Topsail/Sneads Ferry – November 2022
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers are starting to see red drum schooling up a bit better as water temperatures cool.
Speckled trout anglers are itching for the bite to really fire up. Some fish have started showing up, but the best action is still to come. Another cold front or two should be the trigger.
Flounder fishing is just awesome, but without a keeper season, anglers are left releasing some of these larger flatfish (to 4 lbs.).
Sheepshead fishing around the bridges and other structure remains steady.
Nearshore anglers have been finding plenty of good-sized spanish mackerel (20-22” range) off the beaches. There is a lot of bait out there, and it might keep these spanish around a bit longer if weather patterns don’t turn.
King mackerel action is mostly holding out in the 15-20 mile range.
Bottom fishing has been really productive, with anglers hooking large black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish on deeper structure (out to 120’). There is also a great shallow water grouper bite in the 60-80’ range.
Offshore runs are producing a bunch of wahoo, blackfin tuna, kings, and some dolphin.
Wesley Culp (age 6), of Holly Springs, hooked this 20″ red drum using live mullet on a Carolina rig. He was fishing with Clayton Culp (left) in the Hampstead area.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that red drum have been feeding well on mullet as the bait resumes its fall migration. Target areas of structure that have some moving current, a great place for these reds to ambush an easy meal.
Speckled trout have started showing up, and the best action is still yet to come. Anglers will have a lot of opportunity with different baits this fall. Topwater plugs, MirrOlure MR-17s, and Z-Man soft plastics on lighter jig heads will all have their times of success. For this first part of the run, it’s a good idea to target areas closer to the inlets.
Nearshore trips are finding plenty of spanish mackerel off the beach, with pretty good sizes as well (to 2+ lbs.).
Mixed in are schools of false albacore that have started showing up. There hasn’t been a ton in the area yet, but anytime now these groups will become more prevalent.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that nearshore anglers have been having a bunch of success sight-casting at schools of spanish mackerel off the beach. Though this is towards the end of their run, these late season spanish have been some real quality fish.
False albacore should also be moving in over the coming weeks, but as of now, schools have been spotty at best.
Inshore anglers have been on a roll in finding some upper and over-slot red drum. Both natural baits and soft plastics are producing strikes.
A few speckled trout have started to show up in areas around the inlets. Trout anglers will find success with a variety of baits such as Vudu shrimp, MirrOlure MR series plugs, and Rapala X-Raps. Going into the next few weeks, these trout should continue to stack up thicker in their holes around the inlets, but as everything cools down, anglers will need to transition their efforts more into New River and the area’s creek systems.
Daniel, of Surf City Charters, reports that nearshore trips have been seeing tons of good-sized spanish mackerel and bluefish off the beaches.
Some schools of red drum have followed the mullet out of the inlets and into the surf zone.
The king mackerel action has mostly been more consistent further off the beach this season, out in the 10-15 mile range.
Runs out to the Gulf Stream are being rewarded with a good wahoo bite, as some anglers are catching double-digits of fish.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that there has been some sight-casting action off the beaches. The spanish mackerel action is still kicking, and there continues to be some good-sized fish in these schools. False albacore are just now starting to arrive, with both species striking at diamond jigs and Stingsilvers.
The king mackerel bite has mostly held out in the 60’ range. Trolling dead cigar minnows under a variety of Blue Water Candy rigs has been a productive setup. This area should hold kings until sometime near Thanksgiving, or around the time water temperatures in the mid-60s push the fish out.
Bottom fishing remains excellent. The 80-100’ range has been producing red grouper, vermilion snapper, big black sea bass, and triggerfish.
There are some gag grouper moved in a little shallower (70-80’ area).
It’s a good idea when bottom fishing to keep a drift bait out in the case of hooking up with a king mackerel or any other surprise fish that could be nearshore in the fall.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that there has been good spanish mackerel and bluefish action for anglers out in the mornings and throughout the day.
A few speckled trout have been mixed in the action now that there is cooling water along the beaches.
Bottom fishing has been good, with the bite being better for anglers out in the evenings. The mixed bags include spot, mullet, pufferfish, pompano, and scattered drum.
Reef Peavy, of Mooresville, landed this redfish using cut bluefish on a fish finder rig while fishing from Seaview Pier.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers fishing in the evenings have started to see some waves of spot moving through.
Bottom fishing overall has been pretty good, with catches of sea mullet, good-sized pompano (to 2+ lbs.), red drum, and black drum (to 4 lbs.).
Anglers casting plugs are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel, and there are scattered speckled trout mixed in.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that there have been a good number of bluefish being caught by anglers sight-casting at the surface-feeding schools.
Some decent-sized sea mullet are moving in, with anglers finding that croakers are also plentiful when targeting the mullet.
Pompano, smaller red drum, black drum, and some speckled trout are mixed in the daily counts.
There are a few spots being caught, with the better action being at night.
