Topsail/Sneads Ferry – March 2025
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers have done well targeting red drum that are schooled up on the shallow flats. With the cooler water temperatures, these shallow areas warm up quicker, especially after a run of sunny days. With clear water conditions and plenty of pressure, these fish are super spooky, but they will still eat. Smaller baits worked slowly are key for this time of year.
Anglers can also find black drum mixed in the marshes with the reds.
Bottom fishing off the beach has been productive in the 15-30 mile range, with good numbers of grunts and plenty of jumbo black sea bass.
Anglers getting the chance to run out to the Gulf Stream have found some wahoo and blackfin tuna. This early in the season, it is more about having the weather to allow for a run than the fish cooperating.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of black drum and sheepshead staged around structure. Both can be found holding up around docks and oyster bars in creeks off the ICW. The best targets are oyster bars that have a deep drop-off nearby.
Red drum continue to hold in their larger wintertime schools. As many know, these fish can be really spooky from fishing pressure and the clear water conditions. Sometimes it’s understandable that no matter what you throw at them, these fish are not going to want to feed. Recently, the best successes have come on a high tide just starting to fall, with cut shrimp or cut crabs producing best. If the reds are really active, anglers can also get bites on Z-Man soft plastics.
Some red drum can also be found around docks in the waterway and the creeks just off of it.
If you get a chance to run off the beach, tons of black sea bass can be caught. The sea bass are as close as the 3-4 mile range, with the occasional keeper mixed in (though plenty of shorts). Getting out to 10-12 miles is best for the larger fish.
The same nearshore structures will also produce a few random tautogs.
Blake Bloyd, of Hampstead, landed this 27″, 6.5 lb. speckled trout in North Topsail using a Paul Brown’s Soft-Dine.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that schools of red drum are in a variety of areas throughout the Topsail Island area. Oyster beds, creeks, flats, docks, and the backs of creeks are all holding fish right now. It is best to spot the fish before casting to them to avoid spooking them. Pro-Cure scented soft plastics retrieved slowly along the bottom has been the top tactic. Some favorites include Z-Man MinnowZ, Trout Tricks and Slim SwimZ. Fish the smallest jig heads possible to get the best results.
The reds are also eating fresh cut shrimp and cut blue crab fished on lightly weighted Carolina rigs or knocker rigs.
The smaller paddle tails intended for red drum have also been producing flounder and speckled trout.
Black drum and sheepshead are staged up around hard structures and oyster beds. Waters in the 5’+ range are best, with fresh shrimp, peeler crabs, and frozen blue crab pieces enticing bites.
Nearshore structure is producing good numbers of black sea bass, porgies, and the occasional tautog. Cut squid and metal jigs fished on or near the bottom are getting strikes.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers getting the opportunity to get off the beach have been finding some reliable bottom fishing in the 15-20 mile range. Cut squid or cut cigar minnows have been working best, but sometimes it helps to try a jig if you are marking fish and they seem to have lockjaw, as many times jigs can get that reaction strike.
This time of year, anchoring over your bottom structure usually gives the best opportunity of action since it will keep all the fish in one spot. Keeper black sea bass, grunts, and vermilion snapper make up most of the catch.
While bottom fishing, the opportunity to run across schools of false albacore exists.
Erin Weaver, of Surf City, hooked this 28″, 11 lb. black drum off Surf City Pier. The drum fell for a mud crab on a Carolina rig.
Joe, of Atlantic Sportfishing, reports that running out to the Gulf Stream provides the chance for the big, citation class blackfin tuna that show up in early spring. The area also starts to see wahoo fishing pick up, with action for both species being found while trolling bait behind Sea Witches, Ilanders, and chuggers.
The jumbo black sea bass bite is in full swing nearshore. Anglers can find these fish in as shallow as 30’ of water (and out to 80’). This trend will continue for the next couple of months until water temperatures warm up and they move back offshore.
As you move to the 80’ structures and beyond, anglers can expect to see vermilion snapper and triggerfish in the action.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that a few schools of bait are finally being seen along the beaches, and anglers are keeping their eye out for red drum that could show up around the bait at any time.
The pier should see some black drum around in the coming weeks, along with the first showing of whiting not far behind (if conditions stay reasonably mild).
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the water is really cold, and pier anglers just haven’t seen anything come out of the water in some time, not even dogfish or blowfish.
The most excitement was late February when some black drum were seen swimming (but not biting) around the pilings.
The black drum bite will pick up heading into March, as will Virginia mullet, and following those two species will be red drum and bluefish.
