Topsail July 6, 2006
Jimmy, at Bad Attitude Charters, reports things are looking up outside of New River Inlet with the water clearing. The bait has shown back up and so have the kings. They are running 6 to 15 pounds, and the run has only been 4 to 5 miles out the last few trips.
Dolphin are being caught as close as 10 miles, with better concentrations and bigger fish 20 miles out or further.
The grouper are chewing. Go 15 to 16 miles out for gags, but a run to 90+ feet is needed to find the reds.
Ricky, at Speckled Specialist Charters, reports excellent action nearshore on ledges and artificial reefs. Flounder are running around 3 pounds, while light lining has been the most productive for big spanish mackerel (in the 4 pound class) and king mackerel (up to the 15 pound class).
A few cobia (up to 30 pounds) have even come to investigate the baits and managed to hook themselves.
Inshore, the drum have been very active in the river and ICW using both artificials and live bait.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports fishing is good around Sneads Ferry. The bridge is holding just about every species, such as black drum, sheepshead, croakers, spots, and flounder.
Redfish are along the banks in the river and the ICW. A few tripletail are still being sighted, along with a lingering cobia.
Small kings and spanish are outside the inlet. The bigger kings and dolphin are in the cleaner water around 20 miles out, while the best grouper bite has been coming from the 40 mile range.
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that surf fishermen are finding some big reds (29-40”). The catch has also included some small mullets and a few pompano.
Inside, the action seems to be black drum and red drum.
No recent reports from offshore.
Terry, at Surf City Pier, reports murky water but a decent bite. Black drum, spot, and whiting are biting the usual shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Decent size sheepshead are being caught next to the pilings on fiddler crabs and sand fleas.
Small bluefish are biting plugs sporadically in the dirty water.
Small sharks are eating nearly every bait put out for kings.
Earl, at Seaview Pier, reports a slow week of fishing, with some spots and whiting eating shrimp and bloodworms on the bottom.
Close to the pilings, a few sheepshead and spadefish have been caught.
No king mackerel were caught this week.
The water temperature is 79 degrees.
Crystal, at Jolly Roger Pier, reports slow fishing with the exception of nice black drum. The black drum (up to 7 lbs.) have been caught on sand fleas.
Some flounder were caught at the beginning of the week, but that bite has slowed.
