The water is finally under 70. The exact temp depends on who you get the reading from. They range from 69 to 67. But, the much loved and sought after winter game fish, the speckled trout is finally showing up in the ocean. There have been some caught from the piers as well as the surf. Although not in large numbers, they are being drug up on the sand on the beach. North Topsail, south end, and Surf City, a few specks have been caught everywhere. Try your mirro-lure, or jig and grub, it's still too early to predict what the "hot" bait will be this year. Well, except for live shrimp. These are always "hot"! Float them under a cork, just off the bottom, if you can figure out where that is from the surf. Sometimes it's difficult, and a guess is in order.
The flounder are still biting in the surf. The "fish candy" Berkley Gulp Saltwater Swimming Mullet in various colors are hot right now. I've had the most luck with white, but keep in mind that I haven't caught a keeper! That's right, at least a hundred flounder hooked up this year, and not a keeper landed. What's up with that? Any suggestions from my readers?
There are some large, really large whiting in the water, but they are way out. I haven't seen many come from close in like I normally catch them. I always fish right behind the breakers for whiting and red drum, but this year, my strategies aren't working for the whiting. The only large ones I have seen caught are from rigs that have been "heaved" way out beyond the continental shelf.
Spots are being caught from the piers, but the bite is "spotty". Sorry. Couldn't resist. It seems that the spot bite is even more unpredictable this year than ever before. We have been waiting for the NE wind to cool the water, well it's cool and still we haven't had the day's long spot bite that we usually have in the fall. When they are in, the bite is fast and furious, and the spots are nice.
There have been some nice kings caught at Surf City Pier. Only one now and then, and not every day. But they are catching them. And blues, and as I mentioned before, speckled trout, but just a few.
Winter fishing is gearing up.
Tide Predictions
Tide predictions for any location in the U.S. or Canada.
For NEW TOPSAIL INLET, NORTH CAROLINA (edit)
Time Tide Height Tide
5:43 a.m. EDT 0.56 feet Low Tide
11:37 a.m. EDT 3.56 feet High Tide
6:55 p.m. EDT 0.69 feet Low Tide
12:06 a.m. EDT 2.75 feet High Tide
NOT FOR NAVIGATION
Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise, Moonset
For HOLLY RIDGE, NC
Rises Sets
Sun 7:26 AM 6:22 PM
Moon 12:45 PM 10:15 PM
RISE AND SET TIMES ARE EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
This Afternoon: A chance of rain, then periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 62. East wind between 9 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62. Breezy, with a southeast wind 17 to 25 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy, with a west wind between 15 and 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. West wind between 10 and 14 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Until next time....
Tight Lines!
Johnny
19788
