Hello from Johnny

2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

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Hello from Topsail  Beach,
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The migraine problem has reared it's ugly head once again. Feeling a bit better now, so maybe I can get out and give you some current fishing reports. Also, let me thank our blog contributors for their posts while I was absent. Our readers really enjoy their posts, so as readers, let's support them by booking a fishing trip for the fall fishing blitz. I believe it's gonna be a good one by the way it has started. We saw spots earlier than expected, and big whiting from the surf is going strong right now. Also the red drum bite has been excellent, and there have been lots of huge flounder being caught from the piers and in the sounds. Get ready for the big spot run to really gear up. The huge yellow belly spots are biting right now in the Morehead City area, so it won't be long until they are here. Gear up! Don't be caught unprepared! It's gonna be fast and furious when it starts!

Here is a pic of a nice red drum caught on Jolly Roger Pier this week. The angler was Tim Parker, sorry I don't remember his hometown. The huge 26 1/2 inch hog bit a finger mullet rigged carolina style. Tim was fishing about half way out the pier, just after the rise.

These other pics are spot and pompano catches from Topsail piers. Sorry, no names available.

Fishin' is GOOD! Make your plans now!

Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny

Good Speck bite on the Cape Fear

The speckled trout bite continues to get better and better on the Cape Fear River. The fish are feeding heavily on the abundance of bait in the water and there are some nice fish to be caught. In recent weeks, I have been averaging up to a dozen trout a trip and most have been well over the 14"minimum.



With all of the pogies and shrimp in the water, imitation shrimp baits such as the DOA shrimp and the mirrondine MR-17 have been excellent lure choices. The best bite has been on either side of the flood tide.

Water temps this past weekend in the river was still around 80 degrees F, but with fall weather around the corner, the water should start to cool and the bite will pick up. Look for the Specks to be here through the fall into early winter. If the past 3 weeks are any indication of what's to come, we should have an excellent fall Spec bite!!

Capt. Brent Stanley
Current Adventure Charters
910.200.9959

2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

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SPOTS, FLOUNDER, RED DRUM, WHITING! FALL FISHING HAS BEGUN!

2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

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It's time!  The yellow butterflies are dancing everywhere along the beach. That, according to the ol' timers here, means one thing. "The spots are a coming!" Pic below from Surf City Ocean Pier website.

Surf City Pier; September 10, 2010

SC getting good catches of spots at night, and even a few during the day. Big whiting are showing up in pretty good numbers. Still seeing plenty of pompano, with a few big 'uns biting sandfleas. Pluggers are getting large blue fish and a few spanish in early morning and late afternoon.

At Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach, Rob files the following report.

"The drum bite has been ON - plenty in the 25-33 inch range, with some much larger fish busting tackle and taking rods!"   Rob Orr from JR Facebook page.


Check out this beauty!

Jolly Roger over slot red caught and released by JR pier angler

 Also at the JR, lots of spots at night, a few during the daylight hours. Blues and Spanish continue to bite and the water is thick with bait. King bite has slowed a bit, but they are still hooking one on occasion. Several tarpon have been spotted off the end of JR Pier. Big over the slot reds are biting in the suds. Live finger mullets, (plentiful in the ocean and sound side) seem to be the best bait. Live finger mullets and live shrimp are also the go to bait for some nice keeper flounder at the Jolly Roger. Lots of smaller flounder hanging around the pilings too. Got a couple reports of reds eating a spot head, so there will be plenty of bait for them. Just a note, Jolly Roger hot dogs are still delish! They go great with the smell of shrimp and fish on the pier. Get you some! MMMMMMM!


The Sea View Pier reports much the same. Blues, a few spanish are coming over the rails in the early morning, with the occasional run in the evening. Spots and whiting are making a good showing most nights. Red drum are being caught there, but I haven't received as many reports as SC pier, and especially Jolly Roger Pier. 

As most of you know, surf fishing is my preferred fishing activity. Love the feeling of the sand under my feet. Love getting wet when casting or landing that big red drum. Pull flounder right up to your feet without much worry of loosing them while netting the fish. Surf fishing has improved to "very good" status. Big whiting are biting sand fleas as well as shrimp. There are LOTS of small sea mullets in the surf right now. I have a report of several two plus pound whiting caught on live shrimp. Spots are biting cut shrimp and Fish Bites, bloodworm and clam flavors. And you can get more than one fish on a single piece of the Fish Bites. I have seen flounder and pompano coming from the surf. Finger mullets are so plentiful I am seeing them in the waves as they start to turn over. Catch them right where you are fishing with a cast net. Still have no reports of speckled trout in the surf. I'll keep trying to find some specks. 

Everything is biting in the sound and ICW. Big sheepshead around the bridges, reds in the shallows around oyster beds, speckled trout near the mouths of tidal creeks. Lots of finger mullets and shrimp can be netted pretty easily. I can get nice big "eatin'" shrimp close to grass lines.


Fall fishin' is here, so get on down to Topsail and catch your supper!


Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Spot Alert

2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Lots of spots in the surf and around the piers. Best results with bloodworms.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Charter Captain Rick Bennet with The Rod-Man Report

FaceBook Fishing Topsail Group
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hi Folks,

Time for a fishing report. It's a bit abbreviated due to Earl, but some real positives are happening; like the awesome redfish action we experienced Sunday morning. Then there is the big Spanish bite going on right now. And more....

Now here's my report:

Inshore: The Redfish are biting. We caught and released several very nice fish Sunday ranging for 4+ to 8 pounds. As usual, the lady on the boat did the most work. Flounder are biting very nicely in the inlets, the ICW, Snow's Cut and the River.

Near Shore: Spanish and blues are biting hard. Shark fishing is going strong.

Offshore: Not many reports coming in as yet, but those that are state lots of bait pods are around which means the kings cannot be far away. AJ's still hanging on the offshore reefs.

Gulfstream: No reports.

Upcoming: It's getting so close, fall fishing, I can almost smell the fresh crisp air. As a matter of fact, I will smell it for sure this Friday thru next Wednesday as I make a trip to Big Sky country in Montana to try my luck on some nice trout with the fly rod. With lows in the mid 30's and highs in the mid 60's, it may be hard to come back!

Be sure to check out the new pics in my Photo Gallery at http://www.rodmancharters.com/

Until Next Time:

LET'S GO FISHING!!!

Capt. Rick Bennett

Rod-Man Charters

910-520-7661

Topsail Report: Pompano, Reds, Flounder, Specks

FaceBook Fishing Topsail Group
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2010 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide



Tons of pompano in the surf, saw lots caught at Jolly Roger Pier. Surf City Pier reports the same. A few blues and spanish in the early morning. Reds in the surf, bait up with live finger mullets on a carolina rig or fish finder rig. Heard of some nice speckled trout in the New River, live shrimp. Flounder catches are getting better, especially near the inlets. If you like pier fishing, drag a live shrimp or finger mullet along side the piers. Shrimp are plentiful in the sounds right now. Take your cast net and minnow bucket. Some of these shrimp are great eating size! If you don't use them fishing, take 'em home and cook 'em! Weather has been great! Fall Fishin' at Topsail is gettin' better every day!

Short Fishin' Trip

FaceBook Fishing Topsail Group
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Short two hour fishin trip this morning. Grabbed my flea rake a bucket and one fishin rod, and walked across the street to the surf. Caught more than enough fleas in just one rake. Weather was beautifuil, overcast with qa light NE breeze. Tide going out. Caught a couple nice whiting and two pomps. Just enough for dinner. Met a fellow angler from wilmington on the beach. Shout-out to Johnny, enjoyed the fishin chat. Hope you can make it back soon.

Till next time...
Tight lines!
Johnny

Earl Update 12:26 pm

FaceBook Fishing Topsail Group
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

This from Stormpulse.com


[quote]
Tropical Storm Warning

Topsail Beach, NC

Earl now heading north, .areas affected, this local statement provides important information and recommended actions for people in new hanover and pender counties, and marine interests in the adjacent coastal waters. .watches/warnings, A tropical storm warning continues for the following locations, Pender, new hanover. For marine interests, a tropical storm warning continues for coastal waters from cape fear to surf city. Please check the latest public and marine forecasts for detailed information about additional hazards. .storm information, At 11 am edt, the center of hurricane earl was located near latitude 30.9n, longitude 74.8w. This was about 310 miles southeast of wilmington nc. The storm was moving north at 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 140 mph. .situation overview, Hurricane earl will pass just east of the North Carolina coast late this afternoon into early Friday morning. Winds are expected to increase to near tropical storm force this afternoon and continue through early Friday morning mainly along the immediate coast. Strong rip currents and large surf conditions will continue today and Friday. .precautionary/preparedness actions, .next update, The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in wilmington around 300 pm edt, or sooner if conditions warrant. , tropical storm warning remains in effect, , new information, At 11 am edt, the center of hurricane earl was located near latitude 30.9n, longitude 74.8w. This was about 310 miles southeast of wilmington nc. The storm was moving north at 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 140 mph. , precautionary/preparedness actions, , winds, The latest area forecast is for maximum winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph. However, as hurricane earl approaches, Stronger winds are still possible. Minor damage may occur to older mobile homes. Isolated power outages will be possible. , storm surge and storm tide, Storm surge is expected to be minimal because hurricane earl will be passing east of the region and at a time of relative low tides. Along the coasts of new hanover and pender counties the probability of 2 foot storm surge remains less than 10 percent. Meanwhile, surf heights will range from 8 to 12 feet for several hours this afternoon and evening. , rip currents, Large swells from hurricane earl will lead to strong rip currents along area beaches. The rip currents will be strongest this evening as the storm passes and the tides fall. Large breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet are also expected. Strong rip currents will continue into Friday even as the storm moves away to the northeast.
[end quote]

Regards,
Johnny

Earl Update

FaceBook Fishing Topsail Group
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Making last minute preps for hurricane Earl. He is starting to worry me a bit. Should have turned east by now, but has not. No evacuation orders from Topsail yet, if they issue an evac order, WE BE GONE! Don't wanna see a cat 4 storm up close! Ok, so I may be a bit skeeerrred!

The official report as of 11 am:
Earl has taken a small turn to the north. As of 11 am, Earl was only one degree west from north. We need a bit more of an easterly shift. As of right now, no evac orders for Topsail.

I will report again, as time allows. If we stay, I will post the situation as much as possible, as long as I have the internet.

God Bless us all.
Johnny and Donna