Topsail June 23, 2011
Abby Collins, of Sanford, NC, with her first sheepshead, which fell for a live fiddler crab near a bridge in Sneads Ferry while fishing with Capt. Phil Leonard of East Coast Sports.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf and pier anglers have been hooking up with some pompano and sea mullet along the island’s beach. Shrimp and sand fleas are excellent baits for both.
Some upper and over-slot red drum are feeding in the surf around the south end and the north end of Lea Island. Most are falling for cut baits, finger mullet, and gold spoons.
The red drum bite is still on inshore as well, and anglers are finding reds feeding around the backwater docks off the ICW. Live baits and Gulps will attract attention from the reds, and anglers may be able to tempt them to strike topwater plugs early and late in the day. Some large chopper bluefish are still mixed in with the reds inshore and falling for the same baits and lures.
Sheepshead fishing has been very good around docks and bridges inshore and along the pilings of the ocean piers. Fiddler crabs and sand fleas are go-to baits for the sheeps.
Anglers are finding plenty of flounder inshore around docks, drop-offs, and in the creeks and inlets. Live finger mullet, mud minnows, and small menhaden are top baits for the flatties, or anglers can tempt them to bite Gulps and other scented soft plastics.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still feeding around the inlets and along the beachfront. Anglers can connect with both while trolling Clarkspoons from boats or working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from boats and the piers.
A few cobia are still cruising along the beachfront as well, and large bucktail jigs or live baits will often tempt them to bite.
Wayne, of Last Resort Charters, reports that red drum are on the feed inshore. Most of the action has been around docks off the ICW and behind the barrier islands lately, and any docks separated by a stretch of marsh grass are likely to hold some drum. Last week’s lunar tides had the fish feeding in flooded grass, but they’re more likely to be along the edges of the marsh at lower water. Live or cut menhaden are tough for the reds to turn down when anglers can find them.
The flounder bite has also been excellent around docks and in deeper areas inshore (with some fish in the 4-7 lb. range landed last week). Live menhaden are also the way to go for the flounder.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Charters, reports that there’s been some solid action with slot and over-slot red drum beneath docks and in flooded marsh grass between Surf City and Lea Island lately. Live menhaden are attracting plenty of attention from the reds, and anglers can also tempt them to bite Gulp baits.
Some large bluefish, sharks, and sheepshead are feeding in the same areas as the reds and adding some variety to the catch.
Flounder fishing remains solid around deeper (8-12’) structure like ledges around Surf City and Figure Eight. The flatfish are also taking an interest in live menhaden.
Cindy Smith, of Raleigh, with her first black drum, a 24" fish that couldn't resist a shrimp in the Topsail surf.
Wayne, of Seaview Pier, reports that some sea mullet and croaker are biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for small live baits on the bottom.
Dirty water slowed the spanish mackerel bite last week, but a few were still caught and the fishing should improve as the water cleans up.
Live baiters had some strikes from tarpon and king mackerel last week.
Steve, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs from the pier early and late in the day.
Some flounder are falling for small live baits on the bottom.
Spot and croaker are taking an interest in shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs.
Alex, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that live baiters landed a tarpon and a king mackerel last week.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs in the early mornings and late evenings.
Bottom fishermen are catching some spot and sea mullet on bloodworms.
