Added on Thursday, July 11, 2013  Fish Post

Topsail July 11, 2013

Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that the dolphin bite has picked up offshore of Topsail and New River inlets, with anglers reporting fish as close in as Christmas Rock. Larger ‘phins are feeding slightly further offshore. Live baits or dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo will tempt bites from the dolphin.

Some king mackerel are mixed in, and anglers also hooked some sizeable kings (to 40+ lbs.) within a few miles of the beaches last week. The kings will also take an interest in live or dead baits, but live baits are top choices for the larger fish.

Spanish mackerel have also reappeared after slowing down in the wake of the storms and wind in mid-June. Anglers are catching good numbers of the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures from boats, and they’re picking up a few while working casting lures like Gotcha plugs from the piers.

Surf casters are hooking some spot, croaker, black drum, and other bottom feeders on shrimp and bloodworms cast from the beaches. A few red drum are mixed in around the south end of the island.

The red bite has been fairly steady in the creeks, marshes, and around structure like docks inshore. Live finger mullet and mud minnows, cut baits, and artificials like Gulp baits and topwater plugs will attract attention from the reds.

Flounder fishing has improved inshore (with fish to 7+ lbs. weighed in last week). Anglers are finding the flatfish around structure like bridges and docks, creekmouths, and in the inlets. Live mud minnows and finger mullet or soft baits like Gulps will fool the flounder.

Sheepshead are feeding around bridges, docks, and other hard structure inshore. The striped crustacean eaters will take an interest in fiddler crabs or shrimp dangled close to their homes.

Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that there’s been an excellent speckled trout bite on the flats off the New River and ICW (with fish to 8+ lbs. over the past week). The specks have been biting topwater plugs well on most days and will take an interest in soft plastics like TTF baits when they’re not feeding on top.

Red drum are in many of the same areas, but the bite’s been up-and-down from day to day lately. Topwater plugs and soft plastics are also solid choices for anglers looking to fool the reds.

Flounder fishing is finally getting good inshore, with anglers finding action in the marshes and around deeper structure. Live baits and TTF soft plastics laced with scents like Pro-Cure Super Gel are tough for the flatfish to turn down.

Sheepshead and some black drum are feeding around the bridges and other hard structure inshore. Both will pounce on fiddler crabs or other crustacean baits fished tight to the structure.

Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with some solid speckled trout in the early morning hours. Most are falling for live shrimp.

Bottom fishermen have been hooking scattered black drum on fresh shrimp.

Garrison, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching decent numbers of spot and sea mullet on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.

Red drum and flounder are feeding under the pier and will take an interest in small live baits fished on the bottom.

John, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that there’s been a good spanish mackerel bite in the early morning hours for anglers working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs.

Speckled trout are also feeding around the pier in the morning hours, and they’re biting live shrimp and lures.

Bottom fishermen are hooking flounder, sea mullet, and spot on shrimp, squid, and bloodworms on double-drop rigs.

Some sheepshead and red drum are falling for sand fleas fished under the pier.

A 50 lb. tarpon was landed after it struck a live bait on a king rig off the end of the pier last week.