Topsail March 12, 2009
Sam Ray, from Haw River, NC, with his first red drum, caught from the surf at Topsail.
Mike, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers are finding some action with red drum (all are over the slot size) in the surf off Lea Island. A school has taken up residence in the breakers near the house on the north end, and anglers are hooking most of the fish on cut mullet.
Anglers are seeing plenty of whiting in the surf zone as well, but they don’t seem to want to eat in the 49 degree water. Once the surf temperature rises into the low-50’s, anglers should be able to convince the whiting to take a bait.
Inshore, there are some speckled trout holding in the deeper holes, but they’re not feeding hard yet. A few weeks of warm weather will turn the bite on. Gulp baits, Mirrolures, and shrimp imitations will attract attention from the trout once they begin to feed more heavily.
Off the beach, bottom fishermen are finding some good sea bass action at structure within 6-8 miles of the beach. Squid pinned to bottom rigs is tough to beat for the bass.
Some gag grouper are still feeding close to shore, with boats encountering them at structure 10 miles and further offshore. Cigar minnows, cut baits, and live baits are top choices for the gags.
Some of the first boats to make it to the Gulf Stream have had positive results, returning with wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Vertical jiggers just inshore of the Stream are coming up with a smorgasbord of fish including groupers, cobia, amberjacks, African pompano, blackfin tuna, and others.
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Molly Anthony, from Winston Salem, with her first grouper, a big gag caught on a butterfly jig at 18 Mile Rock while she was fishing with her husband Chad.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that there’s been some good red drum action on the flats on sunnier days. Gulp baits have been producing the most action, but it won’t be long until the fish are feeding actively enough to throw topwaters.
Some reds are schooled up in the surf, too, and anglers can search for them by running boats behind the breakers on the calmer days.
There are still a few trout coming from the New River area, mostly out of the creeks off the main river. Gulp baits and Billy Bay Halo Shrimp will fool the trout.
Anglers have even seen a few flounder so far this year, which hopefully bodes well for a good flatfish bite come spring and summer.
Offshore, bottom fishermen have been hooking up with some black sea bass at structure as close as 5 miles from the beach. Squid fished on bottom rigs will attract attention from the bass.
The grouper bite has been better 20 miles and further offshore lately. Boston mackerel, cigar minnows, and cut or live baits will prove tempting to the grouper when boats can find them.
The king mackerel are still holding in warmer water well offshore, with good reports coming from the 40 mile range. They’ll be moving in closer to the beach as the water warms up.
Gulf Stream trollers found action with wahoo, a few yellowfin tuna, and some dolphin last week. The bite was best around Swansboro Hole, and the action will only get better over the coming weeks. Trolling ballyhoo under skirted lures is the best strategy for hooking up with any of these pelagic predators.
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Capt. Ricky Kellum, of Speckled Specialist Charters, with an 8 lb. speckled trout that fell for a pink Billy Bay Halo Shrimp in a creek off the New River. Kellum placed a $100 tag in the trout and let it go.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that there’s been excellent speckled trout fishing in the New and Neuse Rivers lately. The fish have not only been numerous, but running large, as Ricky tagged and released an 8-pounder last week, and saw a number more over 4 lbs. Deeper holes in the creeks off the main river seem to be producing the most action. Shrimp imitations like the Billy Bay Halo Shrimp in pink and green hues are drawing most of the trout bites.
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Mike, of Corona Daze Charters, reports good action with red and black drum in deep inshore channels lately. It can take a while to locate the fish, but they’re feeding in schools. Once anglers find them, they should be able to catch a few. Gulp baits are fooling most of the fish.
As the water warms up, anglers can expect the drum to get even more active, and the speckled trout bite to heat up as well.
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Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that most of the action lately has been coming from sharks, skates, and rays.
However, as soon as the water warms a little, the whiting bite will improve. It generally happens in March, sometimes early and sometimes in the middle of the month, so it shouldn’t be long.
Shrimp on bottom rigs and clam flavored Fish Bites are the top baits for the spring whiting.
After the whiting appear, bluefish and red drum won’t be far behind them.
The water is 50 degrees.
