Topsail – May 8, 2014
David French, of Hampstead, with an Atlantic bonito that attacked a green/white casting jig off New River Inlet while he was fishing on the “Freedom.”
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that Atlantic bonito are the big story in the area right now. Anglers are finding them around Divers Rock and at other nearshore structure within a few miles of the beachfront. Trolling Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Clarkspoons will put the bonito in the boat, but anglers can also cast metal lures like diamond jigs on lighter tackle with success. Searching for fish active on the surface or working birds is the way to find feeding schools of the tasty nearshore tuna relatives.
Bluefish are feeding in the same areas as the bonito, and anglers are also beginning to see some spanish mackerel action. Both nearshore pelagics will attack the same lures as the bonito.
Boats making the run to the Gulf Stream last week reported some solid wahoo action, and gaffer dolphin are beginning to show up as well. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures are the traditional way to target both the wahoo and dolphin, but anglers have had good luck lately pulling baitless high-speed lures for the wahoo as well.
Inshore, there’s still solid red drum action going on in the creeks and bays, where anglers are hooking them on topwater plugs, soft plastics, spoons, and other artificials.
Speckled trout are also feeding in the creeks and falling for soft plastics, suspending hard lures, and topwater plugs.
Tanner Gray with a 54 lb. wahoo that struck a black/purple Cowbell lure while he was high-speed trolling in 140′ of water near the Swansboro Hole with Taylor Perdue on the “Reel Return.”
Flounder fishing is improving around the inlets and in the backwaters, and anglers can expect the flatfish to increase in number and size as the spring wears on. Live baits and scented soft lures like Gulps will fool the flounder.
Surf casters have been connecting with some sea mullet, black drum, bluefish (including some 10-15 lb. choppers), and puppy drum. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling the fish in the breakers.
Daniel, of Flat Foot Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing action with Atlantic bonito while fishing a few miles off New River and other local inlets. Anglers can troll lures like Yo-Zuri deep divers to find the feeding fish or look for surface activity and birds working the water’s surface. When the bonito are chasing bait on top, casting diamond jigs or a variety of other small, flashy metal lures into the fray is the way to hook up with them.
Bluefish are also feeding in the same areas and will fall for the same lures. Anglers have seen the first spanish mackerel of the year over the past week as well, and the spanish action will only get better as the water temperatures climb a bit.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that anglers are still finding solid numbers of red drum in the backwaters off the New River and ICW around Sneads Ferry. Some days are providing good sight fishing opportunities for fish feeding on the flats, and anglers are also having success fishing blind when the weather and water don’t line up to stalk the reds. Topwater plugs, gold spoons, and soft plastics scented with Pro-Cure Super Gel have all been producing results lately.
Anglers are also finding some speckled trout action around area bridges and in the New River. Topwater plugs, MR17 MirrOlures, and Storm Shrimp are fooling the specks.
The flounder bite has been slow to crank up, but it’s finally getting started. Soft plastics and live baits fished around area bridges and inlets are the way to connect with the flatfish.
Bill, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers are hooking sea mullet and some bluefish while bottom fishing with shrimp and other baits.
Some blues are also falling for Gotcha plugs and other casting lures.
The first cobia of the year was also caught from the pier last week.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been connecting with some sea mullet and decent numbers of slot red drum while baiting up with shrimp.
Bluefish are taking an interest in the bottom rigs along with Gotcha plugs that anglers are working from the pier.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have landed the first spanish mackerel of the year while working Gotcha plugs in the early morning hours. Good numbers of bluefish are also falling for the Gotchas, and plug casters also landed some fat (2 lbs.) pompano last week.
Some sea mullet are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
