Topsail/Sneads Ferry – September 2022
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that red drum action has been excellent, and inshore anglers are finding that live bait works best, especially when targeting areas around the ICW, near structure, and back in the marshes.
There are a lot of flounder mixed in the action, from out on the piers to the ICW. These same bottom-rigged live baits are also great at enticing a flatfish bite.
Nearshore anglers that are trolling are finding hit-or-miss spanish mackerel out along the beaches. Some of the schools are also pushing within casting distance of the surf anglers early and late in the day (as well as during times of low beach crowds).
Offshore bottom fishing has been phenomenal. Anglers have been catching mixed bags of vermilion snapper, triggerfish, grouper, and some large American red snapper (released).
Going into the fall, look for the larger Virginia mullet and croakers to be showing up in the surf in good numbers.
SaJorden Miller, of Wilmington, landed this 23 lb. barracuda on a king rig with a scaled sardine while fishing from Surf City Pier.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that red drum action remains strong for anglers bottom fishing with cut menhaden or finger mullet. With water temperatures so high, this cut bait setup is great for targeting the smaller and scattered groups of reds. Look for areas where bait has congregated around oyster points and grass edges when scouting fishing areas. Another key for summer fishing is to work during incoming tides or early morning hours. Both instances cool the water ever so slightly, but it drastically helps hookup numbers.
Nearshore anglers are still finding plenty of spanish mackerel off the beach. There are a lot of smaller fish in shallow, but pushing out to 40’+ has produced a better class of fish.
Fishing at the nearshore reefs can still provide plenty of action to keep anglers busy with large numbers of black sea bass, grunts, and flounder.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that red drum fishing has been really good for anglers targeting the inshore bays and marshes. On windy or hot days, bait fishing has been best as it helps disperse scent throughout the water to draw in these groups. On calm days or after a cool front is a great time to target reds with Rapala Skitter Walks, MirrOlure Top Dogs, or similar topwater plugs.
Nearshore anglers have been finding plenty of smaller spanish mackerel around to keep rods bent.
Nearshore wrecks will be a great place to look for your keeper flatfish. The favorite setup on these structures is a 1 oz. bucktail with a Z-Man paddle tail trailer.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that red drum action has been good for anglers targeting oyster flats, grass lines, creek mouths, and docks. Topwater plugs have been great both early and late in the day. With the sun higher, anglers are having plenty of success switching setups to soft plastic jerk shads and live/cut finger mullet or menhaden.
The resident speckled trout are starting to get more active for anglers fishing live shrimp and mullet. Subsurface Rapala X-Raps are also getting strikes early in the morning.
Flounder are hitting live mullet fished on the bottom. The flatfish have been active out on nearshore ledges and throughout the inside along the ICW and up into mainland creeks.
Nearshore anglers have found the spanish mackerel action very good and getting better moving into fall. Trolling the traditional Clarkspoon and planer setup will get strikes, with some anglers preferring to cast Hogy Epoxy Minnow jigs at surface-feeding schools.
Some citation-class red drum are starting to show up along the beaches and near structure off the beach. Larger bucktail jigs and live/cut menhaden or finger mullet will get these bites.
Bottom fishing off the beach remains strong, with catches of grouper, porgies, vermilion snapper, grunts, and black sea bass coming on squid-tipped chicken rigs.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that trolling over structure in the 15-30 mile range has been solid, with nice-sized king mackerel and tons of big barracudas.
Wahoo have started to show up in decent numbers, and this is really just the start of a bite that only gets better as offshore water temperatures cool.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good recently, with action starting early in the day and running well into the afternoon. Size 0/00 Clarkspoons behind #1 planers or trolling weights have produced a majority of the strikes.
Bottom fishing remains spectacular. Anglers have been catching plenty of black sea bass, snapper, and good-sized grouper. Structure in the 85-100’ range has had the best production, with squid or cigar minnows being the hot baits.
King mackerel action will soon ramp up as schools of fish start to move back onto the beach following the bait migrations.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs at surface-feeding schools are catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing has produced most of the action, with larger croakers and scattered spot coming over the rails.
Anglers fishing after dark have been landing a few scattered red and black drum.
Adalae Johnson with the redfish that fell for a pink MirrOlure She Pup in the Topsail area.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that a few nice-sized speckled trout (to 3 lbs.) have made a run by the pier in recent days.
Bottom fishing has been producing croakers, a few sea mullet, and the occasional spot.
Some bluefish are being caught with casting jigs thrown towards feeding schools, and anglers fishing live baits off the end have landed a few larger spanish mackerel.
Sean, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers throwing casting plugs are getting strikes from some bluefish and smaller spanish mackerel. There are scattered, large spanish around, and they are mostly being caught on the live bait king rigs being fished off the end.
Bottom fishing has been decent, with most of the recent action being better in the evenings. Croakers, sea mullet, and a few mixed drum have been a part of this night fishing bite.
