Topsail July 27, 2006
Jimmy, at Bad Attitude Charters, reports good catches of king mackerel in the 7-14 lb. range. Fish are being caught as close as 6 miles out. There have also been a few dolphin mixed in, with the biggest weighing 20 pounds.
Speeding up the trolling speed has resulted in much fewer sharks and more kings this week, so you may want to try that if you are pulling dead bait.
Live bait has been hanging around AR355, the D Buoy, and E Buoy.
Bottom fishing in the 50 mile range is yielded gag grouper (up to 20+ pounds), red grouper (up to 12 pounds), scamps, and triggerfish. The bottom fish are biting well in general if you can get on top of them.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports the usual summer pattern in the area. Black drum and sheepshead are biting well around the bridge. Speckled trout and redfish are hitting artificials and live baits in the river and waterway.
Flounder are biting in the river and inlet on live baits.
Off the beach there have been good numbers of king mackerel moving in closer, and a few dolphin continue to be mixed in as well.
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that surf fishing is producing the typical summer mixed bag.
Inshore, there have been some reds in Topsail Creek. Sheepshead, including some big ones, are around the drawbridge.
Lots of blues are just outside the inlet. Try for them early and late in the day.
Offshore, kings are being reported at 23 Mile Rock. There have also been some dolphin and a few sails there as well. Dead bait is producing more fish, such as using cigar minnows on Hank Brown rigs and blue and white skirts.
Ricky, at Speckled Specialist Charters, reports fishing has been good this week for speckled trout and redfish. Most are coming on live mullet floated along the banks in the waterway.
The nearshore reefs have been good for flounder and the occasional spanish or king mackerel on light lines.
Earl, at Sea View Pier, reports good fishing, particularly on the bottom. Black and red drum and spots are hitting shrimp and cut baits. The black drum are up to 2 lbs., and the reds are ranging from small keepers to 26 inches.
Sheepshead fishing has been good for those dangling sand fleas or fiddler crabs near the pilings.
Carolina-rigged live baits are producing keeper flounder and speckled trout up to 7.5 lbs. The trout have also been falling for Mirrolures.
Spanish mackerel and a few bluefish are biting plugs.
A 20 lb. class jack crevalle and two king mackerel were caught on live baits this week.
Steve, at Surf City Pier, reports a few whiting hitting shrimp at night.
Flounder rigs with live mud or mullet minnows are an excellent choice right now. Flounder in the 3-4 lb. range, puppy drum, and speckled trout are all falling for the live baits. The trout are biting very early in the day.
Casting plugs early in the day has been producing blues and spanish.
Not many people have been fishing for sheepshead, but they are around the pier.
Live baiters caught several kings up to 15 lbs. this week.
