Topsail October 24, 2013
Deanna and Bodie (age 5) Taylor with a 24″ speckled trout Bodie hooked in Topsail Inlet on a D.O.A. Shrimp.
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that Topsail surf casters are seeing the beginning of some excellent fall fishing. Sea mullet, black drum, and some fat pompano (to 3+ lbs.) are falling for shrimp and sand fleas just behind the breakers.
There’s been a solid red drum bite in the surf, particularly on the south end of the island and around Topsail Inlet. Live, dead, and cut finger mullet are all fooling the reds.
Speckled trout are also beginning to make their fall appearance in the surf, where they’ll bite live baits, soft plastics, or MirrOLures anglers are working.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding just off the beaches, and anglers have been catching big numbers from the piers and boats. Casting lures like Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs are getting the job done from the piers, while boaters are pulling Clarkspoons and other flashy lures to hook up.
Some king mackerel have been landed from the piers recently, and boaters are reporting a solid king bite within 15 miles of land. Live menhaden are fooling most of the kings, but boaters can also hook up while trolling dead cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Offshore, the wahoo bite is still excellent when boats can make the long run to the blue water. Decent numbers of blackfin tuna are around as well, and both fish are falling for ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures.
Savannah Norris, of Sneads Ferry, with a king mackerel that bit a live menhaden 12 miles off New River Inlet while she was fishing on the “G’s Machine.”
Inshore, the red drum bite has been strong in the marshes and around ICW structure like docks. Live baits and a variety of artificial lures will fool the reds.
Anglers are also seeing the fall speckled trout bite kick off, with solid catches from the New River, ICW, creeks, and near the inlets. Live shrimp are tough to beat for the trout, but anglers are also hooking up on topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic baits.
Anglers are also finding more and larger flounder inshore around structure and in the inlets. Live finger mullet and scented soft baits like Gulps get attention from the flatfish.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are still hooking big numbers of red drum in the marshes and bays off the New River and ICW. Most are slot fish, and they’re falling for topwater plugs, weedless spoons, and soft plastic baits.
Some speckled and gray trout are in the same areas and taking an interest in the same lures.
Flounder are also feeding in the marshes and around inshore structure and inlets. Anglers are hooking most of the flatfish at present on TTF soft plastic baits with scents like Pro-Cure Super Gel added.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers have caught several king mackerel while live-baiting from the end of the pier over the past week.
Capt. Ricky Kellum, of Speckled Specialist Charters, and Jason Crowder, of Wilmington, with a 7 lb. speckled trout that fell for a Betts Halo Shad while they were fishing the New River.
Bluefish are falling for casting lures like diamond jigs off the pier, but the spanish mackerel seem to have moved on.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with a few red and black drum along with some sea mullet and spot on rigs baited with shrimp, cut baits, and bloodworms.
Ed, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking sea mullet, pompano, and a few spot on double-drop rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are biting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Live-baiters are connecting with a few king mackerel off the end of the pier (including a 45 lb. fish last week).
John, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live-baiters have landed several king mackerel (to 30+ lbs.) off the end of the pier recently.
Spanish mackerel and some bluefish are taking an interest in casting lures like Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with plenty of sea mullet, some black drum, and a few spot while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers fishing live shrimp near the pier are hooking a few speckled trout and flounder.
