Topsail – July 24, 2014
Craig Henshall, of New Bern, with a 28 lb. wahoo he hooked 20 miles off New River Inlet while fishing with Guy Pepper on the “Minnow.”
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that some large sheepshead (fish to 11 lbs. recently) and black drum are feeding around area bridge and dock pilings. Anglers are hooking both on shrimp and fiddler crabs fished tight to the structure.
Ladyfish are all over the inshore waters and feeding in high current areas, particularly near lighted bridges and docks at night. They’ll take a variety of baits and lures, and Vudu shrimp have been highly effective of late.
Red drum action remains hot in the sound, where anglers are finding the fish feeding in the creeks and marshes. They’ve been biting topwater plugs very well recently, and anglers can also cast spoons, soft plastic baits, or live and cut baits with success.
Anglers are still hooking plenty of flounder inshore, but many have been on the smaller side lately. The action with quality fish is likely better out at nearshore structure in the ocean than in the marshes right now.
Spanish mackerel are still feeding well just off the inlets, and they’re biting trolled Clarkspoons and metal casting jigs. Some larger spaniards are looking for meals at nearshore structure in the ocean and taking an interest in small live baits.
Chris Humpry, of Beulaville, NC, with an over-slot red drum that struck a spoon in the New River while he was fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Bottom fishermen have been reporting solid action with gag grouper and red snapper at structure 10+ miles offshore. Live, dead, and cut baits will fool both of the tasty bottom dwellers.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are hooking some solid flounder around the local inlets and bridges. Most are falling for live baits.
Speckled trout action remains solid, but the bite’s only been hot for a short time on many recent days. The early morning hours and the window around tide changes have been producing the best fishing on most days. Topwater plugs and suspending hard baits like MirrOlure She Pups and MR17’s, along with soft plastic shrimp imitations, are fooling the majority of the specks.
Red drum are looking for meals in the area marshes, but they’ve been harder to find on some days than others lately. When anglers do locate the fish, they’ve been biting readily, and gold spoons and topwater plugs have been fooling good numbers.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that anglers are still hooking flounder around the inlets and at deeper structure inshore. Live finger mullet and peanut menhaden are fooling the flatfish along with white Gulp baits.
Anglers are also hooking decent numbers of red drum while fishing along grass edges with some current flow, also primarily near the inlets. They’ll fall for the same baits as the flatfish.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are still hooking good numbers of speckled trout early in the day on live shrimp (with some large fish on live finger mullet).
Susan Bridgers, of Ferguson, NC, with a flounder that bit a Vudu Shrimp in a Figure Eight Island creek.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel have been scattered at best, but anglers are hooking some solid spanish on the live baits they’re fishing for trout.
Bottom fishermen are hooking good numbers of spot in the evening hours on bloodworms. Some sea mullet and other bottom feeders are mixed in.
Garrison, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing a surprising number of summer spot (along with a few sea mullet) while bottom fishing with bloodworms.
Some bluefish and spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Speckled trout are feeding around the pier and biting live baits.
Cheryl, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot at night and sea mullet during the day. Both are falling for shrimp and bloodworms.
Some flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
