FISHING REPORTS FROM THE
TOPSAIL/SNEADS FERRY AREA
Red, of Surf City Pier, reports a good mixture
of fish, with both red and black drum, spots, mullet, spadefish, blues, kings
(up to 27 lbs.), both speckled and gray trout, and flounder all in the mix.
The spots and mullet are biting bloodworms at night, while
the black drum are taking sand fleas and shrimp. Both cut and live baits are
catching reds, while the blues and spanish are falling for plugs. Some spanish
and the kings are hitting king rigs, and the flounder are eating live mud
minnows and the occasional live shrimp.
Ryan Hales
Jr. (age 6), from Wilmington, with a red drum caught in the Topsail area on a
pogie.
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that the
inshore red drum bite can’t be beat. Look for the reds on oyster rocks and
docks.
A decent inshore flounder bite can be taken advantage of by
using live bait or a bucktail.
On the surf, plugs are catching red drum near the inlets.
There has also been a good presence of sea mullet, pompano, and spots. Sand
fleas and Fishbites are the two top producing baits.
Nearshore fishing has been all about black sea bass and
snappers. King mackerel and amberjacks have also been biting, in addition to
plenty of mahi.
In the Stream, the mahi bite has been on fire.
Ben Hull with an 18″ flounder that he caught near Southport
on a Gulp shrimp.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that
while red drum fishing has still been good, it’s slowed down a little bit over
the past few weeks. Docks, oyster beds, grass shorelines, and shallow bays are
the best places to look for reds, where Skitterwalks, live and cut bait, and
scented soft plastics on Fathom Belly Blade jig heads should entice them to
bite.
Spanish fishing has been up and down, but your best chance
of getting a bite is to fish Hogy Heavy Minnows and Epoxy minnows. Trolling #1
or #2 planers with 0 or 00 Clarkspoons in gold, pink flash, and electric
chicken will do the best job of putting fish in the boat.
Cobia are holding on nearshore structure. Blue Water Candy
jigs, Z-Man HeroZ, and live menhaden are all doing a good job of getting bites.
School-sized kings are biting Mag Divers, Drones and
planers, and dead bait rigs.
Mahi have moved into shallower water, even coming as close
as six miles. They’re biting plugs, dead bait rigs, and live bait. Plenty of
sharks, barracuda, and amberjacks are around as well.
Bottom fishing has been productive for sea bass, grunts,
vermilions, triggerfish, and grouper on metal jigs, squid, and frozen minnows.
Hope you enjoyed this report.
Till next time....
Tight Lines!
Johnny
