Topsail / Sneads Ferry – September 26, 2019
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf anglers have been catching pompano, spot, and sea mullet while bottom fishing. Also in the surf, a few puppy drum and bluefish are hitting Carolina-rigged mullet.
Inshore anglers have been hooking red drum and short flounder while fishing Carolina-rigged live mullet near docks, and a few speckled trout are being caught on MirrOlures and popping cork rigs up near New River.
False albacore and spanish mackerel are schooled up off the beach, and they’re hitting glass minnow jigs.
Andy Hodges with a 23″, 4.8 lb. trout that he caught using a topwater plug in the New River.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that false albacore are beginning to show up nearshore. Anglers look forward to light tackle battles while casting glass minnow style jigs to the surface-feeding schools.
Inshore anglers are finding good numbers of red drum in the marshes behind Topsail. The reds have been holding in the deeper holes off grass banks and around oyster beds. Topwater plugs and soft plastics on lighter jig heads are both producing hits.
Speckled trout are mixed in the inshore counts, though they are scattered and more bites are coming from up around New River.
Heather Faulk, of Wilmington, with a 39” cobia that fell for a whole squid at the Dredge Wreck.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that nearshore anglers are seeing schools of false albacore move into the area. Small casting jigs worked quickly through the feeding schools has been productive in getting hook-ups.
Bottom fishing at nearshore wrecks and rocks out to 20 miles has been producing vermilion snapper, gag grouper, grunts, black sea bass, and porgies.
A few cobia are hanging around these wrecks, and they’re hitting live baits and bucktails with soft plastic trailers.
Flounder are holding on the nearshore bottoms, and they’re hitting both bucktails and live bait.
Inshore, anglers have been finding a great red drum bite on the falling tide cycle. Topwater plugs and soft plastics worked in deeper holes and channels through the marsh have been getting strikes.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that red drum fishing has been strong in holes from the inlets up into the New River. Soft plastics and spoons work great in deeper holes, with topwater plugs being productive early in the day and during high tide cycles on the flats.
A few small flounder are being caught inshore by anglers working baits along the bottom.
Nearshore anglers are casting jigs to spanish mackerel and false albacore.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that nearshore anglers are catching king mackerel and large spanish mackerel while working baits around ARs out to 15 miles.
Bottom fishing has been spectacular, with cut baits landing a variety of grouper, snapper, and large black sea bass.
Structure around the inlet has been holding over-slot red drum, and the big reds are hitting both Carolina-rigged mullet and bucktails.
John, of Pelagic Hunter Sportfishing, reports that offshore trips have been finding a good wahoo bite, with fish to 40 lbs. hitting ballyhoo. A few chunky blackfin tuna are mixed in, with multiple bites coming when stumbling upon a school, and gaffer-sized mahi are being caught from areas along weed lines and current breaks.
Some anglers looking to target swordfish are successfully returning with a fish to reward their efforts.
Offshore rocks and ledges have been producing black sea bass, grouper, grunts, amberjack, and huge barracuda for anglers bottom fishing cut bait.
Nearshore trips have been finding a good number of king mackerel staged at wrecks and ARs in the 10 mile range, and large spanish mackerel are hitting slow trolled live baits and casting jigs in the same areas.
False albacore are beginning to show up, and anglers only expect numbers to rise as the water temperatures cool.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that spot fishing has been great. Sea mullet and a few black drum are mixed in for the bottom anglers, and they’re hitting sand fleas and shrimp.
Speckled trout are being caught in the early morning by anglers fishing live bait.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs cast to surface-feeding schools.
Some slot puppy drum have been caught on Carolina-rigged live shrimp.
Edwin, of Surf City Pier, reports that a spot run has many anglers’ attention while bottom fishing with shrimp and bloodworms. Sea mullet, pufferfish, and pompano are mixed in, and they’re hitting the same bottom-rigged baits.
Red drum (up to 25”) are hitting Carolina-rigged cut mullet, and some speckled trout are being caught early and late in the day on live baits.
Anglers fishing off the end have landed a few king mackerel (up to 22 lbs.).
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are schooled up in good numbers now that the mullet run has begun along the beach. The fish have been feeding heavily on these bait pods, and anglers are being successful in landing both species while casting jigs and plugs through the frenzied schools.
Brandy, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that king mackerel (up to 40 lbs.) are hitting live baits fished off the end. Large spanish mackerel have also taken a liking to these live baits, with fish in the 6 lb. range being landed.
Bottom fishing with shrimp, Fishbites strips, and bloodworms are catching pompano, sea mullet, croaker, and spot.
Slot-sized red drum and speckled trout are hitting Carolina-rigged live baits.
