Topsail Winter 2012-2013
Anne Markwith, of Wilmington, with a speckled trout that bit a soft plastic bait behind Figure Eight Island while she was fishing with Matt Stokely.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that this has been one of the best speckled trout seasons in recent memory, and anglers continue to put together some solid catches both inshore and in the surf. The best bet lately has been in the creeks off the New River and ICW, where anglers are catching both solid numbers and some quality fish. MirrOlure MR17’s continue to be the most popular lures, but anglers are fooling the trout with a wide variety of soft and hard plastic baits as well.
The bite is also still going in the surf, although it’s slowed down a bit. Heavier 52 Series MirrOlures are the best bets for anglers looking for the specks in the breakers.
As the water temperatures continue to drop, look for the trout to move further and further up the creeks inshore.
The red drum bite has also been solid lately inshore, and anglers are finding the fish all over, from docks and other structure along the ICW to the backwater bays and creeks. A variety of baits will attract attention from the reds, but soft plastics, especially scented baits like Gulps, are some of the best. Like the trout, look for the reds to move back into the creeks where they’ll be spending the winter as the water temperature sinks.
Anglers soaking bait from the island’s beaches are still connecting with some sea mullet, pufferfish, and black drum, primarily while baiting up with shrimp.
Offshore, anglers who can fend off the plentiful and hungry black sea bass should be able to connect with some gag grouper at bottom spots within 15 miles of the beaches until grouper season closes January 1. Live baits and dead cigar minnows and sardines will attract attention from the gags.
Zach Jordan, of Wilmington, NC, with a red drum he hooked on a live finger mullet in the Figure Eight surf.
King mackerel are pushing offshore to their wintering grounds off Frying Pan Tower, and anglers who’ve made the long run have enjoyed some excellent action lately. Trolling dead cigar minnows, skirted strip baits, and Drone spoons will attract plenty of attention from the winter kings, and anglers should be able to find them in the vicinity of the Tower unless water temperatures fall below the mid-60’s.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are connecting with solid catches of red drum and speckled trout inshore around Sneads Ferry right now. The fish have been feeding shallow in the creeks and bays off the New River and ICW, where TTF soft plastic baits (fished on jigheads and popping cork rigs) and MR17 MirrOlures are attracting plenty of attention from both. Fast retrieves are necessary to keep the lures out of the mossy algae that’s starting to grow on the bottom, but the quick moving lures are also exciting the fish into biting.
The specks and reds will be holding in the same places for much of the winter, so anglers should be able to find some hot fishing even through the cool months.
Flounder giggers are still finding solid numbers of flatfish inshore, but hook-and-line anglers aren’t catching too many.
Bobby Clark with a 4 lb. speckled trout that bit a soft plastic bait in the breakers at Surf City.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is going strong in the area, with the best catches coming near Sneads Ferry recently. Most of the fish have been in the creeks, but anglers are also finding them in the bays. The bite’s been best in the shallows at higher tides and in deeper water when the tide falls out. Gulp shrimp are a standby for the specks and producing good results, but anglers have been catching big numbers on MR17 MirrOlures as well,especially the blue/silver color.
Anglers are also finding some solid red drum action in the area, with the best fishing taking place in deeper water (12-15’) around structure. Gulp baits are proving tough for the reds to turn down.
When the mercury really begins to drop, many of the reds will push their way up local tidal creeks to where they’ll spend the winter. Gulp baits and fresh shrimp are solid choices for the reds all winter long.
Red drum are also starting to school up in the surf zone for the winter. Anglers can look for the schools from boats on calm days and cast Gulps or a variety of other lures to tempt them to bite.
Cindy, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with pufferfish on two-hook rigs baited with shrimp. A few sea mullet are mixed in.
Last week saw some keeper trout come over the rails, and the trout bite may well not be done for the year.
