Word for the day is SPANISH

I am hearing that the spanish are everywhere. They are biting really well, and in between the spanigh, an anglers time is spent haulin up big blues (about 2 pounders). Bottom fishing at night is producing small mullets, croakers, splots, speckled trout, flounder, and hog fish. But the word is small. Once in a while there is a nice one brought up, but overall, everything on the bottom is on the small side. There has been some big mullets and whiting reported from the surf, although I haven't personally caught any, nor have I seen any. I am also hearing about some respectable puppy drum and trout in the surf.
Until next time.........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

East Coast Sports Fishing Report

Here is the weekly fishing report from Capt. Chriss Medlin at East Coast Sports.

_{East Coast Sports Fishing Report for}

_{May 29, 2006}

Check Out my Online Boating Store

At www.eastcoastsports.com

If you wish to receive this fishing report

Via e-mail just reply VIA E_MAIL and say add me to the list.

Do not reply on the message Board.

Dredge Report

To check the most up to date Dredge Schedule go here

http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav//info/DRSCH0521.pdf

All waypoints are listed from 1-8 or 1-2. #1 waypoint will

Be the closest to the ocean. East Coast Sports, its affiliates or

Employees cannot be held responsible for damages occurred

While using the information contained in this document. This Document

Is for informative use only and dose not indicate safe passage in or

Out of any inlet. These coordinates are supplied by the USACE and can

Be found at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav//.

New River Report

Wpt #1 34.21.4780765 N X 77.19.7706180 W

Wpt #2 34.31.6289183 N X 77.20.4584857 W

Wpt#3 34.31.9193781 N X 77.20.6762300 W

Wpt#4 34.32.0634524 N X 77.20.6459498 W

Wpt#5 34.32.3860163 N X 77.20.4102957 W

Wpt#6 34.32.6239742 N X 77.20.5328027 W

Wpt#7 34.33.2053190 N X 77.22.0824203 W

New Topsail Report

Wpt #1 34.20.0949014 N X 77.39.2831813 W

Wpt #2 34.20.2801249 N X 77.39.5666339 W

Wpt #3 34.20.3922875 N X 77.40.1008268 W

Wpt #4 34.20.5738885 N X 77.40.1812363 W

Wpt #5 34.20.7706658 N X 77.40.1303687 W

Piers

Surf City Pier = A few Spanish and Blues / 1 Cobia

Jolly Roger Pier = 2 Cobia 53 and a 21 / A few Chopper blues lots of tailors and a few Specks.

Sea View Pier = 3 Kings Today 23+ / A few Spots and Mullets

Conclusion

First few Cobia and Kings are here

Surf

New River Inlet to Surf City = some nice Reds

Surf City to Topsail Beach = Some Nice Mullets and a few Pompano

Topsail Beach To New Topsail Inlet = A few Mullets

Lee island North end = Lots of Reds still there

Conclusion

Catch them Reds at the north end of lees with gold Kastmasters (yes it is spelled with a K) and Berkley Gulp shrimp

Waterway / Inlet

Big Ole Black Drum in Becky’s Creek. Specks at the end of Trout street (no irony there)

Conclusion

Lots of reds still around as well

Inshore 0-20 miles

Kings everywhere looks like the making of a banner year. X-mass rock and the 200/200

200-200

34.06.39 N X 77.21.67 W

X-Mass

34.06.39 N X 77.21.67 W

Offshore 20 mile- 200 fathoms

Dolphin has moved in around 30 miles. They are getting closer Boys and Girls.

Water temp on the beach

73 degrees F

Conclusion

Lookin GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offshore Marine Forecast

HATTERAS CANYON TO CAPE FEAR OUT TO 34N 71W TO 32N 73W.400 PM EDT MON MAY 29 2006

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...EXCEPT SE 10 KT OVER THE E PORTION. WINDS BECOMING E TO NE 10 TO 15 KT THROUGHOUT. SEAS 3 TO 4 FT. 

.TUE THROUGH WED NIGHT...E TO SE 5 TO 10 KT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FT. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND TSTMS. 

.THU...SE TO S WINDS INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 KT...EXCEPT VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS OVER THE FAR SE PORTION. SEAS 3 TO 4 FT. 

.FRI...S TO SW WINDS INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FT. 

.SAT...WINDS SHIFTING TO N 15 TO 20 KT EARLY...THEN DECREASING TO 10 KT OR LESS OVER THE W PORTION LATE. SEAS 2 TO 5 FT. 

Conclusion

Weekend lookin Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend General Forecast

Remember this time of year when it gets warm there is always a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon but they do not last long.

Grandkids have a grand time fishing!

My daughter Emiley, her husband Ryan and our four grandchildren are here for a long weekend. While Donna and Emiley took the two youngest girls, Erin and Brianna, to visit great grandmother Bernice, Ryan and I slipped off to the pier with Zack and Christina. We had a grand time. The fish were biting just fast enough to keep the kids interested. Ryan had a great time also, saying this is the first time he had been fishing since his last visit with us two years ago. Although nothing we caught was braggin' size, we caught a nice variety of ocean fish. Sharks and stingrays were in the water to no ones supprise, and we caught mullet, croaker, and hogfish. I don't know how many of each we caught, but it was a good number. We kept a few so the kids could brag a bit to Mom and MawMaw.

Earlier in the day the spanish were hitting really well, as they have been all week. I talked to some folks that have been catching them in good numbers, and not just barely keepers, but nice size. I didn't actually see these large spanish, but I heard about them from more than one source. They are still hitting gotcha plugs, any color, early in the morning. Of course any one who wants a few blues can catch their limit in just a few hours if one gets their early enough.

The pier patrons are still abuzz about the young man that caught a 30 inch king mackeral on a gotcha plug while fishing for blues from the end of the pier. Too bad it wasn't a couple inches longer so he could have kept it. He can still brag about it for a while, and it can grow a bit every time he tells the story!

I don't know where the big whiting are. Last year and the year before, I had caught 20 whiting that weight over two pounds by this time. This year I haven't even hit the one pound mark. I don't know what it could be. I think the water is warm enough, but the fish just aren't here.....not where I am fishing anyway.

Until next time......
Tight Lines!
Johnny
10652

Same old song and dance

Small blues on got-cha plugs. Small mullets and croakers on bottom rigs. There was a nice speckled trout caught on a flounder rig baited with a mud minnow, weighed 3.8 lb. if I am remembering correctly. I have a migraine and it's kind of fuzzy today.
Till next time.......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

The spanish are biting really well from Surf City Pier. Most are keepers with a few bigger ones mixed in. There was a big king caught yesterday, I think it was about 44 lb. A young kid plugging from the end of the pier caught a king, yea, I said king, that I heard weighed about 30 lb. I'll check it out and make a correction if this isn't correct. The mullets and whiting still aren't biting as well as they were at this time last year. Bluefish are giving anglers lots of fun and sore muscles. There are lots of them in the water. Ken caught one with his got-cha plug just hanging right at the top of the water. Brother in law Dave Osborne caught one 18 1/2 inches jigging a got-cha straight down from the south side of the end of the pier. I am still hearing of a few drum, and a few trought, and a spot here and there. Weather is nice and water is warming fast. Last report I got was 69 degrees.
Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Spanish on Surf City Pier

Boat has been sold. Thanks for your inquiries.

There were several spanish caught on Surf City Pier today. Also caught were some small blues, and of course skates, stingrays and sharks. The mullet being caught are still small. By this time last year we had caught larger ones, up to two pounds. Maybe they will be here soon.
Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Inshore fishing charter a bust

I went with Dan and David on an inshore fishing charter targeting red drum. Charter was scheduled from 7:30 am until 2 pm. After catching bait, which consisted of pogies, we headed for ICW channel marker 98, which is near Lea Island at the southernmost part of Topsail Beach. We moved to 5 or 6 different locations throughout the morning and afternoon, ending up at the Surf City swing bridge about 1:30 pm. The skies were a bit overcast and it was warm but not hot. It was a beautiful day weatherwise and was nice being on the water, but the only thing we brought to the boat was a large stingray. We were hooked up three more times, only once could be confirmed as a redfish. . We were skunked, never landing a fish all day. I know this happens from time to time even with the most experienced guides, but still it's no fun paying over $300 dollars for a fishing trip and not catching a single fish. Oh well.......
Till next time.....
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Must Sell This Boat !!!!

For Sale or Trade...16 ft KenCraft flat bottom skiff well boat, 1984 model 25 hp evinrude (30 hp johnson powerhead) ELECTRIC START or rope start motor runs good. Battery new last summer. Includes gas tank with good gas line, life jackets, seat cushions, anchor, oar, fishing cooler, 50 yard flounder net, and trailer. Trailer needs work (wheel bearings and springs) before moving. New lights, rollers and wench for trailer included but lights and rollers are not installed. Almost new tires. Boat is flat bottom skif type with shallow draft, perfect for shallow water bays and creeks, or for setting flounder or spot nets. Floor repaired and glassed last summer. No leaks. Nice boat, but I have moved and have no place to store it.

MUST SELL! $500.00. Boat is at Surf City, NC. MUST BE MOVED be moved BEFORE JULY 1st. Will trade for late model laptop computer.

Contact Johnny at email fishintopsail@gmail.com. or call 910-520-0351.

Sunny Day

Today was a really nice day. I didn't fish in the ocean today, but I did throw a lure a bit into the channel behind our apartment. Had no luck, even though I saw what I think was a puppy drum "tailing". If you don't know, red drum like to forage in shallow water. When the water is really shallow, the drum's tail will break the surface of the water as it looks for food on the bottom. We saw several of these tailing drum, but none ever came close enough to get a lure to them. I am going on a inshore charter tomorrow with brother in law Dave and nephew Dan who are visiting Topsail Beach for a two week vacation. We are going out with Headhunter Charters. I will post results. Have no news from the piers today.

Tight Lines!
Johnny

Trout

The buzz on the beach is that the speckled trout have made an apperance. It was reported that one angler on Surf City Pier caught his limit. The spanish are in the water most every morning, with a few really nice 4 and 5 pounders being caught. Blues are still biting gotchas as well as bottom rigs. The larger mullets are starting to show up. The wind has been out of the south to south west this week, with some really strong winds about dark. The water temp is at 69 degrees. Reds are being caught in the sounds and creeks in shallow water. There was a few trout caught around the turning bridge, but no bragging size fish.
Till next time....
Tight Lines!! Johnny

Windy, Windy, Windy

I haven't fish this week because of a migraine, but don't know if I would have fished anyway. It has been really windy this week. Haven't been out so I don't know if fish are biting. Hope to find out tomorrow.

Southwest winds will warm water

The water temp is 69 degrees according to my friend Chris Medlin at East Coast Sports. The southwest to west wind will help warm the water here at Topsail Island. Mullets are biting at night and some during the day when the water is dingy, some are really nice. When the water is clear, the blues and spanish are biting. A four and a half pound spanish was caught this week at Surf City Pier. I have heard of the first big pompano being caught in the surf between Surf City Pier and North Topsail Beach. I know that is a lot of beach, but that's all the info I have. The flounder are getting bigger as several keepers were caught from SCP and in the surf.
Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Spanish R Here

The water temp is almost 70 degrees and with the warming water, comes the spanish mackeral and big blues. Glenn, an avid spanish angler caught a 2.58 lb spanish this week on Surf City Pier. The nice spanish hit a red head gotcha plug fished from the end of the pier. There were several smaller spanish landed this week also. If you like to throw the old faithful gotcha plugs, you need to be at the pier. Most everyone that throws a gotcha in the water, is catching blues. Most are smallish, although at times they are as big as two pounds. There have been two whoppers landed from the end of the pier. One weighed in at over twelve pounds, and the "small" one weighed a measley 7 pounds. Pretty respectable fish. There are a few black drum being landed as well as a few puppy drum. There was one large one fought to the pier, but the angler failed to get it into the drop net. I saw it thrashing about in the suds, and it looked to be about 3 feet long, definitely over the slot. Sea mullets are in the water, with a few nice ones weighing about a pound. The larger whiting hasn't made a showing in the surf yet, but they should be here soon. Sand fleas are plentiful at low tide, and can be found at higher tides, but it takes a little more effort to get the critters. Flounder are hitting live minnows, but most are small with a few keepers here and there. I saw one speckled trout landed this week, and it was a keeper, just a bit over 13 inches. There have been no kings or cobia caught from Surf City Pier, but there are a few die hards already fishing for them. Summing up, fishing is getting better and the forcast looks good as the water warms.
Till next time....
Tight Lines! Johnny

Fishin' is Getting Better!

Blues everywhere!

Although surf fishing is still a bit slow, Fishing from any of Topsail Island's three piers has really come alive this week. I fish Surf City Ocean Pier so I am more familiar with the fishing here. I am seeing lots of small blues being caught on GotCha plugs, and color doesn't seem to matter. Blues are hitting from the suds all the way to the end of the pier. Most are a little small, but there have been a few nice ones. A huge twelve pounder was caught off the end where it hit a king rig. A six pounder was also caught, but I haven't been able to get exactly where on Surf City Ocean Pier it was caught. At night the virginia mullet bite is picking up, and I have seen some coolers with more than a few nice mullet. The size of the mullets has really improved this week, with some about a pound. I have seen a few speckled and gray trout, as well as a few black drum. I had estimated that it would be another week before I started seeing puppy drum in the ocean, but they are already being caught from the pier, and at least one was past the "puppy" stage. Unfortunately the big fish was not landed, but it was fought to the pier and was lost while trying to get the monster into a landing net. The huge redfish looked to be at least 30 to 36 inches long. I have caught several baby flounder, under the 14 inch size limit, and I have heard of several from 14 to 17 inches long being caught on mud minnows and finger mullet. If you boat or fish the inland side of the island, you can be in for some really great action. Reds are plentiful although easily spooked. They can be seen "tailing" in shallow water while eating bait on the bottom. The fish get almost vertical and the end of their tails will be visible. The season's first spanish mackerel was caught this week at Jolly Rodger Pier. So, although the angling action hasn't yet reached a "feeding frenzy", fishing is good and I only expect it to get better. The water temp is at 64 degrees, according to Chris Medlin at East Coast Sports. As the water gets a few degrees warmer, the mullet, flounder, and drum (both red drum and black drum) fishing should get even better. Till next time......
Tight Lines, Johnny

No Luck in the Surf

Fished near the old Barnacle Bills fishing pier today. I was out there from about 4:30 until after 7:30 pm. fishing the last couple of hours until low tide, then a couple of hours on the incoming tide. Only had one bite on sand flea. I must have set the hook to fast, cause I didn't get the fish. On a good note, sand fleas were everywhere today. One scoop with my flea rake and had at least a hundred medium size crabs. I have them in a cooler with a sealed bag of ice. I am wondering how long they will last.
I got an email fishing report from Captain Rick Bennet of Rod Man Charteres. I have pasted the report in this post. Till next time.....
Tight Lines, Johnny

Rod-Man Charters Report May 3, 2006

Hi Folks,

Wow, has the wind been blowing??? Things have finally calmed down for a while and the fishing is turning on for sure. We are catching reds, blues and a complete mixed bag of fish. The bonito have not been what has been expected this year, but they may show in numbers yet.

Here's my report:

Inshore: Redfish have been doing very well. Live bait or cut bait fished on carolina rigs around the inlets, the creeks and the waterway are producing fish. Bluefish have been strong in the inlets on the rising tide. Look for flounder to start biting any day.

Near shore: Bonito have been slow to materialize this year. Of course it has blown so hard for the last several days they may have been frolicking around out there and nobody could get to them. We have done well on gray trout and a mixed bag of other fishes. Spanish mackerel are just around the corner; I can almost smell them and hear them jumping.

Offshore: I am getting some reports of kings moving in around 10 miles out to the 23 mile range. Look for those kings (the spring size) to show up close to the beach soon! Grouper and sea bass fishing in the 25 mile range has been good.

Gulfstream: Wahoo has been the main catch here. A few tuna, mahi and billfish have added to the mix. Again, weather has not cooperated on many days for the big boats to get out.

All and all we have had a pretty good spring thus far, but the action is really starting to heat up now. My custom rods and their Okuma reels are freshly spooled with Fireline and ready to catch fish. I know you hear almost every time,

but I have to say, GULP has saved a many a trip this spring...it's good stuff, as are all the Pure Fishing/Berkley products.

Don't miss the pic of the week: http://www.rodmancharters.com/photo3.htm

Let's Go Fishing!!!

Captain Rick Bennett

Rod-Man Charters

910-799-6120

Windy

We are still getting the strong north to northease winds along the beaches of Topsail Island. Currents are strong and five ounces of lead will not hold the bottom. There are a few small mullet being caught from the piers, but nothing in the surf. Winds are supposed to change over the next 24 hours, and maybe that will produce better fishing.

Still have a boat for sale. 16 foot Kencraft well boat. This is a flat bottom skiff, good for fishing in the sounds and Intracoastal Waterway behind the island. I need to sell this boat, so any decent offer will be considered. I am willing to trade for a nice laptop computer. Email me with your offer.

Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Picking up

Well, I got this piece of junk computer running one more time. The fishing is picking up. When the wind lays down enough to cast there are some nice va mullet (1 to 2 lb range) being caught. Small flounder, mostly under 14 inches hitting mud minnows and finger mullets, as well as cut shrimp. Sand fleas, my favorite mullet bait, are still hard to find. Mostly have to dig for them. Saw a one pound black drum and several nice spot caught on the pier this afternoon. When water is clear in the mornings, small blue fish are being caught on gotcha plugs. Still waiting for that south wind that will push the warm water from the gulf stream to the beaches on Topsail Island. That's when fishing will really pick up. In the backwaters, behind the island, anglers are catching puppy drum, trout and flounder. I am hearing a lot about the new Berkley Gulp Saltwater lures. Anglers are saying they catch more on them than the real thing. They are supposed to put a lot of smell in the water. I'll give them a try.
Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Spring is here

Haven't posted in a while. My computer is about to find a new home at the bottom of the ocean. It's running now, but who knows for how long. Fishing is picking up. Virginia mullet and whiting can be caught in the surf as well as the piers. Blues are starting to show up. A giant chopper blue, 24 lbs. was caught by a king angler from the end of the Surf City pier. Smaller blues are being caught on Got-cha plugs. Speckled trout are still in the water. Puppy drum are starting to show up in the surf, and they are schools of them in the waters behind the Topsail Island. The kayak-ers are making some good catches of trout, flounder, and puppy drum in creeks and waterways. Check out Herring's Outdoor Sports if you don't have a kayak. Their rentals are really reasonable .

Life is Good!
Tight Lines!
Johnny

I still have a boat for sale, I need to move it out. Make an offer. I will consider cash or trade for a computer as mine is getting old and undependable.

Boat for Sale

For Sale or Trade...16 ft KenCraft well boat, 1984 model 25 hp evinrude (30 hp johnson powerhead) ELECTRIC START or rope start motor runs good. Battery new last summer. Includes life jackets, seat cushions, anchor, fishing cooler, and trailer. Trailer needs work (wheel bearings and springs) before moving. New lights, rollers and wench for trailer included but lights and rollers are not installed. Almost new tires. Boat is flat bottom skif type with shallow draft. Perfect for shallow water bays and creeks. Floor repaired and glassed last summer. No leaks. Asking $1000.00 or best offer. Will trade for late model laptop computer. Boat is at Surf City, NC. Doesn't have to be moved until June. Nice boat, but I have moved and have no place to store it. Contact Johnny at email fishintopsail@gmail.com.

Mullet Good!

The ocean water is warming and with the warmer water, comes the virginia mullets. I am told that the night time bite is good. but most now are small. There are a few larger ones mixed in. There also have been a few speckled trout caught from Surf City Pier. Of course the puffers or toads, are still out there, with a sting ray or a skate here and there. I am still waiting for my first mullet from the surf.
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Piers, Mullets, Puffers, and Stingrays

Boat for sale, read about it after my fishing report.

Water is warming up, 61 to 63 degrees, depending on which source you use. Puffers are in the surf in good numbers. If you like these fish, get to the shore while they are here. Va Mullets are being caught here and there from the surf, but the piers seem to be producing better right now. Heard a rumor, can't confirm, that an angler caught over a hundred Va mullets fishing all night from Surf City Ocean Pier. Still trout and puppy drum are being caught by boating anglers in the sound side of Topsail Island. Winds have been out of the north and north east last week, slowing the warming of the ocean water. We need some good south wind along with these sunny days we have been having, to warm the water a few more degrees.
NOTE: Sorry I haven't posted lately. Getting used to some new meds, making me feel really tired and weak. Sould be getting acustomed to them in another week or so. Thanks for checking my blog. Hopefully I will be out more and have something new and good to tell you.

Still have the boat for sale. 16 foot KenCraft well boat. Great for setting nets and shallow water fishing. 25 hp Evinrude, (30 hp Johnson powerhead) in good running condition. Electric start with tiller steering. Comes with a trailer that needs work, wheel bearings and springs. Includes life jackets, cushions, gas tank with good rubber bulb, flares, anchor, etc. Everything needed to go fishing. Asking $1,000 dollars, but I am willing to deal. I will trade for a computer, prefer laptop in good condition. I have moved onto the island, and have no place to keep it. Good Deal!

Surf City Ocean Pier Opening

Surf City Pier will officially open on Friday, March 31, at 6am. Like last year, the first mullet caught on that day will win a season pass. I will be there, will you?

There have been some mullet and a few small trout showing up in the surf this week. Shouldn't be too long before they will be here in big numbers. Because of the mild winter, the water temps never dipped to low, so it should be warming up pretty fast. Look for blues and spanish to be showing up in the next few weeks. There may be some early spot runs also. Last year there were some big spots caught in late March and early April. Boating anglers are still catching trout and puppy drum. I have heard of some really nice trout, 16 to 18 inches, being caught near the New Topsail Inlet at the south end of the island.

Get your gear cleaned up and oiled, put on that new line, and check the hooks on your favorite trout and spanish lures to make sure they are sharp. The season is almost here.

A new national record large mouth bass has been caught AND RELEASED in California. The angler was fishing from a boat, and someone had a video camera, and caught the whole thing on tape. The lunker weighed in at over 25 pounds! What a hog!

Till next time,
Tight Lines, Johnny

Sea Mullets Show Up

I am hearing of sea mullets being caught hear and there along the beach. I haven't seen any so I can't verify this. But as soon as I catch one, I'll let you know. Also heard about a few trout, reported to be nice size, caught by a kayak fisherman. He was using the new Gulp Natural plastic baits. I am hearing a lot of good things about these baits. I will try them this year.

Let's not forget to stay on our state representatives concerning the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway. We can't let them forget us. We all need the waterway to be dredged to make it safe for all the boaters. And lets not forget all the businesses that rely on the ICW for their livelyhood.

. I have never given a second thought to the maintenance of the ICW. But it is apparent now that we need to get involved to make sure we have these waterways available in the near future. Not years from now, but months from now. Click on the Frying Pan Tower link below for links to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to take action on this important issue.

Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Fish aren't the only thing biting at the coast!

Check this out!

This snake was recently found at the old Turkey Creek located just south of BURGAW, N.C.

-- 20 MILE NORTH OF WILMINGTON

WOW!

It's Almost Time

Can't believe I haven't posted in over a month. Health hasn't been very good. I think I am starting to feel better now. I am getting reports of a few fish here and there. Small mullet and a few trout in the surf, and some bigger trout behind the island in the usual spots near the New River, and around Marker 98 at the south end of the island. We are supposed to have 80 degree temps this weekend, but the wind needs to lay down a bit for surf fishing. Water temp reported by Chris at East Coast Sports is 54 degrees. If you haven't already, get your gear ready, they will be here soon.

Nothing to Report

Haven't posted in a while, but in my own defense, there is absolutely nothing to report. Not even hearing about anything off shore. The stripers are running at the outer banks, but nothing here. If I hear of anything close to Topsail Island, I will post it.

Trout and Flounder Still Here

I talked to a fisherman today on the Laniers Campground Pier. He was cleaning three speckled trout that he caught in the surf near Surf City Pier this morning in between rain showers. So there are still trout in the surf. I saw a couple of anglers on Surf City Pier, but I don't know the fruits of their outing.

A Saturday night flounder gigging trip netted a fisherman four flounder all keeper size. All were caught right in the Becky's Creek area. According to www.weatherunderground.com the water temperature is 48 degrees. I have always heard that trout vacate the area when the water temperature drops below 50 degrees. So........draw your own conclusions.
Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Still a few fish

I am getting a few reports (very few) of speckled trout in the surf. It seems that there are a few more being caught in the sound and creeks. Specifically, the grassy banks around ICW marker 98 and Turkey Creek. I haven't been fishing in weeks, so I am only getting second hand reports. I'll post more information as I get it. I have seen first hand the stringers being brought in by those that are flounder gigging. It seems that they are everywhere off the waterway in shallow water. Just pick a night when there is no wind. Just about everyone that goes out near here is coming back with close to their limit.
Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Bandit Charters Offshore Report

Got an email from Capt Tim Fairchild of Bandit Charters today. Here is part of the email.

"Only trip Last week was tuna Trip. Caught one BlueFin 93" long Est. weight 150-180lbs. Tag and released. Same trip got into Big blue fish (great bluefin bait). Had couple black tip Sharks that night."

"Next trips will not be until Jan 7,14,21 all bluefin Tina charters. Stripers have tried for them around divers rock (no Luck) Black sea bass still all over from 5-15 miles off along with some Gag Grouper."

"Talk to you later Capt. Tim"

You can contact Capt Tim for a charter at 910-512-6047 or 910-327-3980. Or you can email Capt Tim at gradywhitebandit@aol.com or bndtchrtrs@aol.com.

Merry Christmas

Haven't posted in a while. The migraines have made me crazy. Doc has put me on new meds that are doing a number on me. On a positive note, I can't believe the flounder are still in the bays and creeks. I have a friend that went flounder giging three nights this week. Got a total of 20 flounder and never left Becky's Creek! I have never seen so many flounder in one spot. I can't get one to bite a hook for nothing, but they are out there. I promise you, Lord willing, I will have flounder lights on my boat by next spring. And, I will have a freezer to store all the flounder I will have for the winter fish fries!

Trout

Trout are everywhere behind the island. I am hearing that most creeks off the ICW are holding trout. Most are small, but they are out there. Hear they are hitting brightly colored plastics on jig heads or spinners. They are also catching some in the surf around daylight.
Till next time;
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Kayak Adventure

I received this email from reader Ward Clark. I hear many stories about fishing the grassy banks off the ICW(Intracoastal Waterway). I haven't had this kind of luck in my sixteen foot flat bottom boat, but I am haven't given up. I know that trout and puppy drum in this skinny water, as some boaters call the shallow flats behind Topsail Island, spook really easily.
Please feel free to email your Topsail area fish tales and I will post them.

Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did.
......................................................................

HI,

I stumbled onto your blog postings about six months ago and find them very informative. Thought I would share a fishing story.

I get to Topsail once a year, in the summer, and love to fish. This past summer we visited the 3rd week of July. Surf fishing was slow so one morning I went to Herrings (spelling?) kayak and fishing place and rented a kayak. I tooled around in the marshes behind their store for a couple of hours. I threw spinnerbaits at the banks, but replaced the skirt with a green and white mr. twister type rubber jig. I landed two really nice redfish in the 25” range (one may have been bigger) and lost 2 others. They were released unharmed. The bigger one towed me around for a bit before tiring. I had a blast and this was the fist time I ever fished from a kayak and the first time I ever “targeted” shallow water reds. I can’t wait to do it again. I have caught a couple over the years in the OBX while surf fishing with cut bait.

Is this typical of all the shallow backwaters behind Topsail during the summer or did I luck into one of those “great memories”? All the fish were holding in or near oyster beds.

GO TOPSAIL!!

Ward Clark

East Coast Tackle Fishing Report

I haven't been fishing lately, so I don't know much about what is going on. I have heard that speckled trout are out there at sunrise. Also bunches of small mullets and black drum. Lots of flounder are being brought in by the night time giggers. A few reports of boats getting their limit. If you are set up for flounder gigging, now is the time. Go towards the inlets where the water is more clear.

Capt. Chris Medlin has just posted his Topsail Island fishing report at www.eastcoastsports.com.

Check it out. Lots of cool info about fishing, inshore and offshore, dredge and inlet reports, and even links to up to date weather reports.
Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Slow Down

Fishing has slowed down a bit from the frenzy of the last few weeks. Piers are still reporting some spots and mullets, but the big ones haven't arrived yet. It's late in the season, and I'm not sure they haven't bypassed us this year. I am hearing of big spots around Morehead City, so maybe they will make it down to Topsail. Pier anglers are also catching some specs (speckled trout) and puppy drum. Surf anglers are doing well, catching spots and lots of black drum, with some mullets and speckled trout mixed in. Winds have been out of the south for the past week. A front moved in last night and today bringing cold temps and wind changes. Wind will be out of the north for the next couple of days, so we will see if the wind change makes a difference. Took the boat out Sunday afternoon. Donna and I cruised the waterway and talked to several anglers, none were catching anything but pin fish. I am still hearing about trout in the creeks, but I haven't been able to find them.
Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Our inlets are in trouble. The current administration has cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineers who is responsible for dredging our inlets and waterways, especially the Intra-Coastal Waterway. New River Inlet on the north end of Topsail Island was actually closed for a time this summer. There is now some money allocated for dredging for 2006, but it is not nearly enough to keep the inlets and the waterway open. I have never given a second thought to the maintenance of the ICW. But it is apparent now that we need to get involved to make sure we have these waterways available in the near future. Not years from now, but months from now. Click on the Frying Pan Tower link below for links to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to take action on this important issue.

Rod Man Charters Report

Thanks to Capt. Rick Bennet and Rod-Man Charters for this report. Sounds like I need to be fishing the inlets and creaks.



Rod-Man Charters Fishing Report November 10, 2005:

Hi Folks,
Only one word is needed to describe inshore fishing around Wrightsville Beach...HOT!!! Virtually everything is biting well and the moderate temps we are experiencing should keep the fish biting. The Rod-Man and his guests in the Cape Fear Red/Trout Celebrity Classic did not take home any trophies this year, but we did catch a bunch of trout and had lots of fun doing it.

Now here's my report:

Inshore: Speckled trout are about to bite the bottom of the boat out. Grubs, Gulp, twitchbaits, mirrolures, live shrimp...all are catching trout in the inlets and the creeks. Red drum are biting in the inlet along with some black drum. You can also find them in the creeks. Plenty of blues are in the inlet, particularly at high tide. While you'll have to buy your live shrimp there is some live mullet around in the shallows and the creeks on the falling tide.

Nearshore: Gray trout are biting at the nearshore reefs. Jigging spoons work best along with live or cut bait. Some big reds are patrolling the surf and will hit just about anything.

Offshore: Reports are that kings are still around in good numbers in the 20-25 mile areas. Grouper fishing has been super.(Let me know and I can "hook" you up with a VERY GOOD grouper charter.

Gulfstream: Wahoo and tuna, mostly blackfin, are biting well.

Sponsor's Corner: Reports from Bug-em Bait state they are selling cigar minnow rigs for only $4.00...time to stock up. I cannot begin to count the number of fish caught on Berkley's Gulp this past weekend...just awesome. The Rod-Man Fishing School is selling fast. Be sure to get your seat soon.

Don't miss this week's pics of the week:
http://www.rodmancharters.com/report.htm

LOT'S of great fishing ahead..so...
Let's Go Fishing!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters

Fishin' Still Good

Haven't posted in a while due to a killer migraine. However, I am hearing that fishing on the beaches of Topsail Island is still good. Lots of trout are being caught in the surf as well as the ICW and creeks with grassy banks. I heard one report from Chris at East Coast Sports (http://www.eastcoastsports.com)that lots of puppy drum and trout were being caught around the marker 98 area of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Spots, mullets, black drum, trout, and blues are being caught everywhere on the surf and piers. A few spanish were caught at the SeaView Pier in North Topsail Beach, but I haven't heard of any on the other piers. Flounders are coming out of the water in numbers that are impressive, not just on the piers and backwaters, but in the surf as well. Anglers are having good luck with big blues on gotcha plugs from Surf City pier.

Before this last migraine put me down, I had good luck fishing with beef liver. Dad and I caught mullet, spots and black drum from the surf on the liver. I am excited about this because of the high cost of bloodworms. About $11 for 10 worms, and they keep getting smaller and smaller. The bloody beef liver is about $1.49 a pound. Give it a try. Someone suggested salting it down so it will keep longer, but I don't know if that would be necessary. I talked to an angler on Surf City Pier that salts his shrimp. He buys large quantities early in the season when shrimp are cheap, heads and cuts them into small bait size pieces, salts them down, then puts them in quart freezer bags and freezes them. When he heads for the pier, he just tosses a bag in his cooler and his bait is ready. Just a note, he was catching just as many fish as I was on fresh shrimp. Sounds interesting.

Thanks to fishin bud Ken for keeping me up to date on the fishing reports while I have been incarcerated.

Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Wanted! Northeast wind!

The wind changed last night and blew the fish out of our area. I don't know why the wind direction makes such a difference when it comes to the spot bite. But spots have been in the water all this week until last this morning when the wind changed from NE and NW to SW. It would take dynamite to get them up now. However all is not lost. Big blues were hitting gotcha plugs good this morning from the Surf City Pier. No kings or spanish have been caught recently, the last one was caught last Friday morning by Adolfo. So it looks like it's blues or nothing.

Rod Man Charters Offshore Report

Thanks to Captain Rick Bennet and Rod Man Charters for this fishing report. Rod Man Charters home port is Wrightsville Beach. Contact Rod Man Charters and Captain Rick Bennet at (910) 799-6120 or on the web at www.rodmancharters.com.

Rod-Man Report November 3, 2005:

Hi Folks,
Wow the fishing has been good lately. Trout are most everywhere. Red drum and black drum are biting. Fall fishing is in full swing I will be fishing the Cape Fear Red Trout Tournament this weekend and hopefully we will do well.

Now here's my report:

Inshore: Speckled trout are everywhere! You can find them from the inlets to the marsh banks in the creeks. Gulp baits are working well as are Mirrolures. Black drum and red drum are biting. Bluefish (nice fat ones) are biting at the inlets on high tide. Just watch for them running baitfish.

Nearshore: Some nice flounder are biting around the reefs and inshore wrecks. Gray trout are hitting jigs and live bait. Big drum are hitting live or cut bait.

Offshore: Kings are generally biting well around 10 to 20 miles out. Bonito are in the 7 to 10 mile areas. Bottom fishing has been good from 15 to 25 miles out.

Gulfstream: Wahoo and blackfin tuna have been biting well. A few billfish have added to the mix.

Our inlets are in trouble. The current administration has cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineers who is responsible for dredging our inlets and waterways, especially the Intra-Coastal Waterway. New River Inlet on the north end of Topsail Island was actually closed for a time this summer. There is NO MONEY allocated for dredging for 2006. I have never given a second thought to the maintenance of the ICW. But it is apparent now that we need to get involved to make sure we have these waterways available in the near future. Not years from now, but months from now. Click on the Frying Pan Tower link below for links to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to take action on this important issue.

Mullets, Black Drum

No trout in the surf this morning. Got started about 6, but friend Ken was there about 5:30 and He didn't catch any either. We fished until noon, and caught a nice stringer of mullets and black drum with a couple of pompano mixed in. I couldn't find any sand fleas this morning. Others on the beach said they were scarce today. I saw one black drum caught that was probably 6 or 7 pounds. It was bigger than the guys cooler. Gotta go clean fish.
Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Trout in the Surf

Monday morning. 7AM. Surf just north of Surf City Pier. As fishin bud Ken and I hit the beach, A couple of guys are fighting fish on light spinning rods. Turns out to be trout. He says "They were everywhere, Man! Every cast we caught one!" At first I thought about some of my embelishments about a good fishing day. You know the saying, "I fish, thus I lie." But then I saw him and his friends walking around with a cardboard box picking up the trout they had caught. "Here's another bunch!" the young man screamed to his buds as he picks up 3 trout and a blue laying in a pile on the beach. One trout still flopping. I cast my mirro-lure into the surf and immediately hooked up. I landed a nice 18 inch speck. That was the last one I caught. They just quit. I saw no less than 25 trout that had been caught that morning. We fished on and caught a dozen large mullets and a black drum before lunch break, but not another trout.

The wind is going to be right in the morning. NE about 5 mph. Air temp will be about 55 and water temp is about 62 and the tide will be almost high incoming. I WILL be on the beach before sunrise waiting for the specks to return. I am hearing the hot color for mirro-lure is rainbow. I don't have one, so I will try the closest color I have.

Oh, by the way, pier anglers were slaying the spots this evening. A friend, Nick, says some blues were biting got-cha plugs early in the day from Surf City Pier. They have caught a couple of kings this week also.

Till next time,
Tight Lines!

Johnny

Spots Out, Blues In

I haven't posted for a couple of days. Bad migrane. I called Surf City Pier this morning between naps, and found that everything except spots are biting. The water is really clear and the blues have moved in. The gotcha pluggers are having a ball with the blues. They have caught a couple of kings this morning also. Bottom anglers are catching black drum, mullets, speckled trout, and flounder.

Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Our inlets are in trouble. The current administration has cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineers who is responsible for dredging our inlets and waterways, especially the Intra-Coastal Waterway. New River Inlet on the north end of Topsail Island was actually closed for a time this summer. There is NO MONEY allocated for dredging for 2006. I have never given a second thought to the maintenance of the ICW. But it is apparent now that we need to get involved to make sure we have these waterways available in the near future. Not years from now, but months from now. Click on the Frying Pan Tower link below for links to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to take action on this important issue.

Fall Fishin' is GOOD!

Surf City Pier has come alive with shoulder to shoulder anglers. All ages and sizes. From everywhere in the state and some from out of state. The spots are biting so well that bait doesn't seem to matter. One angler said "I think I could catch them with marshmallows!". Everyone is filling their collers. The surf fishing is good also. Scattered trout, puppy drum, and flounder are being caught in the surf. Spots seem to be everywhere in the surf, and although you may not catch as many you would from the piers, you can catch plenty. The large fall mullets are coming in as well. I caught 3 big ones yesterday, 13, 14, and 15 inches. The rain is also here and will be here for a couple of days. It's not stopping the fishing. Rain suits, ponchos, and even large black plastic bags with holes cut in them for your head, are everywhere. If you can get out there, now is the time.
Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny



Our inlets are in trouble. The current administration has cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineers who is responsible for dredging our inlets and waterways, especially the Intra-Coastal Waterway. New River Inlet on the north end of Topsail Island was actually closed for a time this summer. There is NO MONEY allocated for dredging for 2006. I have never given a second thought to the maintenance of the ICW. But it is apparent now that we need to get involved to make sure we have these waterways available in the near future. Not years from now, but months from now. Click on the Frying Pan Tower link below for links to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to take action on this important issue.

Surf Fishing

Donna and I went surf fishing in Surf City near the Fire Department today. We got out to the beach about 9:30 AM. Immediately caught a 14 or 15 inch whiting using a sand flea for bait. Ken and Karen got there about 10 AM. Throughout the morning, we caught another pair of mullets. The three were 13, 14, and 15 inches long. We caught 3 nice pompano, and 10 medium to large spots. Sand fleas caught all the mullets and a couple of the pompano. The spots were caught on shrimp and artificial blood worms, made by FishBites. Surf was calm, wind NW, cool temp morning to warm about noon and clear. High tide was about noon today. May go back in the morning if weather permits. Calling for windy and rain.

Our inlets are in danger. The current administration has cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineers to the extent that there is not enough money to dredge the inlets. Enough money was obtained by a special bill to dredge once this year. No money is allocated for 2006. Visit the website below to find out what you can do to help. The website contains links to contact your representatives. Get involved.



Till next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

NW Wind Yields Better Spot Bite

The wind is back out of the NW, and with it comes the spots. Anglers are catching coolers full. Bait of the day is blood worms, and the bite is only on the north side of the pier. I only saw a few spots caught on the south side. I saw a few croakers, but no pompano or mullets. The spots that are biting are still not the usual fall monsters. They are still on the small to medium size. Larger spots along with the large sea mullets and whitings should be moving in soon. Get those home made rigs ready for the mullets. They don't like shiny hardware on the rigs.
Till Next Time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

NW Wind Yields Better Spot Bite

The wind is back out of the NW, and with it comes the spots. Anglers are catching coolers full. Bait of the day is blood worms, and the bite is only on the north side of the pier. I only saw a few spots caught on the south side. I saw a few croakers, but no pompano or mullets. The spots that are biting are still not the usual fall monsters. They are still on the small to medium size. Larger spots along with the large sea mullets and whitings should be moving in soon. Get those home made rigs ready for the mullets. They don't like shiny hardware on the rigs.
Till Next Time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

NIght Fishing Outing a Blank

Went surf fishing last night with Ben. Water looked good. Not really rough, but deffinetly not flat. No undertow. Also, no fish. Tried every bait. Sand fleas, shrimp, cut mullet, fresh cut spot, redworms, and squid. Still nothing. We were fishing in sight of the pier, (Surf City), and I didn't see a fish caught there either. Really slow night, but not wasted. The almost full moon reflected in the water gave a silvery glow and was beautiful.

Till next time,
Tight Lines,
Johnny

Wind Change Changes Bite

The wind changed to SSW yesterday, and so did the spot bite. What was a terrific 2 at a time bite has changed to one every couple of hours. However all the news is not bad. When the spots moved out, the flounder moved in. I don't think I have ever seen the flounder bite so good from the piers. Reports from pier employee Vinita is that one angler caught 56 flounder Tuesday. He left the pier with his limit of 8 keepers. One young lady, age 10 hooked and landed (with the help of her dad) a 5 and 1/2 pounder. My dad, John Sr. caught a 20 inch beauty! I am guessing it weighed between 4 and 5 lbs. There was a huge 4 1/2 lb spadefish caught Tuesday. The netters in the bays and intracoastal waterway are starting to catch spots in their nets, and the night time flounder catch is pretty good, with probably 2 to 5 flounder a night per 100 yard net. Starting November 1st, netters will have to sit with their nets instead of leaving them out all night. I am hearing the reds are still biting near the inlets, especially New Topsail Inlet. Trout are showing up around the New River bridge, with a few being caught around the Surf City Swing bridge. The swing bridge is also producing a few black drum. There are still a few blues being caught at the end of the piers early morning. Offshore, the captains are telling me that the water is still dirty as far out as 8 miles, so the game fishing is a bit off. They are still catching a few kings, but are having to go deep to get them. My outing tonight south of Jolly Rodger pier produced one shark, one spot, two pompano (small), and a skate. Pretty dismal. Waiting for the weekend when a wind change is predicted. Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Get in Line!

Just returned from the pier. We got there just as the spot run was winding down. There were lines at the cleaning tables. Two sinks on each side of the pier, all busy, and several people waiting on each side. Coolers full of nice spots, pompanos, mullets and blues. Heard there was several nice flounder caught. One was just over 5 lbs. Flounders hitting finger mullets. Winds are NNW at about 7 mph. High tide is about 5:30 am and if I can get out of bed, we will be there. The spots have been biting best at about 2 hours before and 2 hours after high tide. Stay tuned for tomorrows report.

Tony, better hurry! We are gonna catch'em all before you get here Saturday! Be safe.

Till next time...
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Catch'em While you Can

If you want to catch spots, and if you don't mind the shoulder to shoulder crowds, call in sick to work tomorrow, grab your gear, and head for Surf City. They are coming up on the pier two at a time, almost the total length of the pier. Everybody is catching them. Don't know how long this will last, so don't delay!

UPDATE

Just talked to a man and wife fishing team who were cleaning fish near my home. They had over 150 large spots and large pompano and 3 keeper flounder. All were caught Wed and Wed night from Surf City pier. They were cleaning fish for several hours. Both say they are ready to go fishing again early in the morning. Congratulations!

The Bite is Good!

Spots are biting anything in the water. Shrimp, bloodworms, redworms, nightcrawlers, and artificials like "Fish Bites". I went to Surf City Pier tonight and everyone has a nice catch. Spots range in size from small to huge. A bunch of really good pompano are coming over the rail. A good number of speckled trout along with lots of blues are in the water. Take your rain gear, small showers are coming through, but only for a few minutes at a time. If you run to the pier house, someone will get your spot.
Until next time,
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Spots, Lots and Lots of Spots

I haven't fished or posted in about 2 weeks because I had some bad migranes. I am hearing of some really good spot runs at all piers. Have heard as many as 50 to 60 spots can be caught in just a few hours. I can imagine that they are biting in the surf as well. Best bait is bloodworms although they are biting shrimp also. I am hearing of huge puppy drum in the creeks and waterways. Some as big as 10 lbs. according to Bandit Charter's Captain Tim Faircloth.

I see SPOTS

The surf is still full of seaweed. The spots are still here, but not the big run. They are still biting bloodworms. "sigh" I guess I'm going to need to break down and buy some goldworms, I mean bloodworms. They are about 8 bucks for 10, even more for the XXL bloodworms. About 11 bucks for 10. There have been a few puppy drums, a couple of speckled trout, and small flounder caught. A large king was caught from Surf City Pier. Fishin' is gettin better. The wind is coming out of the NE and its been cloudy for a couple of days. If these conditions hold, the water will cool on down and the spots will follow the cooler water. So get ready. Tie your rigs, clean those reals, and go out and dig some old fashioned earth worms. Spots love em. Yea, fall is here and the fish are coming. Till next time.....
Tight Lines,
Johnny

Bloodworms R Us

The spot bite has cooled a bit, but I suspect it's only temporary. The wind is E-SE and relatively calm. The water temp has risen, if you can believe it, to 81 degrees. We need some NE or N winds and some cloudy days to cool down the water before we will see the really good spot runs. I'm not saying you can't catch a few spots, but to catch a full cooler, it will take all day, maybe even two days. The best bait at this time is bloodworms, or goldworms as I like to call them. I’m so stingy, that I hate to turn loose of enough money to buy them when I can catch my own shrimp and finger mullets, or dig my own sand fleas, but spots love them. Most anglers with a substantial catch are using bloodworms. I haven't seen a big mullet in weeks. There have been some good spanish runs, but not many kings have been caught from the island's piers. The blues are still around, and the persistent angler can catch a few nice ones. Monday, there were a couple of nice speckled trout caught from Surf City Pier. The gray trout have been there for a while. It’s nice to see the specs finally move in. There are a lot of flounder in the water, but not many keepers. I talked to one angler, and he said he caught 9 with only two keepers. Surf fishing is still a pain because of the seaweed in the water. It's not unusally to pull in a 5 lb clump of the stuff on your bottom rig. I suspect that the seaweed settles in the holes just like shells do. All my favorite fishing holes are full of seaweed. You can search the beach and find a spot where there is no seaweed, or just put up with it. I haven't heard much about the backwater fishing near Surf City, but I have heard that some really nice trout are being caught around the high-rise bridge in Sneads Ferry.

My friend Yogi, owner of Yogi's Grill on Highway 17 in Holly Ridge is recovering from a broken leg. He hasn't been able to fish in a while. Stop by the Grill, have a nice lunch, and wish him well. Get well Yogi, see ya on the beach.

Till next time….
Tight Lines,
Johnny

SPOTS R HERE

If you have bloodworms, take them to the Surf City Ocean Fishing Pier. Anglers with these squirmy, more valuable than gold, critters are pulling the spots in two at a time on the north side of the pier. With the water temp still 80 degrees, it needs to cool off a little more for the spots to stay in. This is just the first good run, and I suspect the bite will only improve in the coming weeks.

Not much is biting on the south side of the pier. I saw two puppy drum, no bigger than 16 inches, but one went in the cooler. Hope he has the 125 bucks when the MAN catches him, and I hope he does. I am a strong believer in our conservation efforts. I have fished on Topsail Island for almost 30 years and until recently I haven't had much luck catching reds. So these efforts are working.

Flounder were caught today, although only a few were keepers. A large shark was landed this morning by a king angler off the end, and promptly cut into steaks. Delicious when served up with baked beans cole slaw and fries, or my personal favorite, baked potato.

I tried surf fishing near the pier this afternoon. There was so much seaweed and trash in the water that it only took one cast to change my plans. I sat in my chair with my wife Donna and watched the surfers, enjoyed the cool breeze, and the walked in the surf. The water seems to be getting cooler to the touch, but is still 80 degrees. As the water cools, i suspect the spot will move in, along with trout and most other cooler water fish. The bite will only get better. Get ready! Till next time.....

Tight Lines!
Johnny

High Flyin' Grandpaw

Congratulations to Scott and Jennifer on the birth of a baby girl, their first baby, at 4:15pm today. Mom and baby are doing just fine. She is our fifth grandchild, 4 girls and 1 boy.

Again, sorry for no fishin reports lately. I will resume when I can get another computer.

Thanks for your understanding. Till next time...

Tight Lines!
Johnny

Computer Crash

Hi, Sorry I haven't been posting. My computer took a major nose dive, maybe a belly buster or cannon ball would be a better term. Anyway it's dead for now. I am using my son Scott's computer while on a visit to his Charlotte home. He and wife Jennifer are expecting their first baby, a girl, in the morning. I'll let you know the next time I can post. Anyway back to my computer. It's busted and I won't be posting until I can get a new one. Not that there is anything much to report. The regular catches of small croakers and mullets, with the sharks and skates here and there. I have seen a few, very few, spots starting to show up. It's about time for them to start. So, until next time......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Good News, Bad News

Which do you want first? Good or Bad? You don't get to decide. The Good News is....the seaweed isn't as bad. Grey trout bite is good. There was a lot of greys caught last night. Most were caught on cut shrimp, but I saw one caught on a Got-cha plug. Lots and lots of small croakers and small sea mullets. An occasional spot, usually a nice one, and a few puppy drum, mostly under the slot. Now for the Bad News. The wind is blowing so hard (35 mph gusts)that standing on the pier is uncomfortable. I hope that Surf City Pier is well built, cause it's rockin tonight! Huge waves are slamming it from the northeast. I fished this morning about 2 hours, caught small mullets and a pompano. There was a surfing tournament this morning and there was no shrotage of good 6 to 10 foot waves. The wind is out of the NorthEast at 30 to 45 knots and gusty. The high temp today was 83 with partly cloudy skies, and the water temp is 80 degrees. Hurricane Ophilia headed our way? I will check the weather first thing in the morning to see if I have to start packing. We rode out hurricane Charley last year. Won't do that again. Till next time.....
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Seaweed Carpet

As I walked out on the pier last evening, I was walking on a carpet of seaweed. The ocean is still really rough. Waves are breaking almost at the end of the pier. Ken tells me that it actually splashed up on the pier, getting him wet. The surfers are loving it. Anglers are catching puppy drum, not many keepers, and trout. Grey trout are showing up in good numbers now. I saw several caught last night on cut shrimp. Most are around 15 inches in length. Seems the water is full of small croakers, about 4 or 5 inches long. Surf fishing is almost impossible with the undertow, the rip currents, and the seaweed. After hurricane ophilia passes through, I'm sure the surf will calm down. I am looking for the large fall mullets and spots to move in any time. The air is cooler, high was 83 today, but the water is still warm, 80 degrees. It needs to cool down a little more for the good fishing to start. If this NE wind continues, it shouldn't be too long. There are plenty of flounder being caught in the backwaters, especially in Banks Channel. Near the south end of the island, around Lee Island, anglers are catching lots of drum. Some are in the slot and can be kept. I found a good recipe for drum, and tried it last night. I marinated the drum in Texas Pete, then put a little oil on it and grilled it with onions. MMMM really good. Not hot at all like I thought it would be.

BIG FISH....125 LB TARPON CAUGHT AT JOHNNY MERCERS WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH PIER BY A WILMINGTON MAN. WOW

Till next time, tight lines!
Johnny

Fishin' is TOUGH!

Noreaster... a word that sends chills up the back of most anglers. It seems that not much bites. The surf is churning and spitting up seaweed. A five ounces of lead will not hold the bait down. It bounces down the beach like a rubber ball. However...an angler at the Surf City Ocean Pier pulled a 3 1/2 pound puppy drum our of the foaming white sea. So, my conclusion? If you are willing to put up with five pound bunches of seaweed on your hook, the wind blowing sand and salt spray in your face, and the occasional sprinkle of rain, there are fish out there to be caught.

Flounder

I decided to take my own advice. I set the clock early, took my casting net out to the bay, and caught about 3 doz assorted sized finger mullets. I was on the pier by 7am. Fishing was SLOW. I had nothing, zero, until about 10:15am. I caught my first flounder of the day. A nice 18 incher. Beautiful fish, but it turned out to be my last one of the morning. I saw one other flounder which was about 12 or 13 inches. The angler didn't measure, but I could tell it was too small. I also saw one small blue. NOTHING ELSE! I couldn't believe it, the water was nice, a little dingy, with just a little chop, and full of bait fish. School after school of finger mullets came cruising by. I guess the water is just too warm, 85 degrees. But it is summer, right? I left the pier about 12:45. I got hung up under the pier and broke my carolina rig off. I figured that was a good time to call it a morning. It is clear and about 81 degrees today, with NE wind about 10 mph. A little cooler than last few days. Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Slow, but they are out there.

Fishing from a pier or surf fishing is slow this time of year. But, if you are dedicated, and have the time, there are fish to be caught. Flounder are in the water. There was a beautiful 10 pound 10 ounce door mat caught this week in Banks Channel beside a dock. You don't really think the angler will say which dock, do you? I saw a nice flounder, about 18 inches, leaving Surf City Pier as Donna and I walked onto the pier Friday evening. Anglers were catching a few pompano and blues, along with small croakers. Side note, I wish we could catch big croakers here like they are catching in the Chesapeak Bay and James River in Virginia. I hear it's nothing to catch a cooler of 2 and 3 pounders there. Could it be the netting laws there that makes the fishing so good? That's something to research when I have time. Now back to my fishing report. I heard that there was a 26 inch puppy drum caught this afternoon on the pier. I also hear that there are spanish in the water early in the morning. Thursday morning anglers were catching plenty of them, but not many were over the 12 inch size limit. Friday morning there were some spanish caught. My friend and pier employee, and custom fishing rod builder Bill caught a couple of really nice ones. So, my point is, if you get up early, if you spend the time casting your Got-Cha plug, you can catch spanish and blues. If you get up really early, catch live shrimp, mud minnows, or finger mullets, and spend the time dragging your bait up and down the pier, you can catch flounder, if you can keep the blues from biting off your bait. So, don't despair, there are fish in the water. Set that alarm early, get out to the bay and catch that bait, and get to your favorite fishing hole. There is no better way to spend your time, than fishing. Until next time......Tight Lines.
Johnny

Sea Mullets and Spots

Spots and sea mullets are showing up more each day. I use "Sea Mullets" to include several species including whiting and va mullets. There is not much difference, but some prefer one to the other. It seems that blood worms are the best bait right now for spots. The worms are really out producing shrimp. So if you are a spot lover, get your bloodworms and head to the pier or your favorite fisbin hole.

If you recall me talking about the new pinball type game at Surf City Pier, it's still there. My fishin bud Ken has won 3 more rod and reel outfits. He knows how to play the game! Take a roll of quarters down there and try your luck.

Till next time, tight lines!
Johnny

Re: Shrimp harvest

This message was posted on my blog by Anonymous....

Anonymous said...
I read where the shrimp harvest in NC waters was down 80% this year from the five year average. Seems no one is catching many. In fact some shrimpers have told me they aren't even going out right now cause the catches are down and gas prices are up.

4:16 PM, August 30, 2005


I haven't heard about the shrimp shortage. I don't doubt that what you said is true. Shrimp are still pretty cheap, although the quality is off. You can buy a pound of shrimp for $2.99 but they are really small. I admit that I am not an expert, but I must believe that the otter trawls, which have been used for many years, should not be used. The trawl is dragged across the bottom. This intrusion stirs up bacteria and destroys the shrimp breeding ground. The other options, one of which is a floating frame net, do not disturb the bottom. Seems to me like a better option for the environment and the shrimp. You shrimpers, if I am wrong, let me know. Like I said I am no expert.

Till next time, Tight Lines!
Johnny

Flounder Anyone?

Thanks to our friends Ben and Doris for a couple of excellent days on the water. We were back in the Intracoastal again this afternoon. We had our fill of small sharks. There were several big hits that we were unable to get to the boat. Most just came unhooked, but a couple were line breakers. Ben had something really large that took out lots of line, which eventually broke. Judging by the bite, a gentle tap, tap. I am guessing flounder. Blues and sharks usually bite and run, so I don't think that's what Ben was hooked up with. Speaking of flounder, Donna caught the only keeper of the trip. A nicely colored 15 incher. Since Donna doesn't eat fish, the chore of disposing of the flounder fell to me. It was good! We carried the catch to Seahorse restaurant and they cooked it up nice and crispy. The fish was served up with a big baked potato and some delicious cole slaw. We also ate our fill of Sea Horse's dilicious hush puppies.
There wasn't much action on Surf City pier tonight. Although several anglers had some nice spot in their coolers. If you stay out on the pier all day or all night, you can get about half a cooler of spots and small croakers, with an ocassional blue or pompano. I am still hearing about large, really large red fish in a few of the creeks around Lee Island across the inlet at the extreme south end of Topsail Beach. When I find them, I will let you know.
Till next time, Tight Lines!
Johnny

Drifting the Intracoastal Waterway

Went surf fishing this morning. Didn't get started until 8 am. Real fishermen get up early to go fishing. Anyway, the surf was so nasty that 5 oz weights wouldn't hold the bottom. It bounced down the beach like a rubber ball. I walked along with it for about a quarter mile, but it never stopped. I thought if I could find a hole, it wouldn't wash so bad. That stragedy didn't work this time. After about an hour of realling in my rig every 3 or 4 minutes, I decided it was too much like work, and packed it in. When we arrived home, our friends Ben and Doris ask us if we would like to go out in the boat. We went out to the ICW and drifted with the current. We floated from Marker 76 down past the BC marker. We were catching small blues and small sharks. Doris caught one really nice blue, probably about 2 lbs. It is a couple of nice fillets now. Going to be a good dinner tomorrow night when added to the mullet and one spade fish I have in the fridge. Drifting down the Intracoastal Waterway is one of my favorite activities. It's so peaceful, especially at dusk, that catching fish is really not that important. WO, WHAT AM I SAYING. Ok, I'm back now. Back from whatever place I was in when I said catching fish wasn't important. We tried several different approaches. We dragged flounder rigs along the bottom. We fished finger mullets under a bobber. And we tried a new rig I bought recently. It is a wire attached to a float and a leader. The wire goes in the finger mullet's mouth and out, ummm, let's say where the sun don't shine. Then the double hook is attached to the wire. The small cork is at the minnow's head, and keeps it off the bottom. The rig is weighted with a 1 oz round bottom sinker. When rigged this way, it is extremely difficult for sharks or blues to bite off half the minnow without getting hooked. I think I like this rig, and I'll try it again.

Question......where is all the shrimp? I haven't netted any shrimp in a couple of weeks. All my "honey holes" are not producing any longer. Ponder this and post a reply if you have any ideas. Better sign off now, got to get up early in the morning to go fishing. As they say "The early bird gets the worm uh er I mean the fish. Until next time,
Tight Lines,
Johnny

Flounder and Trout at Surf City Pier

Congratulations to my 10 year old fishing bud Cody. Cody caught a nice speckled trout last night from the Surf City Ocean Fishing Pier. Cody snagged the monster with a live pogie (menhaden). The spec weighed in at 3 lbs. Go Cody!
There were several other smaller specs caught on live shrimp the last couple of days. Also some nice flounder were brought up this morning. Most bit a live minnow or live shrimp. I saw a large spot tail pin fish caught about noon. I think these usually are found offshore. There were several coolers about half full of larger than average spots and some sea mullets, most caught on blood worms. About noon the water was full of small blues, which were biting off the flounder angler's finger mullets. Lot of angry flounder anglers. There were some spanish caught early, but still no kings. Several tarpon were seen jumping off the end of the pier, but were out of reach of the king baits. This evening Donna and I walked out on the pier and saw an angler cleaning a huge shark which was caught at the end of the pier. The 125 lb shark hit a live blue on a king rig. The bat rays could be seen in the water cruising the pier in groups of 10 or 12. Aldofo was walking the pier chanting "Here fishy fishy fishy." Maybe thats why the bite has improved the past couple of days. Andreas and Karen, Hurry back down. The spots are starting to bite! I am hearing that the flounder are starting to show up in the waterway, especially near the New Topsail Inlet. Try 3 or 4 inch finger mullets or live shrimp. Mud minnows should produce also. Also getting some reports of large red drum in the surf south of Jolly Rodger Pier to the inlet. Fish with finger mullets, small spots or spot heads, and sand fleas. Leave your bait clickers on, or loosen up the drag on your spinning reels, or you may be chasing your rod and reel through the surf if a big red hits your bait. Let them run and don't try to horse them in. They can break your line with the flip of their tail. I use a 30 lb test shock leader, about 10 to 12 feet long tied to my casting line, which is 15 to 17 lb test. I tie on a slider rig, with about 6 inches of line tied to a 3/0 circle hook baited with a spot head if I can get one. Then HOLD ON!

There's a new game in the game room at the Surf City Pier. It's like a pinball setup. Drop in a quarter, and a little ball rolls out on the play board. If you flip the ball to a certain spot, you get a free ball. The good part is, there are special plastic balls in the game, and if one drops out, you win a prize. NOT JUST A PRIZE, BUT A NICE FISHING ROD AND REEL! Today I won an 8 ft rod and a Penn spinning reel! Already spooled with line! A really nice one! Go by and check it out. Maybe you will get lucky too!
Till next time, Tight Lines!
Johnny

Spanish at Surf City Pier

Got a report that several spanish were caught at Surf City pier this morning. The sheephead are all around the pier, but not biting. Maybe because the water is so clear. Lots of rigs have been lost or bitten off by large fish. Could be skates, sharks or maybe black drum. Reports of several large black drum caught in the surf near the pier. Spot, mullet, and pompano's are biting here and there. Some large popano around two pounds. Sand fleas are hard to find, could be the heat. I am hearing about some large trout and nice flounder being caught in the New River, near the bridge. Untill next time, Tight Lines!

1st Annual Mike Martin Fishing Tournament a SMASHING SUCCESS!

The First Annual Mike Martin Fishing Tournament held Saturday and Sunday was a BLAZING SUCCESS! With almost a hundred and fifty entrants, the Surf City Ocean Fishing Pier was a hot bed of activity. Anglers of all ages were pulling out all the stops to catch the biggest fish in seven categories, trout, spanish, flounder, virginia mullet, pompano, and puppy drum. The leader boards changed constantly, as a steady stream of fish were carried to the weigh in station set up on the pier near the breakers. A registration package consisting of a Surf City Pier mug, and a bumper sticker was furnished to each entrant. The 32 oz mug included FREE ICE COLD SOFT DRINKS from 6 am Saturday, tournament starting time, until midnight Saturday night. With temps reaching the upper 90's, the cold drinks were appreciated by everyone. Every 30 minutes, at the top and the bottom of the hour, the loudspeaker rang out with another entrant's winning ticket number and the lucky angler claimed the prize. These really nice door prizes included a Dale Earnhardt Jr. grill set, rods and reels, lamps, knife sets, and "Gotcha" and "Seastriker" T-shirts, hats, and plugs. When the tournament ended at noon Sunday, the winners were determined, and prizes were awarded. First place, biggest fish in each of six categories was awarded $100 CASH, and second place was awarded $50 cash. Cash was also awarded to Junior Angler winners. First, second, and third biggest fish won cash for excited young anglers.
The biggest trout won the Grand Prize of $500. The trout category was very exciting, in that no trout was weighed in until about 10 am Sunday morning. Then within 30 minutes, two more large trout had been weighed in, with several more being hooked and not landed.
Grand Prizewinner Eddie Perry was awarded $500 for the biggest trout, a little over 3 lb. Other winners were; Trevor Hooks, spanish; Jimmy Grubb, flounder; Jimmy Grubb, puppy drum; Johnny Horner, that's me, virginia mullet; Edward Wright, spot; and Anne Jones, pompano.
Thanks to Ed, Terri, Neena, Charles, Becky, Bill and all the other SCP employees for an excellent tournament.
A special thanks to Mike Martin's son Darren and his wife Jeannie who came in from Virginia for the tournament. I know they realize how much we loved Mike and I hope they visit often.

Pictures will be posted if I get my software in order.

Fishing Tournament

The First Anual Mike Martin Memorial Fishing Tournament is being held Saturday and Sunday August 13 and 14. Turn out was good, and there were a lot of fish being caught. I led the flounder division for about two hours. I still lead the va. mullet division as of 10:30 Saturday night, with a catch of 1.21 lbs. I'm not sure it will hold. I will post Sunday evening after the finish with the final results and some details. Late to bed and early to rise. That's fishin!

ICW Action, Hello Doug

A first for me. Monday, I drifted the ICW in my boat. I caught at least 30 sharks, a couple almost three feet long. Also caught a nice blue, about 2 pounds. But what really supprised me, I caught a 3.61 lb spanish, 23 1/2 inches long. Besides being in the waterway, about halfway between New River Inlet and New Topsail Inlet, the unsual thing was I caught the spanish on a flounder bottom rig, and a finger mullet. I have never caught a spanish any way but plugging. Learn something new every trip.
Heard of a huge red caught on Surf City Pier, 44 lbs.
Not much going on at the pier for the spot and mullet anglers. A few here and there. There was a 10 lb sheephead and a 3 1/2 lb sheephead caught last week on two consecutive days. Both on sand fleas. The 10 pounder was caught on a flea "borrowed" from Tim. Tim says he won't loan any more fleas! He was just kidding. The story is that the angler was going to leave because he was out of bait. Tim says to try one more and handed him a flea. The rest is history.

Hello to my new friend Doug, who I met at Lanier's Campground Pier. Seems Doug reads this fishing blog. It's nice talk to someone who reads my scribbles. Thanks Doug, and good luck with your fishing trip. I would love to hear from anyone else reading my blog. Just drop me an email.

Later, Tight Lines!

Back in Action

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Major hard drive failure. PC is trash. I am using a laptop given to me by my brother. Thanks Jesse.

Not much to report. A 100 lb tarpon was caught from Surf City Pier. A couple of kings caught at the end. Some spanish and lots of small blues caught by the pluggers, using got-cha and diamond jigs. Some nice angel fish are being caught on bottom rigs. Sheephead can be caught if you have the time and technique. There are a few spot and mullet for the night anglers along with the usual sharks and rays.