Topsail/Sneads Ferry – July 2023
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that the inshore backwater anglers have found a nice class of red drum fired up and keying in on topwaters.
Sheepshead and some big black drum are staged around bridge pilings.
Nearshore action has been all about spanish mackerel fishing. Anglers are having to weed through a bunch of smaller fish but are also finding large ones in the mix. Most strikes are coming on Clarkspoons rigged behind #1 or #2 sized planers, with Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs also having success.
Some king mackerel are moving closer to the beach, though most action is out in the 15-20 mile range.
Mahi are falling into a summer pattern where they start to scatter nearshore, but anglers targeting these fish will do best by fishing deeper (in the 25-40 mile range).
Offshore runs are seeing catches of sailfish, mahi, barracuda, and hard-fighting amberjacks.
Bottom fishing has been producing great numbers of vermilion snapper, black sea bass, gag grouper, and American red snapper.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that red drum have started to show up much better in the area. A bunch of bait is around, and this likely helped kick off the reds’ feeding activity.
Some scattered trout are in the area, too, though this bite has been centered on the really early and late hours.
Nearshore anglers are finding good spanish mackerel action, but expect to see plenty of smaller fish around. The 25-30’ range has been a good target area for these schools feeding on glass minnows.
Some scattered king mackerel are mixed in nearshore.
Kylee Brower, of Danville, VA, hooked this red drum using a Z-Man paddle tail. She was fishing near Topsail Island.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that nearshore anglers continue to see a strong spanish mackerel bite off area beaches.
Back inside, red drum fishing has been picking up for anglers fishing both topwaters or cut bait. Topwater action is typically an early or late bite, but overcast days can allow the action to last all day long. Cut bait fishing can be great for those slower action days, as scent can make all the difference. With summertime red drum fishing, it’s key to stay active and keep on the move if you aren’t seeing action in 10 minutes or so.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that red drum have been staged up around docks, creeks, grass lines, and back in the shallow bays. Getting on the water to fish topwaters early has provided the best bite (as well as late evenings into night). If the conditions or bite isn’t coming together, try throwing Z-Man soft plastics rigged on Fathom Inshore or Eye Strike Texas Eye jig heads. Once the sun is up, anglers are staying on the action with weedless spoons, MirrOlure MR17s, 4” Z-Man jerk shads, and live or cut baits.
Speckled trout are mixed in the action, with early and late hours also being best. A mix of topwater plugs or Carolina-rigged finger mullet will entice a couple strikes.
Flounder fishing has been really good both inshore and out on the nearshore structures. Carolina-rigged pogies have fooled most of the flatfish to strike. The nearshore flounder can also be caught with bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp shrimp.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been really good while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers.
The deeper bottoms are also loaded with black sea bass, grunts, vermilion snapper, grouper, and triggerfish.
Plenty of amberjacks and barracuda are hanging out at the ARs for anglers looking for a workout. Chumming live bait can help get these fish in the mood to feed.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that mahi have started to push in, with fish being caught as close as the 12-15 mile range.
With bait all over the nearshore area, the king mackerel finally started to show up. The fish in tight to the beach have been pretty small (20” range), with larger kings out in the 10-mile area.
Bottom fishing offshore (30-40 mile range) has been excellent with gag grouper, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish are being caught off the beach.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel action outside the inlets remain steady. Anglers are having success working areas just behind the breakers out to 30’, with a falling tide providing the better bite. Smaller #0 and 00 Clarkspoons have been best in pink flash or silver color patterns for this 14-20” class of fish. Yo-Zuri deep diver plugs have had success, too, and will also entice strikes from some smaller king mackerel mixed in with the spanish.
Out in the 10-15 mile range, fishing live and dead baits are producing king mackerel and amberjacks.
Grouper fishing has been pretty good out in the 75’+ range. Black sea bass and plenty of vermilion snapper are mixed in, and they are all feeding on cut squid or cigar minnows.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs are catching a mix of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Bottom fishing is producing croakers and spot.
Some speckled trout are being caught by anglers out fishing early in the morning, and tarpon have been seen by anglers fishing off the end (but no hookups yet).
Mike Edwards, of Surf City, caught this 35.5″ gag grouper using a live pinfish. He was fishing out of New Topsail Inlet in 120′ of water.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishing action includes catches of spot, sea mullet, and scattered sheepshead.
A few speckled trout are being caught both early and late in the day.
Nice-sized spanish mackerel and some bluefish round out the casting action.
Kevin, of Seaview Pier, reports that on days with calmer, cleaner water conditions, anglers are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Bottom fishing has been producing a mix of sea mullet, pompano, black drum, and a few spot.
Anglers fishing the end have started to see king mackerel moving in.
