Topsail May 11, 2006
Chris, at East Coast Sports, reports that piers are seeing bluefish (sometimes on every cast) and some sea mullet. The spanish have just started showing up.
In the surf, there’s been some reds and some small sea mullet.
Inside, there have been the first reports of flounder showing up. And there’s still lots of reds in the creeks.
Off the beach, the bonito have been at AR360 and Divers Rock. Be there early. And the cobia should show up anytime. They usually arrive with the spanish
Ricky Kellum, at Speckled Specialist Charters, reports the hot spring trout bite has slowed down, but a few fish are still willing to bite. Some reds are mixing in with them in the river, and a 20 inch striper even came to the boat this week.
The spanish are just beginning to show outside New River Inlet. They’re biting trolled spoons, and should be getting thicker with every warm day we have.
The flounder should be moving into the inlet area, as well as some drum and trout around the bridge.
Ed, at Surf City Pier, reports the bluefish are biting any and everything. Those throwing Gotchas are not only catching blues but a few spanish mackerel as well. The spanish are small.
Sea mullet are biting cut shrimp or bloodworms at night.
Flounder have been caught, but it’s hard to get a bait to the bottom with the bluefish bite that is happening.
Jimmy, at Bad Attitude Charters, reports that the better grouper fishing has been starting at 25 miles out and going out to 45 miles. This has been 85 to 135’ of water.
He’s been finding sea bass (2-2.5 lbs.) and red and gag groupers.
Eric, at New River Marina, reports a little bit of everything is biting in the New River area. In the river, the speckled trout and redfish continue to bite well, while the bridge and waterway is good for sheepheads, black drum, sea mullet, flounder, redfish, and trout.
From the inlet out a few miles, the bonito are still lingering around, while the spanish are starting to move in.
Black sea bass and grouper are the main bottom catch, though the grouper are hanging out 20+ miles offshore. A 50 pound cobia was caught about 30 miles out of the inlet recently. The kings are around WR2, but they should be pushing in for the beach bite as the water warms.
Willie, at Sea View Pier, reports that the anglers plugging are catching bluefish and small spanish mackerel. The bigger fish have not shown up yet, but they should be around any day as the water continues to warm.
Bottom fishing with cut shrimp or bloodworms will catch the sea mullet and a possible pompano. The pompano should also hit sand fleas on the bottom.
And flounder should be moving along the beach anytime in the Topsail area.
