigs are hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish. Bottom fishing action is picking up, with catches of speckled trout, pufferfish, spot, pompano, and sheepshead.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that larger king mackerel (to 40 lbs.) are being picked up by anglers live-baiting off the end. Bottom fishing anglers have found some pompano. When the last cold fronts moved through, there was a run of spots, and anglers hope to see the spot bite pop up again as the weather continues to cool.
