Thoughts about piers and pier people

This post is from pierandsurf.com message board. I haven't fished Jennettes Pier, but I have heard about it and read about it for almost my entire life. As you read this post, substitute your favorite pier for Jennettes. For me it's Surf City Ocean Pier. Every line in the post is true for me and Surf City Pier. It is very emotional for me, and makes me realize just how much I love this pier and this place. God has blessed us so much, and it's easy to dismiss just how special this area is. Where else can you experience everything in the following post, as well as the most beautiful sunrises AND sunsets possible! The people here are special too. They are the most friendly and helpful people in the world. This place is blessed with all this and more. Enjoy.


This posted by pierandsurf.com user Harrymanz . His post follows.

Ten weekends

Spent the last ten weekends on jennettes pier, i dont kno how life could be better than sea mullet, bluefish , 7 million spadefish, triggerfish, a spanish blitz every few weeks, watching new friends see sheepshead on the piles and walk the almost half mile round trip to the beach to catch fleas and then catch said fish with those fleas( my son was impressed with this mastery) ive met tourists from everywhere , ive met numerous people from west va and tennessee(shot out)that make the trip out here to fish for a day. Ive seen family reunions, ive seen weddings, ive seen a heart attack, ive seen a guy catch himself with a gotcha plug(today) thank you security doctor sir. Ive had my kids out here , ive had my wife with me during a spade and spanish bonanza, ive met people from va beach where im from, I've seen a cormorant catch a flounder and spend thirty minutes trying to swallow it, ive seen a seven foot shark swim around, ive seen cownose rays swim by by the dozens, ive seen airborne bottlenose, ive had the pleasure of watching the pin riggers do there thing and watch what i expect are the locals absolutely slay big spanish in symphony while the rest of us are just catching, ive seen the end shoulder to shoulder catching and throwing without a bad word even amongst strangers who are now friends with no worries because like i heard flip pallet say when your fighting a fish the world stops for just a few moments and theres nothing but the fight (thats a lil deep sorry)thank you to the wonderful ladies workin inside that keep us right and all the guys that know everything else the rest of us dont and have no problem lending a hand to send a net for a small fish for people they dont even know. Thanks jennettes - of course i know whats better than all those things listed up top (cobia haha) go fishing guys.

End post.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny 

55 lb. 45 in. Red Drum with a Live Pogie

55 lb. 45 in. Red Drum with a Live Pogie

CAUGHT BY Wynter Jones  6/25/2018 6:42 PM while fishing on the Hyper Active boat at Johns Creek, Carolina Beach area.

Healthy live release!

Beautiful fish! Congrats Wynter Jones!

Till next time....

Tight lines!

Johnny

Fishin' my favorite surf spot on Saturday, June 23, 2018

Hello fellow anglers. I woke early Saturday morning, and after my coffee, I decided to go surf fishing. I haven't surf fished in a while, so I was a little excited to get back out there. First stop, since this outing wasn't planned, was the bait shop. I arrived about 05:30 and was greeted with a "Closed" sign in the window. Another early riser pulled into the parking lot and wasn't surprised to find the shop was closed. He assured me the store would open in just a few minutes. So at 06:05, I started to the truck and here comes the clerk, just a few minutes late. When I went inside to my disappointment, they were out of my bait of choice for today, jumping mullet for cut bait. All the waiting for nothing. Next time, I will be prepared, like my friend Tim, who gets up at 3 am, to net his bait for the following day. It's nice to be young and full of energy.

I get to "my spot" only to discover another angler had claimed this territory as his for the morning. I moved about 40 yards down the beach and set up camp. The bad luck for the morning continued, when I could find sand fleas, except the mini fleas, which are not good producers. Absent any other bait, I had to settle for blood worm fish bites. I caught several small sea mullets, or virginia mullets as some call them. They were too small to keep. While I had bait in the water, I continued to look for sand fleas, finally finding one nice size, bigger than my thumb nail. I baited up with the flea and within a few minutes had a good bite. I pulled in a big mullet, and had it in the bucket, so the day wasn't so bad after all.

But, that was the only good sand flea I found, and the only keeper fish I caught. Since I am old and wore out, I got tired about 10:00 and carried my gear and catch up the hill to the access steps. For those of you that are on Topsail Island  frequently, you know what 10 AM means. Check out time. I sat in traffic on 210 for what seemed like an eternity. Finally getting home about a quarter of 11:00.

Another successful day on the beach! We are Blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Great sunrises and beautiful sunsets, AND fish.

Till next time,
Tight lines!
Johnny

The BEST Way to Fish Shallow Water

Custom Lures Unlimited's Zero Gravity Jig

I've got to give this Zero Gravity Jig a try on red drum. This thing is cool! It sinks so slow. Slower than any jig I have ever used.

I would love to find one.



Till next time....

Tight lines!

Johnny

Caught a Monster Grouper that Weighed MORE than the BOAT

WOW! This is awesome! 









Till next time....

Tight lines!

Johnny

Scotch Bonnet Fishing Pier

Vintage Topsail Island pier fishing photos.

Anyone want to guess the year. I sure don't know.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

FISHING REPORTS FROM THE TOPSAIL/SNEADS FERRY AREA

Topsail – June 7, 2018

Read report on Fisherman's Post website. Click Here.

David Moore with a 5 lb. 7 oz. spanish that fell for a Gotcha plug off the Jolly Roger Pier.

Chris, of Surf City Pier, reports that small spots are coming in on bloodworms (though shrimp have been working, too). Spanish mackerel have shown up and are biting silver Gotcha plugs, as are plenty of bluefish. Anglers using Diamond jigs haven’t had as much success lately.

Flounder are going after live shrimp, while sea mullets are taking bait shrimp after dark. One spadefish was also recently caught.

Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that the massive schools of red drum have started to break up, which is normal for this time of year. Most of the fish being caught now are coming from creek mouths around area inlets. Due to sporadic rain, it’s been hard to find the best time to catch fish, but if you can get out to the inlets during a changing tide that coincides with the early morning, that’s your best bet. Most of the reds are biting cut menhaden. Artificial baits (other than topwaters) don’t seem to be working as well.

The weather has made it hard to go off the beach, but a decent spanish bite can still be found if the weather allows. Clarkspoons (size 00) in gold and pink will increase your chances of finding fish.

Marc, of Bad Habit Sportfishing, reports that while the nearshore spanish and bluefish bite had been running hot before the recent spell of bad weather, action has slowed down due to the dirty water caused by the rain and swell. With that being said, big spanish have been found by switching to Yo-Zuri Deep Divers instead of traditional spoon setups. Overall, once the weather settles, expect both the spanish and bluefish bite to pick back up quickly.

Kings have been biting on the reefs and live bottoms in 60-80’ of water. Both live and dead bait have been productive.

Bottom fishing seems to be best in 100’ or so of water. Cut baits or jigs will get the job done.

In the Stream, mahi are the most abundant species, but a few tuna, wahoo, and billfish have been biting as well. If the weather allows you to get out there, use a Supra Dart or Mini Agitator from Eye Catcher Lures in front of ballyhoo to get the best shot at the dolphin.

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been steady along the beach, with most fish being found in 20-40’ of water. Clarkspoons on planers and trolling weights have been working the best. Some fish are also being caught by casting small jigs.

King mackerel are being landed in the 5-15 and 20 mile ranges on dead bait, ballyhoo, and spoons. The occasional mahi has been mixed in with the kings in the 20 mile area.

The bottom bite has been steady from 15-30 miles offshore. Cut bait has accounted for the vast majority of the catch, which includes sea bass, grouper, triggerfish, and snapper.

Joe, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that spanish mackerel, bluefish, black drum, and small croakers are all biting. Plugs are working on the spanish and blues, while shrimp are the most effective for the other species.

Thanks to Fisherman's Post for this TOPSAIL/SNEADS FERRY AREA TOPSAIL/SNEADS FERRY AREA fishing report.

 Check out more fishing reports at Fisherman's Post.

Check out my favorite Topsail Area fishing pier, Surf City Ocean Pier.

Till next time....

Tight lines!

Johnny

Spotted seatrout season opens Friday

Spotted seatrout season opens Friday

MOREHEAD CITY – The spotted seatrout fishing season will reopen in North Carolina waters Friday.

The recreational bag limit will be four-fish per person per day, and the minimum size limit will be 14 inches total length. All undersized or over the daily harvest limit fish caught must be immediately returned to the waters where taken, regardless of the condition of the fish.

For more specific recreational spotted seatrout fishing regulations, see FF-23-2018 on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ proclamations webpage.

The commercial size limit is 14 inches total length, as well, but the commercial harvest limits and fishing days differ by water body and gear type. For specific regulations, commercial fishermen should see FF-24-2018 on the division’s proclamations webpage.

The division closed all coastal and joint waters to commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest on Jan. 5 due to widespread cold stun events.

Cold stuns are natural events that occur when there is a sudden drop in water temperature or prolonged periods of cold weather that makes the fish sluggish. During a cold stun, many fish die from the cold or fall prey to birds and other predators. Studies suggest that cold stun events can have a significant impact on spotted seatrout populations.

Under the N.C. Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan, if a significant cold stun event occurs, the Division of Marine Fisheries closes all spotted seatrout harvests until June 15 to allow the fish that survive the cold stun event the chance to spawn in the spring before harvest reopens. Peak spawning occurs in May. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission automatically closes spotted seatrout season in inland waters when it closes in adjacent coastal waters.