Daily Bible Verse

April 30, 2009

April 30 Topsail Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Sea View Pier report: "Blues were hitting off and on all day but especially in the late afternoon until dark when everybody was catching all they wanted. Spanish Mackerel did really well today around noon time and in the late afternoon. Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs worked well for both. The Mullet catch was limited mostly to the night when some coolers were filled by lucky anglers."

The other piers, Jolly Roger and Surf City Pier reported essentially the same thing. It seems that spanish are getting bigger, and the blues are moving in more with some really big ones being caught. If the water gets more clear, both the spanish and blue bite should get better. Mullets are hitting at night, with some full coolers reported at Surf City Pier this week. Speckled trout and reds are hit and miss on the inside, but flounder bite is improving and fish are getting bigger. There are some bait fish in the sounds, pin fish are showing up all along the sounds which should mean better fishing for other species if we can keep the pins off our hooks.

NC Angler Message Board is reporting a king was caught today at Ocean Crest Pier, first of the season. Weighed in at 35lbs. Congrats to the angler!

Tides for New Topsail Inlet
Friday
1:14 AM EDT 3.50 feet High Tide
8:31 AM EDT 0.06 feet Low Tide
1:52 PM EDT 2.60 feet High Tide
8:29 PM EDT 0.15 feet Low Tide
Saturday
2:19 AM EDT 3.30 feet High Tide
9:33 AM EDT 0.07 feet Low Tide
3:02 PM EDT 2.73 feet High Tide
9:44 PM EDT 0.20 feet Low Tide
Sunday
3:24 AM EDT 3.13 feet High Tide
10:31 AM EDT 0.03 feet Low Tide
4:08 PM EDT 2.94 feet High Tide
10:57 PM EDT 0.19 feet Low Tide

WECT TV Surf Report
Water temp 67*-70*
Waves 1 to 2 ft
NE-SE Winds 5 to 10 mph

Topsail Beach, NC Weather Forecast: 6:19 PM EDT THU APR 30 2009
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC

TONIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
FRIDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
FRIDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the lower 60s.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Warmer water=Hotter Fishing around the area!

Hello from Southeast North Carolina, I hope everybody is having a good fishing season so far this year! I’ve had a good one so far myself; the water temps are going up so fast this year. We are two to three weeks ahead on water temps at this time last season. It has showed too; good catch’s of Spanish mackerel in April! On that note let’s talk fishing!

The real winner for me lately has been those Spanish mackerel. My charters have done very good in the last few trips, with catches of thirty or more Spanish in a half day. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in silver and pink flash. I really like the pink flash series, these spoons have worked very well for my charters. If you would like to go lighter; you can pull small deep diving lures as well.

When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. The colors that seem to be working are pink, green and blue in sizes seven & fourteen gram. (Hint): keep it to smaller lures when the weather gets hot! We also caught a few Bonita’s mixed in with the Spanish.

There has also been plenty of blue fish up and down the beach as well. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!

Bottom fishing just off the beach has produced some nice Black bass, grunts and small Grouper, of course on the lighter wind days! Jigs and squid are the trick, fishing the squid on simple two hook bottom rigs. Jig fishing using two to five once jigs in colors pink, green and red/white. We are fishing mostly hard and live bottom areas, in the five to ten mile range for the bottom fish.

The flounder bite is picking up some too; we are starting to see a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size. Live bait and grubs are the best bet. Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs. I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.

Red fish have been hit or miss for me lately, some days we get a few some days we don’t. This should change when more live bait shows up in the creeks and channels. What Reds we are getting are hitting fresh bait and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.

Gear used: Reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7'0" Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

April 26, 2009

Spanish Alert!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

All three piers on Topsail Island are reporting catches of spanish mackerel this weekend! Also are blues on gotcha plugs. Bottom fishing will get black drum and mullets, best bite is at night. The surf fishing has got to pick up soon! Catch 'em up!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
aka FishinTopsail

April 25, 2009

Topsail Island Fishing Report and Forecast

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Sea View Pier at North Topsail Beach reports Large Bluefish are now being caught mainly in the morning and using Gotcha plugs. The Mullet bite is slow but steady and a lot of nice sized fish are being caught. Blowfish and Sharks round out the rest of the catch. Sea mullets are still being caught at Surf City Pier, with a few blowfish, sharks, skates, and blues, mostly on bottom rigs, but we are starting to see a few large blues on Gotcha plugs. Jolly Roger Pier reports some nice catches of black drum on cut shrimp, along with a few blues and mullets. The inside bite remains strong, with black drum and red drum bringing most of the action. Spotted sea trout are starting to show a little better, with bigger fish being caught. A few in the three to four pound range are coming from New River, and are moving closer to the New River Inlet.

Topsail Beach Weather Forecast:

Saturday, High 85* Low 59*
Areas of fog in the morning. Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. . . Except around 80 at the beaches. Southwest winds around 5 mph. . . Increasing to south 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Overnight: clear. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. . . Becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday High 89* Low 59*
Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. . . Except around 80 at the beaches. Southwest winds around 5 mph. . . Increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Overnight: clear. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 50s.

Monday High 85* Low 59* and clear.

Tuesday High 85* Low 59* and clear.

Looks like a fine week for fishing. All this warm weather and full sun should warm the water considerable. Expect the chopper blues and some small spanish to be at the piers soon. Both are already being caught offshore a couple miles from the beach. Small schools of bait fish are being reported at Oak Island and as far north as Wrightsville Beach.

Gear up anglers. They are a coming!

Tides for Saturday

3:10 AM EDT -0.19 feet Low Tide
8:20 AM EDT 2.82 feet High Tide
2:55 PM EDT -0.30 feet Low Tide
8:47 PM EDT 4.00 feet High Tide

Tides for Sunday
3:57 AM EDT -0.23 feet Low Tide
9:06 AM EDT 2.78 feet High Tide
3:39 PM EDT -0.33 feet Low Tide
9:33 PM EDT 4.07 feet High Tide

Tides for Monday
4:46 AM EDT -0.22 feet Low Tide
9:53 AM EDT 2.72 feet High Tide
4:26 PM EDT -0.30 feet Low Tide
10:23 PM EDT 4.03 feet High Tide

Now is the time to reserve a charter before all the good days are filled. Check out these locals.
Family Day on the Water Charters Capt. Chris Medlin of East Coast Sports http://eastcoastsports.com/
Capt. Mike Dennis http://www.capefear-guide.com/
Captain Jot Owens http://www.captainjot.com/
Capt. Brent Stanley http://www.currentadventurecharters.com
Last Resort Charters http://www.lastresortcharters.com/


Catch 'em up! And send proof! Take that picture and email it to us.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

April 23, 2009

Surf Fishing at Topsail Beach

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! Donna and I walked over to the beach this afternoon and fished the incoming tide for a couple of hours. Didn't get a bite. Saw no bait in the water, should be here soon. I understand the piers are still catching a few mullet, spot, small flounder, some blues on bottom rigs, and some nice size black drum in the surf area. Weather looks great for the coming week, Should warm the surf considerably. Looking for blues on gotcha plugs when the water clears. Spanish should be here within the next two weeks, if the water warms sufficiently.
The water temp is 64*. The wind is from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow's tides are:

TIME TIDE HEIGHT TIDE
12:11 AM EDT -0.06 feet Low Tide
5:48 AM EDT 3.21 feet High Tide
12:44 PM EDT -0.14 feet Low Tide
6:17 PM EDT 3.19 feet High Tide


Catch 'em up!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
www.fishintopsail.com
http://www.fishintopsail.com

April 20, 2009

Surf City Pier Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. I fished Surf City Pier today with my fishin' bud Ken. We, or I should say he, caught a bunch of nice virginia mullets. I caught only two, they were nice, but only two. I was fishing about ten feet from Ken, and about ten feet from another friendly angler, (sorry can't remember his name) and both of them were reeling in the sea mullets. The anglers on both sides of me were on fire, hauling in the fish, and I only caught two. You would thing that one of those mullets would have strayed onto my bait, but not today. Fishin' bud Tim Willard cleaned a nice mess of fish he caught last night and this morning, than came back out and caught another bucket full. Everybody was catching fish. But it was a tough morning, with wind blowing out of the south west at 15 to 20 mph and gusting to 30 mph. I couldn't keep my hat on. Bit it was worth the trouble, and I will do it again tomorrow, Lord willing. I don't have a report from the other piers or surf. I will post when I hear something. I ran into my friend Yogi at the pier and got into a conversation about eating catfish. I love catfish, especially channel cats. Cut the fillets into bite size chunks, batter them and fry in hot oil. Serve them up with some home made tarter sauce, cole slaw, taters and hushpuppies! MMMMMMMM!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

April 17, 2009

Topsail Beach Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Fished Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach, North Carolina today. Nothing much biting except a few puffer fish. I would have kept them, but there were not enough for a good meal. There were only about a half dozen anglers on the pier. We are going back this evening. Maybe we will have better luck after dusk. No inside report today, no report from Topsail's other piers.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
http://www.fishintopsail.com

April 16, 2009


Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
On April 15 2009 I had the pleasure of taking Ron Naummowicz and his daughter Tara fishing,skies were cloudy,but the wind was light making a descent day to fish. Found the Red Drum to be biting at the inlet,caught a couple of slot size red drum,black drum, bluefish, and flounder with several releases on 16" and 17" red drum.Spring time is here with the water temperutre showing 63 degrees,up 4 degrees from last Wednesday fishing should be really on fire in a couple more weeks.
Capt.Mike Dennis
Cape Fear Guide
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928

April 14, 2009

Spring Fishing is Great around the area!

Good day to everyone. The weather is starting to finally get right; we are having more warm days than cooler ones. The forecast has warmer days for the rest of the week. Wind wise a little better everyday, we’ve finally started to get out on the ocean and start looking for those Bonita’s. Let’s talk about that.

Those high speed Bonita’s should show up any day now; there has already been a small push of Spanish in the last few days. I think this is a push of fish and warm water; these fish will probably move out of here. The Bluefish are mixed in with them too. We’re catching them by trolling and casting. The trolling rigs that we’re using are; a number one planner with thirty to forty feet of forty pound mono leader. Tied to the leader is a Clark spoon in size’s 0, 1 and 2, I like to use the gold and pink flash Clark spoons. Troll them about five to six knots. You can also troll small deep diving plugs too, but you need to slow down your speed to around three knots.

If you would like to try casting or jigging for the Bonita’s, Blues and Spanish I would use Maria jigs. They do have a price tag on them, but when the bite is tough these jigs will pay off! Maria’s that I have the best luck with are size’s seven and fourteen grams. The fourteens are easier to cast. Colors to use; green, blue and pink seem to work the best for me. I put a small shot of forty pound mono leader 12 to14 inches.

There has been a very good Black drum bite the last two weeks, most days I’m catching 14+ plus on a half day. Most of the drum are biting around docks and creek mouths in the ICW. The best bait “by far” has been fresh cut shrimp in small pieces. We are using small two hook drop rig, with a number 2 bait holder hook and one or two oz bank sinkers.

The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks. Most fish are coming out of creeks, flats and channels around the waterway and inlets. Best bet for the trout so far has been grubs, working the grubs slow in holes and drop-offs. The grubs I like in the spring mouths are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”. Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, Chicken on a chain and salt/pep shad. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent in the spring too, this helps because there is not much bait in the water yet. I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in the cool spring mouths it can really help.

Gear used: Reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7'0" Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing!


Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

April 12, 2009

Sunday Night Topsail Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Black drum and large virginia mullet are in the news today. All piers report catches of black drum, some as large as six pounds plus. Nice catches of virginia mullet was the norm Saturday night and Sunday. Still nothing in the surf. Inside anglers are getting small flounder, dink speckled trout, puppy drum, and small croakers. The fishing outlook for this week is looking good.

Topsail Surf Report for Monday Water temp is 64*.

Weather Overview....... Sunday was a beautiful day, with lots of sun and light wind. Clouds. Looks like the heavy rain and chance for severe weather will come in two waves... The first Monday night, the second Tuesday afternoon. Sunday
night Lo: 44 A light shower here and there is possible after midnight, but mainly look for clouds to build in.

Monday Hi: 68 Rain starts in after 2pm in the form of scattered showers. Monday evening there will be some thunderstorms coupled with a slight chance at severe storms. .10" to .50" of rain possible.

Tuesday Hi: 74 Lo: 55 As of Sunday at 5:00pm afternoon storm with 'plenty' of rain and the chance for severe weather.

Wednesday Hi: 70 Lo: 45 Clouds move out and weak high pressure moves in for the remainder of the week.

National Weather Service
COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1124 PM EDT SUN APR 12 2009 SURF CITY NC TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM

SYNOPSIS FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA OUT TO 20 NAUTICAL MILES...
CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL RIDGE SOUTH INTO THE CAROLINAS
THROUGH THE NIGHT. A FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES
WILL BRING INCREASED WINDS AND SEAS ALONG WITH THE CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AND TUESDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE
AND MODERATING CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK.


New Topsail InletTides for Monday
12:11 AM EDT -0.06 feet Low Tide
5:48 AM EDT 3.21 feet High Tide
12:44 PM EDT -0.14 feet Low Tide
6:17 PM EDT 3.19 feet High Tide

Go Get 'um!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

April 10, 2009

Mullets! Black Drum! and Plenty of Them!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

The virginia mullet are biting good at Surf City Pier. Folks are getting from 20 to 35 keeper mullets. Of course, some anglers will keep anything! LOL Also the black drum are making a good showing today and tonight. I know of at least two three plus pounders, and one over six and a half pounds. Report from Jolly Roger Pier is not as promising as Surf City, but they are catching a few mullets and black drum also. The season is upon us! Go Get 'um! We have a few thunderstorms coming in overnight, but Saturday is looking good, with partly cloudy skies, and a 78* high. Tides for tomorrow follow.....

4:23 AM EDT -0.15 feet Low Tide
9:36 AM EDT 2.71 feet High Tide
4:08 PM EDT -0.12 feet Low Tide
9:57 PM EDT 3.62 feet High Tide

Water temp: 60*
winds from south at 10 to 20 mph
waves, chest high and choppy.


Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
aka FishinTopsail

April 9, 2009

Surf City Pier Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. My dad is down for a visit, and he fished Surf City Pier for a few hours this evening. I didn't go with him, as I was waiting for our grandchildren to get here. Dad caught several small virginia mullets, and a couple of nice big ones. He reports that most anglers on the pier seemed to be catching a few, but no one was catching a bunch. There were also some small sharks, and a few skates. I still can't tell you anything promising about the surf, as I haven't talked to anyone that has caught anything from the surf. Fishing on the inside can get small "dink" speckled trout, and puppy drum.

Winds tonight are from the west, blowing about 10 to 15 mph. The water temp is 59*, down two degrees from Tuesday's 61*. The waves are about knee high and clean. The current temp at 10:53 pm was 59*. For Friday the forecast is: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s at the beaches. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Friday night: partly cloudy with scattered showers in the evening. . . Then mostly cloudy with numerous showers with isolated thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. . Saturday will see high temp around 75* and partly cloudy with scattered showers in the morning hours. West winds of about 15 mph changing to Northwest in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50%.

Looks like an OK weekend.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Federal Fishery Advisory Panel Seats Open to Applicants

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

If you would like to have a say in how these panels make decisions that affect us all, Check out the following email I received. Make a difference. Volunteer your time.
Johnny

[quote]

Federal Fishery Advisory Panel Seats Open to Applicants

Members of the public are encouraged to submit applications to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council for seats currently available on its advisory panels. Working at the grass roots level, advisory panel members provide information and guidance in the development and implementation of federal fishery management plans. The Council has 15 separate advisory panels composed of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of, or are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery or group of fishes to be managed. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, conservationists, scientists, and concerned citizens.

Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council and serve for a three-year period, based on the frequency of meetings. As those appointments expire, members currently serving on the AP can reapply for their positions. These seats also become open to new applicants. AP members generally meet no more than once or twice each year and are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for all meetings. Applications are now being solicited for the following positions:

Coral Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat for a Scientist with Live Bottom/Hard Bottom Experience


Golden Crab Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat


Shrimp Advisory Panel (1) North Carolina Seat and (1) South Carolina Seat


Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat for a For-Hire Representative; (4) Open Seats; and 1 Wreckfish Sub-panel Seat


If you are interested in serving as a member on the Council's advisory panels, please submit an application to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. Applications can be obtained by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10. Application forms are available online at www.safmc.net. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available at www.safmc.net or through the Council office.

Advisory panel members will be selected during the next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, scheduled for June 7 – 12, 2009 in Stuart, Florida. Applications must be received by May 8, 2009.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.

[end quote]

April 8, 2009

Cape Fear Guide Spring 2009



Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
Spring is here in the Cape Fear Region Capt.Mike had the pleasure of taking a enthusiastic group of young anglers this morning,even though conditions were windy a quite cool these young men had never been fishing and were ready to go!
Water temperture was 58 degrees, but the black drum were ready to bite,fresh shrimp on bottom rigs seemed to be the ticket today.
Rods used Key Largo 6'6" light tip,with Shimano Spheros 3000 FA reels,great set up for for light tackle angling.
Capt.Mike Dennis
Cape Fear Guide
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928

April 7, 2009

Inshore and Pier Report - Topsail Island

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! Red drum and black drum are biting fresh shrimp around the docks and in the creeks. Some speckled trout are starting to bite near the marshy areas near creek mouths and in the creeks. Best producing baits have been Berkley Gulp Saltwater, and Bass Assassin Blurp. I know this isn't much information, but I couldn't get any more details.
Surf City Pier reports some spots, and a few mullets, mostly at night. Jolly Roger reports some virginia mullet and small sharks. Sea View Pier is open, and reports some catches of small spots and virginia mullets. No Surf Report. Too windy and cold! BRRRRRRRR!
Go Get 'um!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

MARINE PATROL SEIZES ILLEGAL GROUPER CATCH

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Below is a copy of an email from NC Marine Fisheries.

[quote]
MOREHEAD CITY – N.C. Marine Patrol officers seized 12 illegally-caught grouper Friday night, after staking out a Brunswick County fish house, waiting for the commercial fishing vessel Capt. Star. Marine Patrol Officers Jonathan Weaver and Jonathan Hall charged the boat’s captain, Milton Muellerweiss, 50, of Ocean Isle Beach, with engaging in a commercial fishing operation without being properly licensed and with exceeding the harvest limit for black and gag grouper. Three other crew members were charged with participating in a commercial fishing operation without being properly licensed and with exceeding the possession limit of gag grouper during a commercial closure. Crew members were Philip Craig Dellinger, 63, of Oak Island; Donald Douglas Lowe, 45, of Mount Holly; and Winford Hezekiah Caldwell, 62, of Wake Forest.

Marine Patrol had received reports that the Capt. Star was bringing in more black grouper and gag grouper than allowed. Under both federal and state fishing rules, fishermen are not allowed to sell or purchase gag or black grouper during March or April, and are only allowed 2-fish per person, for recreational purposes. For the past three weeks, officers in the Southern District had watched for the Capt. Star to come to the docks. They began the stakeout March 31. When the Capt. Star docked, Marine Patrol officers checked the boat and found that none of the four-man crew had a valid commercial fishing license. The crew claimed they had kept only their recreational allowance of black and gag grouper, however 12 of the fish were found on board.

Marine Patrol officers volunteered their time Saturday to clean the grouper and donate the fish to two nonprofit organizations, a church soup kitchen and a church meals-on-wheels program. The captain was allowed to bid out the rest of his snapper-grouper catch, which was in season. The fish were sold for $6,278, and the check was turned over to the Brunswick County clerk of court.

For more information, contact Marine Patrol Capt. Jim Kelley at (910) 796-7220 or jim.m.kelley@ncmail.net.

This may seem harsh to some, but the rules are made for everyone, with the purpose of saving the fishery for our children and grandchildren. My hat is off to the officers, and especially the person who called in the tip that led to the seizure.
Good Job!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

April 5, 2009

Black Drum Make an Arrival at Jolly Roger Pier

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. Although I didn't catch anything this weekend, Virginia mullets and black drum made a show at Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach. There were also a few spot in the mix, with puffers, skates, and some good fighting dogfish. The anglers at the pier, though few in numbers, all seemed to be having a good time catching something, at least. One angler said that even the sharks were welcome, since he hadn't caught anything since the fall. Vinita at Surf City Pier reports a few virginia mullets during the day, and "lots of mullets" at night. "Paul left out of here one night with over 30 mullet and by the sounds of things he wasn't the only one....." Vinita reported on the pier website. I haven't gotten a report from the sounds recently. I have made several trips to Banks channel looking for finger mullets, and I haven't seen any yet. They should be getting on in here. Sea View Pier is completing the renovations after the fire, and should be opened soon. The bait and tackle shops in the area are gearing up for spring fishing, and they will have all you need to get your fill of fishing.

Here are the tide predictions at New Topsail Inlet for Monday
Low 12:11AM High 5.48AM Low 12:54PM High 06:18PM

Water temp 61*

Topsail Beach Weather


MONDAY - Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

MONDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 40. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. Lows in the lower 30s - except in the mid 30s at the beaches. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Clear. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows in the upper 30s.

THURSDAY - Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

THURSDAY NIGHT - Mostly clear in the evening - then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT - Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

SATURDAY - Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

April 1, 2009

Fishing is Looking UP!

Hello folks, well the weather is still a bit up and down; but it is really starting to get better. Fishing is picking up as well! Hopefully the pollen will be out of here soon and it will be easier to keep the boat and car clean. To the fishing report>>>

There are some Redfish in the ICW and channels just off the ICW. We are starting to see a few smaller Reds 14” to 21” in some of the creeks on warmer days. Most Reds are hitting mud minnows and “fresh as you can get shrimp”. If you would like to go the artificial root, I would recommend using scented grubs. The best bet I’ve used has been Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in Colors Molting and good penny. These Blurps are really well scented; they put out one great scent trail. Those Reds will find them, trust me! Jigs heads for the grubs in ¼ to 3/8 oz, colors red and black seem to be the trick. Work’em slow around docks and drop-offs on grass lines and oyster rocks.

We seeing a few small Speckled trout around Wrightsville, south of Wrightsville the bigger one’s should really start to bite any day. Grubs have been the best bet for the trout; we’re using Saltwater Assassin sea shad and shrimp patterns. Colors that have worked lately; Elec. Chicken and Chart Diamond and Chicken on a chain. Don’t forget those never fell; Mirrolures, in colors silver mullet and white on white. The water is still cool so don’t forget to work the lures a little slower.

There has been a few bluefish starting to show up around the inlets. These guys are a little early but that is good thing. The Bonita’s should be here soon, I think we will see them in a week or two. We caught a few False Albacore around the school house on 3-31. The water Temp there was 61.8` to 63. However just inshore of there around ten to fifth teen miles the water temp was 57`; it still needs to come up a bit. If you have ever caught a Bonita on light tackle or Fly rod you know just how fast they are and how much fun it is to catch them. If you have not ever caught one, you need to give it a try. This is one of my favorites to catch hands down and they are not bad to eat as well.

We are still doing some freash water fishing on some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish. The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day. The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds. Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. We are also catching some of the bass on senko worms. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.
Fishing Gear we use:

Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in size 7035 great for trout and light Red fishing. Rods: Ugly Stick Lite. Med act 7’ Braid line in the test of 10 and 20 pound. Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions or comments drop me a line at www.captainjot.com

June 5, 6 and 7 “In the Water Fishing School” Capt. Rick Bennett, myself and six other of the best local guides are putting on this school on. This school will be real-time hands on fishing experience! The school is limited to the first 25 participants! If you want to learn from the best local guides and see how we do it, take the time to check it out; http://www.rodmancharters.com/2009-inthewater-fishing-school.htmI’m really looking forward to being part of this school!

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

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