Big Red Drum...Berkeley Gulp...Pulling my Hair Out!

I haven't been looking forward to posting tonight. I am so embarrassed. This morning about 8:30, just after the tidal marsh creeks were reaching their high tide, I found myself on top of more two foot long red drum than I have ever seen congregated in one place. Although I was fascinated to see these monster reds jet here and there in about 20 to 30 inches of water that was covering the oyster beds, I was equally frustrated that I couldn't get a single drum in my kayak. Now when I said I was "on top" of the reds, I meant "ON TOP" of the reds. They were running under my boat with jet like speed, and stirring up the bottom so that the water looked like mud holes. Their tails were sticking up out of the water as they were rooting like pigs on the bottom of the creek.

I tried almost every bait I had in my little tackle box. I don't take my large box in the kayak, for lack of space. Finaly I got them to bite the new Berkley Gulp white shrimp 3" size. The strange thing though, the would not bite the bait if I was retrieving it, or jigging it, swimming it, I even tried to float it under a bobber. Finally, I just threw it right in the middle of the frenzy, (that's the only word I can think of) and put my fishing rod in the rod holder, and just let the bait lay on the bottom, and as the boat drifted very slowly (breeze was almost non existant) across the oyster beds, the reds would pick it up. Success at last! My joy quickly turned to frustration as every time I would hook up with a red, my new (just installed yesterday) Trilene XT 10 lb test line would break. When I got my line back to the boat, I discovered that it was frayed and cut for about 10 feet from the break. This happened four times, that's right FOUR TIMES!!!!! I left the drag very loose, and that didn't help, because the red would run in and out of the oyster beds and still cut my line on the oyster shells! I lost all but one of the "Gulp" lures I had before the school of reds finally moved away and I lost track of them.

On a positive note, I caught two flounders on the one Berkley Gulp shrimp that I had left before I had to paddle back home before the tide was fully low. The tidals creeks I was fishing are so shallow at low tide I would have had to walk home.

Do you think I will try this again with stronger line and leaders? Good call! You bet I will.

Got a pier report from Charles today. There have been some nice speckled trout (specs) caught early in the morning. Baits have varried from live shrimp to grubs. Most productive have been mud minnows or finger mullets on a flounder rig, fished around the pier pilings on the south side of the pier.

I was in East Coast Sports tonight to buy some lead sinkers, and someone called in and ask how big a spec had to be to be considered for a citation. Doug Medlin's answer was at least four pounds. The caller ask how long they (East Coast) would be open, and if there was a charge to get the citation. So, I am guessing that the spec weighed at least four pounds, a nice spec in my book!

Summing up, fishing is getting better. Fish early for trout, use live minnows or shrimp if you have them, or try the Berkley Gulp. Same for puppy drum, but be ready for a "Pappy Drum" or maybe even "Grand Pappy Drum". And last but not least, drag that minnow or the Berkley Gulp for flounder. There are some nice ones out there, just go get 'em!

Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny



33134

Another King at Surf City Pier

There was another king, about 30 lbs, caught on Surf City Pier (SCP) today. If I get a picture I'll post it. I also saw a picture of a nice trout, a speck about 3 or 4 pounds. An angler by the name of Bill caught several from SCP today with the above mention speck the largest. It seems the trout bit a flounder rig and minnows on a slow retrive on the south side of the pier near the old pilings. Fishing is picking up. An occasional puppy drum is being caught in the surf on sand fleas or finger mullets. There are more large mullets and whiting being caught up and down the beach. And the black drum are starting to show up occasionally. I haven't seen any large pompano yet. They should be showing up anytime. We are still waiting on the summer spots.
Till next time...
Tight Lines!
Johnny


13023

Sharks

Surf Fishing was a bit slow today, so I was told by a couple of friends who ventured out to get a line wet. Tommy said that a 7 foot shark was spotted in the breakers today. This is not the first I have heard of the shark sighting near the old Barnacle Bills Pier, but this confirms a previous sighting a couple of days ago. There have been no attacks, but a shark of the same description was reported by a swimmer, and all the kids playing in the surf were evacuated out of the water for a while until the shark left the area. Surf City Pier reports a few blues in between thunderstorms and rain showers.
Till next time...
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Surf City Pier King

Surf City Pier posted it's first king on Tuesday, July 11. The anglers name is Mark and the picture is included in this post. It has been windy the past several days and nothing much is biting. I am hearing the same from the surf as well as the piers. The weather is hot, humid and stormy in the afternoon and evening.
Till next time......
Tight Lines!
Johnny


12872

Pictures, Something's Fishy!

Above is a photo of the last drum Tommy caught in the sound fishing from his kayak. The 26 inch monster hit a beetle spin with a gold blade.


Below is a picture of the big mullet I caught recently. I couldn't weight it but it was 18 1/4 inches long, fat and full of roe.



I finally got my old digital camera software to work with my new computer. So I will be able to post some more pictures if we catch any more big fish.

Gearing up

Donna and I took Christina home today after a weeks visit. Before Christina, Zack stayed two weeks. As much as I enjoyed the visit, I am relieved to get things back to normal. I am ready for some serious fishing, once I get the mess that we made of my fishing gear straightened out. Everything is messed up and mixed up. I have reels that have to be cleaned and oiled, and rod tips that need to be fixed. I love 'em but they can be destructive to fishing equipment. As far as the rigs and other aritficials go, I don't think they are too bad. There doesn't seem to be much missing. So, the plan is to clean the gear up, restock, and hit the beach for some serious fishing. I need to call my friend Ken to see if he will help, because serious fishing is tough, and I need all the help I can get. I might can talk Donna into helping me fish for a few weeks so I can get caught up. It's a bad thing to be behind on your fishing! Really bad!

BIG MULLET

Measured the mullet I caught last evening. The beast measured A WHOPPING 18 1/4 INCHES ! My largest this year by far. The rain is moving in. It rained a little this morning, and we are getting a sprinkle now. I hear thunder off in the distance, sounds like Hampstead. Weather man calling for thunder storms this afternoon, which is about normal for this area. Conditions are good for fishing. Surf is a little rough but not rough enough to bounce 4 or 5 ounces of lead down the beach. Last evening 3 ounce pyramid held nicely. These are the surf conditions I like. I believe that the larger fish move toward shore during these times because the rough surf stirs up the bottom, stirring up the sand fleas that mullet and drum love to eat so well. The abundance of these critters attracts smaller bait fish, which may attract larger blues as well, another species I tend to catch when the surf is rough. Water temp hasn't changed since last post, but may drop a few degrees if we get a lot of rain. The sounds and bays are not as productive as they were before the heavy rains we had last week. Must have reduced the salinity of the water, and drove the larger fish to the ocean. They should be back if we have some dry sunny weather.
Till next time......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Migraine and Big Mullet

Migraines and big mullets, not exactly the best combination. A bad migraine has kept me from fishing much this week. I did go out to the beach this afternoon, about 3:30 pm with Christina. The expected crowd wasn't there so I got a fishing rod from the Blazer. Christina caught some fleas for me and I baited up while I watched her play in the surf with her new friend.

About 7:30 pm I think, I caught a really nice va mullet. I haven't measured or weighed it yet. It is on ice and will be measured and dressed tomorrow morning. Migraine was so bad tonight that I didn't have the umph left to clean the mullet tonight. This is the biggest mullet I have caught this year. I am sure it is over two pounds. It bit a large mole crab on a size 3/0 circle hook. When I first felt the pull, I thought it was a drum. Even when I saw it in the surf, it looked like a slot sized puppy drum. But as I landed the fish, I realized that it was a mullet. I even had a couple of beach walkers tell me that it was a drum, but I know a mullet when I see one. I will post size when I can. I hope to have a picture to post. I have a new computer, but I haven't installed my camera software yet, and I am not sure it will work.

Conditions were about perfect for mullet and drum fishing. The high tide was right around dusk, and a full moon brought in a higher than normal high tide. The water was just rough enough, but not too rough. There was virtually no undertow, and a three ounce pyramid held the bottom well. Mole crabs (sand fleas) are plentiful except near full high tide. Wind is out of the south at about five to ten mph. The water temperature at Surf City is 84 degrees. High temps in the upper 80's, warmer Tuesday with temps in the low 90's.

There have been some nice size trout caught from Surf City Pier, along with a couple of nice slot sized puppy drum. Blues and spanish are still biting, but still no kings. There have been a couple of nice spot runs, but they are small. It seems that fishing is finally picking up. I am glad to see the larger fish moving in.

Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny


12679

Saturday, Bite Improving on Pier

What has been a slow start on Surf City Pier seems to be picking up. There was even a small spot run today, with better than average size spots being caught for several hours. This morning the blues hit got-cha plugs as well as bottom rigs, and there was a nice spanish caught. I am still trying to find out how big the spanish was. There was also a nice size (keeper) puppy drum caught according to my sources, however, I didn't see it. The sheephead continue to hold around the pilings, some whoppers are there and can be caught by the angler with enough patience to wait them out, and the gear to land them. The small to medium size mullets are still biting with a few larger ones now and then. I am hearing stories of speckled trout being landed on the piers and surf in the early morning and around sunset. Still no king caught from Surf City Pier.
In the surf, the whiting and mullets I have been catching are getting larger, and the drum are still hitting a bottom rig occasionally. They are biting finger mullets better, so I have been told by sources on the beach. Again, these are fish I personally haven't seen.
My granddaughter Christina and I went out in the kayak this afternoon, but didn't get anything. Something bit the curly tails off my grubs, but I didn't see the culprit. There are still a few puppy drum being caught in the sounds and bays behind the island by kayakers in the early morning when the tide is right, which seems to be rising near full high. Christina and I may try again early in the morning if the migraine I have tonight gets better. It seems to be on a rising tide also.
Anyway, it seems that fishing is picking up, just when it should be slowing down. Usually, July brings warmer temps and low pressure systems which turn fish off for some reason. But is seems that this year, for reasons unknown to me, fishing is getting better in July. I'm not complaining, mind you, just pondering the situation. Go git'em while ya can!
Till next time........
Tight Lines,
Johnny

PS..... Wow, my memory is getting bad. In this post I badmouthed July as a bad fishing month, but I have just looked back at my July 2005 posts, and was my memory ever wrong. July 05 was a very good month with several nice fish caught by myself and my fishing buds, Ken and A.C. Very large pompanos, huge whiting, and even keeper reds. What are we supposed to eat to improve our memory?

12543

Getting Better

Zack and I pulled an all-nighter last night. We got to the pier, Surf City Pier about 8:30 last night and didn't leave until after 9 am this morning. A long night but a worthwhile experience. Zack caught at least twenty sharks, most about a foot long. We also landed four virginia mullet and a nice two pound blue, Zack's first blue. We saw two really nice flounder, which appeared to be about sixteen to eighteen inches in length. Of course these were guestimates, made without actually taking the fish out of the cooler. The sheephead have been biting recently as well, for anyone with enough patience to wait them out standing on one's head, which seems to be the best way to catch them. I'll have to admit I have only caught one, and that was by accident while surf fishing for whiting and puppy drum. A really big sheephead, estimated at between six and eight pounds, (looked bigger than that to me), narrowly escaped the supper table the powerful jaws of the huge fish bit through the hook before it could be netted. So.... it seems that things are looking up, and fishing is getting better. Still, it is not the same as the last couple of years, but it is getting better.
Until next time..........
Tight Lines!
Johnny


12462

Independence Day

Zack woke me up today, July 4th, Independence Day, at 7am and wanted to go fishing. We got on the beach about 7:30. As I prepared our rigs for the morning of fishing, I could not help but think about our soldiers that are in peril on this Independence Day protecting my right and privilege to be safely fishing this morning with family and friends.
I am especially thinking of my nephew, a young marine, who has been overseas for a short while. A young man just out of high school, who felt it was his duty, his calling, to serve his country and ours, and protect, not only the rights of all Americans, but our very lives. Let us not forget the events of 911, proving our enemies willingness to kill Americans on American soil. Let us not forget that "Freedom" is not "Free". There is a price to be paid for our safety and freedoms as a nation, and now as individuals.
This is not a new concept to most of us. A price has already been paid to protect our safety and freedom. A price that some seem to have forgotten. The price has been paid by our fathers, our grandfathers, our great-grandfathers, and our ancestors before them. The price has been paid by our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, some who served in battle, others who kept the home and family intact and functioning in spite of the devastating loses of family members.
In addition, the brave young men and women who volunteer to be our protectors and champions are paying the price yet again. Moreover, by the mothers, by the fathers, by the brothers and sisters, the grandparents, the uncles and aunts, and cousins, and friends and loved ones of the brave souls who face peril daily so that we may live free and live safe. And they protect the freedoms of all Americans. Even the Americans who believe in no war for any reason. Americans who must believe that peace and freedom are somehow ordained, mystical, or magic. Those Americans who believe that left to its own accord, peace will simply be. That if we just leave everyone else to his or her own agendas', the rest of the world will leave us alone. IT IS THEIR RIGHT to believe what they believe. IT IS THEIR RIGHT to voice their opinion. THEIR RIGHT to voice their opinion as loud as they can.........
However, I wonder, if someone before them, before those who speak against fighting for any reason, someone before them, had chosen to say "NO". "NO" to fighting for our right to be safe . "NO" to fighting for our right to be free. "NO" to fighting for our right to worship as we please, or not to worship at all. "NO" to fighting for our right to free speech.... What if these brave souls that have gone on before us, giving their lives in wars and conflicts where others had attempted to take our safety and freedom away or destroy our country or our way of life, what if these brave souls had said "NO"? "I WILL NOT FIGHT FOR ANY REASON!" ...............What then............. Where would we be now? Could those who so disagree with war for any reason, would they be free to openly express the opinions they hold so dearly without fear of reprisals or even death?

Maybe...... Maybe not.

I say again...... Freedom is NOT FREE! SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO PAY! GOD BLESS THOSE BRAVE SOULS WHO HAVE PAID BEFORE AND THOSE WHO ARE PAYING NOW!

Sincerely, John R. Horner, Jr.

Kayak trip

Zack, my grandson and I got skunked again on our kayak trip this morning. We left the dock before 7 am, and Zack threw a jig and minnow while I paddled to the pre-planned fishing grounds. We tried several strategies, but nothing produced any fish. Both of us got a couple of bites, but nothing was ever hooked. The tails of the Gulp shrimp we were throwing got bitten off, along with some mud minnows that were bitten in half or stolen from the hooks completely. Another angler in a kayak said he hooked a large flounder but lost it at the boat. I am new to this kayak fishing, and although I love being on the water in the little boat, I still have a lot to learn before I become productive at the sport. But the most important thing, is Zack and I had fun and really enjoyed our outing. I am enjoying my grandson's visit. I don't have anything to report from the surf or the piers, except to say that the beach is so crowded that throwing a hook in the water is more likely to render a kid than a fish, so I am abstaining until the crowds thin a bit. There was no parking to be found at Surf City Pier when Zack and I went down to check out the fishing this afternoon, so I am guessing that the pier was full. If any "catching" was going on, well, that will just have to wait until I can find parking that is wakling distance. Like Zack told me this morning on our Kayak trip, I'm getting old and grumpy. Yea, that's what my ten year old grandson Zack said about me. I seriously considered letting him walk back home. (He would have had to walk in the water) But there are some pretty deep holes in the channels and creeks behind Topsail Island, so I decided to let it slide this time. Love ya Zack!
Till next time.......
Tight Lines!
Cranky old Johnny

12331

Ok, so someone is catching some nice fish.....

I talked to a guy on the pier Thursday evening. He set me straight on my comments about no one catching fish this year. Seems he has caught some nice trout from the pier. This is Surf City Pier we are talking about. I didn't get his name, so I will call him Joe Angler. Joe says he caught his limit of specs one night last week using a white and pink curly tail grub. He also caught one on a mirror-lure. Joe also caught a bunch of puppy drum the same night using sand fleas in the suds. I think he said sand fleas, I was so busy with my huge catch of two mullets during my 8 hour stay on the pier that I didn't take notes on what he said. Actually, my grandson Zack caught the mullets. I was just watching him catch them. Anyway, Joe says the reason there are no more big fish this year is no one is fishing for them. ????? I must be out there for the conversation. Maybe I really don't want to catch any large fish. Maybe Joe is full of it too. I mean if I caught my limit of specs, I would have told someone on the pier. The folks at the pier love to take pictures of catches like that. It's only good for the pier. Anyway, back to reality. One of my fishing buds, Glen, has had some luck this week, he has cought a couple of nice sheephead, one was six pounds I think. They DO have a picture of it in the pier house. Ok, to be fair to Joe, maybe he just doesn't know what a speckled trout looks like. Maybe he thinks they have leathery skin, black tips on the dorsal fin and tail, and a mouth full of teeth. That seems to be all most of the anglers were catching thursday night when I was there.
Till next time.........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Pier Bad, Kayak Good

Title today a little bit over simplified, but true about the fishing conditions for today. Pier fishing has been off for the last couple of days. I was out today with grandson Zack and nothing much was going on. We saw only a couple of sharks, small ones, caught while we were out. Zack who had never held a black tip shark threw one of these back in the water, and was quite excited that he got to hold one. We took a little kayak trip out this morning, and we were skunked, but we left the dock late, around 11:00 am. I felt that if we had left a little earlier that we would have had better luck, which was confirmed when we talked to Keith, a kayak angler from Rocky Mount, now living in Wilksboro, that went out in his kayak earlier in the morning than Zack and I did. Keith said that he hooked up with three flounder using the new Gulp saltwater shrimp that everyone is talking about. Keith also says he caught a couple of puppy drum. I can't recall the bait that he used to lure the drum into biting, but Keith said he saw the fish "tailing" which puppy drum anglers know is a term referring to the fish feeding in shallow water, water that is so shallow that when the fish turns his head and mouth to the bottom to feed, the fishes tail sticks out of the water. It's really exciting to see. Keith said he spooked several more fish from under the kayak as he paddled along. Congratulations Keith for a sucessful and peaceful day on the water.
Till next time......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Migraine, Trip, Rain

The migraine I have had all weekend has subsided a bit this morning. Saturday was a travel day to pick up Zack in Burlington for a visit to the beach. I forgot Jesse's birthday. Sorry Jess. It's still misting rain, so fishing hasn't been a priority. Maybe I can rest a bit more before Zack wants to go fishing. With the migraine, the trip, and the rain, I don't have a fishing report. Other than neighbor and friend Tommy caught a black drum in a creek behind the island.
Till next time.......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Fishing slow, slow, slow

It's a good thing I don't have to fish for my living. I feel for the comercial guys if their catch is as bad as mine. This was the worst spring I have seen in several years. The largest whiting I have caught was 11 inches long. Less than one pound. Last year I had caught 10 that was 2 lbs or better. No puppy drum this year. Last year I caught only one that made the slot, but I had caught others I had to let go. I have caught only a few flounder. NO KEEPERS at all this year.I have caught only a few spots, none that I would brag about. I hope everyone's luck is better than mine. Our grandson Zack is coming to visit, I hope fishing picks up for him. Family members Dave, Danny, and I went on a red drum charter couple weeks ago, and got nothing but a big skate. The guide said to us as we were heading back to the dock empty handed, "That's why they call it fishing and not catching." A pretty cold statement to folks that had just drove 300 miles and spent $375.00 for a day trip to marker 98 and back. I guess he tried to put us on the fish. We moved several times during the morning. Still, an offer of another trip at a small discount, on a day when he didn't have another charter, or even a t-shirt, would have been better than what we got.
Ok, got that "water rage" out of the way. I don't know what the problem is, or if there is a problem. Maybe I am not hearing about the fish being caught. But last year and the year before, and the year before that, I did hear, and I caught some nice fish, and a lot of fish. I even talked about buying an extra freezer to put the catch in. But I ended up giving the extra away. There were plenty of folks that enjoyed them.
Maybe they are just late this year. Yea, that's it. They are just late. I'm going to grab my gear and head to the beach. Maybe I'll head'em off at the pass, before they get too far down the beach for me to catch. Got my fishing rod, my sand spike, and my sand flea rake, and my..............
Till next time.......
Tight lines!
Johnny

Rough Surf and High Wind

I tried to go surf fishing this afternoon around 5 pm. Tide was going out and the surf was extremely rough. It was kind of unusual because for a while my rig was being pulled out instead of side to side. Only got one bite, and I missed the fish, loosing my bait, which was a piece of cut mullet. There were sand fleas in the surf, but there were so many people in the water that I only put out one rig. There were several others fishing up and down the beach, but I didn't see anything being caught. I didn't talk to anyone at the piers today, so I don't know what was going on there. I'll post as soon as I find out something, probably in the morning.
Until next time.......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Blues and Something Big in the Surf

I went surf fishing near Barnacle Bills old pier last evening. I caught several nice blues and nearly lost a nice surf rod and reel when something really big tried to run off with it. The monster pulled my sand spike over and I caught the rod just as it touched the sand. The line broke just as I put pressure on the unknown devil from the deep. I think the line broke where I had tied my shock leader to my 12 lb test stren line. There was no roughness on the line, just a break. I probably should have retied it, as it had been tied for several weeks. I also had my drag set too tightly, but I had a problem getting the blue I had caught previously in, so I had tightened it, and then failed to loosen it up after the blue was landed. I'll try not to make that mistake again. Surf City Pier is still producing some small spanish and blues in the daytime, and some small croakers, sea mullets, and spots at night. Surf anglers are getting blues and mullets, which are getting a bit bigger, and some black drum as well as some puppy drum. There are still some nice puppy drum being caught in the sounds and bays behind the island.
Until next time......
Tight lines!
Johnny

I have had some problems with my computer again, so my next post may be a while. Please accept my apoligies.

Kayaks and Piers

When you get down to Topsail Island, go to Herrings Outdoor Sports at 701 North New River Drive, where you can rent or buy a kayak and go out in the sounds and creeks and try your hand at fishing for puppy drum, flounder and trout. Steve or Jessi can set you up with a kayak, bait, tackle, and anything else you may need to have a fun filled and restful day of fishing or just exploring the bays and sounds behind Topsail Island. I tried kayak fishing for the first time today, and I have to tell you, I am hooked! It was one of my most satisfying fishing experiences. I landed only one 11 inch flounder, not a keeper, but the trip was a blast! Click here the Herrings Outdoor Sports website or call Steve or Jessi at 910-328-3291 for an exciting and fun filled day on the water.

Todays Fishing Report
Folks are catching lots of small mullets from Surf City Pier. LOTS of mullets. However, they are small. Ken and Karen, and Andreas and Karen carried their catch to Batsons Galley and had them cook the mullets for their dinner. I love to catch large mullets, but let me tell you, small ones are delicious to eat. The three or four inch strips of mullet filets breaded and fried crispy on the outside and tender on the inside are wonderful and hard to beat when eating fish. Throw in some french fries and homemade horse radish sauce, and you have a meal. My thanks go out to these folks for thinking of me. I enjoyed some for lunch today, and will probably finish them off for supper tonight.

Other action on the pier and surf include small spots with a few larger ones mixed in, still not as large as this time last year. I have seen some nice black drum and pig fish, some folks call them hog fish, pulled in from around the old leftover pilings on the south side of the pier. There have been some spanish everyday, with a few nice ones, and a few cobia. The flounder are still scarce, with one being caught occasionaly. The blues are still out near the end most every morning for the gotcha pluggers. It seems the best time to bottom fish is the night.
Behind the island, there are still lots of puppy drum, some really nice ones. Fishing bud and neighbor Tommy caught another one yesterday weighing is at 6 and a quarter pounds. He caught one the day before that was 19 inches long. It seems Tommy has found a "puppy drum honey hole" somewhere behind the island.
I am going to try surf fishing sometime this afternoon, probably closer to evening depends on the tide, with some cut bait I had in the freezer. I am hoping to get a drum or flounder.

Till next time.....
Tight Lines,
Johnny

11625

Some nice spots

Donna and I went for a walk on the pier tonight after supper. I saw some nice spots being caught along with some pretty good size mullet. Glenn caught a 1.8 lb va mullet and a couple of spanish. Glenn had a good day. Ken and Karen, and another friend Karen and her dad were catching small mullets, sand perch, and croakers. Andreas didn't make it out tonight. I hope to see him out soon. There were also some sheephead caught, and the usual small mullet, croaker, sharks, and stingray. A school of batray had moved in just as we were leaving. A couple of anglers lost there rigs when they got hooked up with them. After all the rain and wind we have had, we are due for some good fishing weather.
Till next time........
Tight Lines!
Johnny

11537

Rainy Wednesday

No fishing today. Rain, Rain, and very windy.

Doctors, Migraines, Trips to the Port City

Haven't fished in several days. I haven't had the time, or I haven't felt like getting off the couch, or into the sun, depending which day we are talking about. I am hearing that I haven't missed much. I keep hearing about the big mullet or whiting, which should show up any day. Maybe tomorrow. Where are the flounder? A few are being caught, but not many. Definitely no door mats. There are some blues and a few spanish in the mornings being caught from the piers. Check out Surf City Ocean Pier for a report from there.While you are there check out the pics of the pig fish my grandchildren caught while fishing with me a couple weekends ago. They also caught several mullets and spots. We had fun, but didn't catch anything worth cleaning and cooking.

6-13 11,388

Big Black Drum Caught from SCP

Saw a really nice black drum caught from Surf City Ocean Pier yesterday. My guesstimate of the weight is three to three and a half pounds. Just big enough to make a nice meal. There have been some nice cobia taken at the end of the pier. Kings are still scarce. Spanish are biting gotcha plugs early in the morning off and on. Blues up to two pounds are a regular visitor to the end of the pier early mornings. Elsewhere on the pier, anglers are catching small mullets and small spots with the occasional small flounder and speckled trout. Check out Surf City Pier's new website. I think you will like it. http://surfcityoceanpier.com
Till next time........
Tight Lines!!
Johnny

Surf City Pier

Had a report from Ken today. He fished at Surf City Pier and caught a few but nothing big enough to bring home. I am going to the pier tomorrow morning, so I will have some news, good or bad. Thanks for sticking with me.
Until next time......
Tight Lines,
Johnny

Nothing to report

Nothing to report the past few days. Bad, bad, migraine. Felling better. Hope to be fishing soon.

Spanish, Cobia

Spanish are biting on Surf City Pier and Jolly Rodger Pier at Topsail Beach. There have been some nice ones caught in the three and four pound range too, not just the one footers. I also had a report of several cobia being landed at the Jolly Rodger Pier. There are still plenty of blues for the got-cha chunkers out near the end of the piers. The crowds have increased such that the king anglers have brought out the barricades to keep us "regular guys" off the end of the pier, but we can still get close enough to get to the spanish. Some are being caught just halfway out the pier. Friend and neighbor Tommy caught another puppy drum from his kayak today, this one was a 19 incher! Caught it on a beetle spin again. I have got to find out where his secret fishing hole is. I caught spot and mullet in the surf last evening at almost dead low tide just before sunset, but none were braggin' size.

I loaded my trusted old pen peer #9 that I use with my 11 foot surf casting rod with 12 lb Shakespeare line. It is cheaper than a lot of lines, just as sturdy, and doesn't seem to tangle and backlash as bad. I use a 15 Ft. shock leader and a fish finder rig with a circle hook for red drum, but I had forgotten to take my circle hooks with me to the beach and didn't want to walk back to get them, so I used a size 1 xl long shank tru-turn. I cut a spot up and made bait chunks to fish for drum. I got two nice hits, but forgot to set the hook both times, as I am accustomed to using circle hooks and don't have to set the hook when fishing for drum. I WILL remember to take them with me next time.


Till next time.......
Tight Lines!
Johnny

Didn't fish today, had migraine and company. Never a good combination. Just a note, It's just about sundown, which is always beautiful here, and the baitfish are plentiful in the canal behind our apartment.
Until next time........
Tight Lines,
Johnny

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