Topsail June 28, 2012
Sarah Jo Johnston with a 37" gag grouper that bit a sardine 15 miles off Topsail Inlet while she was fishing with her husband, Capt. Stewart Johnston of Miss Jo Charters.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf casters are hooking good numbers of pompano from the Topsail beaches (with some 2+ lb. citation fish in the mix). Some sea mullet are mixed in, and both are taking an interest in shrimp and sand fleas.
Red drum are feeding around Topsail Inlet, where anglers are hooking them from the south end of Topsail and north end of Lea Island. Finger mullet and cut baits are responsible for most of the action with the reds.
Sheepshead are still feeding around the ocean piers and bridge and dock pilings inshore. Live fiddler crabs will tempt them to bite.
The flounder bite remains solid inshore, with most of the action coming for anglers casting Gulp baits around docks.
Red drum are feeding on the marsh flats inshore, where live baits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and other artificials are attracting their attention.
The spanish mackerel bite has been solid within a mile of the beaches recently, with most of the fish falling for trolled Clarkspoons.
Cobia have been reported from 3-12 miles offshore recently. Live baits and bucktail jigs are top choices for the cobes.
Boaters are seeing dolphin as close in as 8 miles, with better reports coming from further out. Live and dead baits paired with bright skirts will attract attention from the dolphin.
Some king mackerel reports are finally coming in, with decent numbers caught in the 20 mile range last week on both live and dead baits.
Bottom fishermen are catching plenty of black sea bass and gag grouper at structure from 10 miles on out, and reporting solid red grouper action in the 100’+ depths.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream are still connecting with big numbers of dolphin and some wahoo while dragging skirted ballyhoo in the blue water.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a solid flounder bite around Topsail lately. Most of the fish are coming from docks, inshore ledges, and the inlets. Both live finger mullet and menhaden are tempting bites from the flatfish, with mullet seeming to hold an edge in recent days.
Red drum are feeding around inshore docks as well. Falling tides are producing the best action with the reds, and mullet and menhaden are capturing their interest.
Some black drum and smaller sheepshead are looking for meals around area bridges. Live fiddler crabs are tough for both to pass up, and anglers can also hook the drum on fresh shrimp.
Out in the ocean, there’s still a good spanish mackerel bite for anglers trolling Clarkspoons and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, with the lures trading top billing based on the day. Occasionally the fish are schooled up tight enough for anglers to cast to them with lighter tackle and metal jigs.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that flounder fishing has been solid over the past week (with some fat fish to 25”+). The bite’s been best in 2-6’ of water in the marshes, and Prototype bucktails tipped with soft plastics or live peanut menhaden are fooling most of the fish.
Red drum action has been up-and-down lately. There are plenty of fish around, but it’s been difficult at times to get them to bite. Soft plastics and topwater plugs are producing the most action when the reds are in a feeding mood.
Davin King with a 25" red drum that fell for a chunk of mullet in the Topsail surf while he was fishing with his father.
Bill, of Fish On Charters, reports that anglers are picking up solid numbers of dolphin while trolling cigar minnows and ballyhoo in the 40 mile range out of New River Inlet.
Bottom fishing around structure in the same areas is producing plenty of action with grouper, sea bass, triggerfish, snappers, and more. Cigar minnows, squid, and cut baits will all tempt them to bite.
Closer to shore, half-day bottom fishing has been producing good catches of black sea bass.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that there are still some trout falling for live and cut shrimp in the morning hours.
Spot and sea mullet are biting shrimp and other baits on the bottom at night, and a few black drum are mixed in in the daytime hours.
Bluefish and a few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that some bluefish and spanish mackerel are striking Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs that anglers are working from the pier.
Live baiters landed several cobia from the end of the pier last week (the largest 31 lbs.).
Some spot, sea mullet, and other assorted bottom feeders are taking an interest in cut shrimp on double-hook rigs.
Austin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been connecting with some healthy flounder while fishing small live baits from the planks.
A few speckled trout are biting live shrimp in the early morning hours.
Some sea mullet and croaker are being caught at night on shrimp-baited bottom rigs.
Plug casters are hooking up with a few bluefish and spanish mackerel, and one angler landed a 5 lb. spaniard on a live bait last week.
