Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
Hello from Surf City!
Winter time is upon us now with water temperatures dropping, live finger mullets are hard to come by,shrimp,and cut bait seemed to still be working around the inlets catching red drum mostly in the 14" to 16" size. Black drum are also being caught in the inlets and surf,these fish give a really hard fight,and are very good eating.
Masonboro Inlet along the rock wall jetty are holding bluefish mostly being caught right off the bottom with shrimp and cut bait,with and occasional speckle trout showing up.
I fish 12 months a year so anyone looking to fish should just give me a call,I suggest we pick a day with mild temperature,and light winds to make the day on the water enjoyable,there are still fish to be caught in the winter !
Capt.Mike Dennis
Cape Fear Guide
Capt.Mike@charter.net
www.capefear-guide.com
910-619-0928
November 30, 2008
November 26, 2008
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City! Donna and I would like to thank everyone for reading our blog and message board. It is really a labor of love for both of us. We hope you all have a happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Donna and Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City! Donna and I would like to thank everyone for reading our blog and message board. It is really a labor of love for both of us. We hope you all have a happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Donna and Johnny
November 24, 2008
Topsail Island Late November Fishing Report
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
The water is getting cold really fast. The speckled trout and black drum have been biting well in the surf, especially at night. Huge red drum have been caught in the sounds and creeks. Speckled trout near the inlets, both North and South. Yesterday, I got a report of big two and a half pound sea mullets caught on live shrimp! Flounder are still around, but are starting to move into the sound. I prefer sand fleas (mole crabs) for bait, but they are getting hard to find. There are still some finger mullet in the surf, and finger mullets in the sound as well as shrimp. You can use a cast net to get some bait, or buy them at the tackle shops. The speckled trout will be around until the water drops to under 50*. So you should be able to get some dinner in the surf or sound. Good luck!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
The water is getting cold really fast. The speckled trout and black drum have been biting well in the surf, especially at night. Huge red drum have been caught in the sounds and creeks. Speckled trout near the inlets, both North and South. Yesterday, I got a report of big two and a half pound sea mullets caught on live shrimp! Flounder are still around, but are starting to move into the sound. I prefer sand fleas (mole crabs) for bait, but they are getting hard to find. There are still some finger mullet in the surf, and finger mullets in the sound as well as shrimp. You can use a cast net to get some bait, or buy them at the tackle shops. The speckled trout will be around until the water drops to under 50*. So you should be able to get some dinner in the surf or sound. Good luck!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
RiverJoe's Vinison Chili
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin Topsail's Seafood Recipes
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City! Here is a delicious chili for venison, created by my cousin River Joe. I know this isn't a fish recipe, but it is delicious! Check out more recipes on my recipe page. Click Here
You will soon be able to find RiverJoe's Recipes online. I'll post the link as soon as it is set up. Check back often.
RIVERJOE’S VENISON CHILI
1 bag 15 bean Ham Beens
Water (as needed)
2 lb. ground venison
1 medium onion – chopped
1 quart canned tomatoes (or 1 large can store bought tomatoes)
1 small can tomato paste
1 or 2 large sweet potatoes (cut into ¾” cubes)
2 jalapeño peppers sliced thin ( add as many or few as you like)
2 packets chili seasoning mix
Side meat (3 or 4 small strips)
Bacon dripping (2 or 3 tablespoons)
Salt (to taste)
Wash beans and place in crockpot on low heat. Fry side meat a few minutes until slightly browned. Add about 4 cups of hot water to meat and drippings. Pour into crockpot over beans. Cook overnight or long enough for beans to soften, adding water as needed. When beans are soft add sweet potatoes. Brown venison in bacon drippings and add
both to beans. Pour in 1 quart of home canned tomatoes or 1 large can of store bought tomatoes and 1 can tomato paste. Add chili seasoning packs,onions, Ham Beens flavor pack, jalepenos. and salt to taste.
Stir until well mixed.
Cover and cook until sweet potatoes are soft.
Enjoy with homemade cornbread patties.
RIVERJOE’S BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD PATTIES
(It doesn’t get any simpler than this, and the taste is excellent)
Equal amounts of White Self Rising Cornmeal and Buttermilk.
Fry patties in hot Cooking Oil until brown and crisp on the outside.
ENJOY!
riverjoe
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin Topsail's Seafood Recipes
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City! Here is a delicious chili for venison, created by my cousin River Joe. I know this isn't a fish recipe, but it is delicious! Check out more recipes on my recipe page. Click Here
You will soon be able to find RiverJoe's Recipes online. I'll post the link as soon as it is set up. Check back often.
RIVERJOE’S VENISON CHILI
1 bag 15 bean Ham Beens
Water (as needed)
2 lb. ground venison
1 medium onion – chopped
1 quart canned tomatoes (or 1 large can store bought tomatoes)
1 small can tomato paste
1 or 2 large sweet potatoes (cut into ¾” cubes)
2 jalapeño peppers sliced thin ( add as many or few as you like)
2 packets chili seasoning mix
Side meat (3 or 4 small strips)
Bacon dripping (2 or 3 tablespoons)
Salt (to taste)
Wash beans and place in crockpot on low heat. Fry side meat a few minutes until slightly browned. Add about 4 cups of hot water to meat and drippings. Pour into crockpot over beans. Cook overnight or long enough for beans to soften, adding water as needed. When beans are soft add sweet potatoes. Brown venison in bacon drippings and add
both to beans. Pour in 1 quart of home canned tomatoes or 1 large can of store bought tomatoes and 1 can tomato paste. Add chili seasoning packs,onions, Ham Beens flavor pack, jalepenos. and salt to taste.
Stir until well mixed.
Cover and cook until sweet potatoes are soft.
Enjoy with homemade cornbread patties.
RIVERJOE’S BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD PATTIES
(It doesn’t get any simpler than this, and the taste is excellent)
Equal amounts of White Self Rising Cornmeal and Buttermilk.
Fry patties in hot Cooking Oil until brown and crisp on the outside.
ENJOY!
riverjoe
November 20, 2008
Fishing Slows
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has slowed a bit, but there are still fish around. Some puffers (MMMMM Good) are being caught in the surf. Puffer fish, along with speckled trout are the last to leave the surf. Stripers are a cold water fish, but for whatever reason, we don't catch them in our surf in the winter time. They are plentiful at the Outer Banks, and they will move up the Cape Fear River. Stripers are caught from the Cape Fear, right in downtown Wilmington on the waterfront. They will also move farther up the Cape Fear and into the North East Cape Fear River. I haven't been out that much as I am caring for Donna while she rehabs from knee surgery. She is recovering quickly from a total knee replacement surgery. I have caught one flounder this week, and I also landed a few small mullet and a puffer. Still no speckled trout for me, but they are being caught at night. I just can't seem to get myself out of bed in time to find them. It seems that by 6am the bite is over for the day. Some surf anglers on the beach in Surf City have showed me some black drum (some large; 3 or 5 pounds) and some small just barely keepers. I have also seen a couple of red drum caught in the surf this week. There have been lots of black drum, not as many as last week, but enough to keep the anglers happy and well fed. This morning while walking our dogs, I found a half dozen large welk shells, and a huge conk shell. Stay tuned for more, as I can get out to the beach.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has slowed a bit, but there are still fish around. Some puffers (MMMMM Good) are being caught in the surf. Puffer fish, along with speckled trout are the last to leave the surf. Stripers are a cold water fish, but for whatever reason, we don't catch them in our surf in the winter time. They are plentiful at the Outer Banks, and they will move up the Cape Fear River. Stripers are caught from the Cape Fear, right in downtown Wilmington on the waterfront. They will also move farther up the Cape Fear and into the North East Cape Fear River. I haven't been out that much as I am caring for Donna while she rehabs from knee surgery. She is recovering quickly from a total knee replacement surgery. I have caught one flounder this week, and I also landed a few small mullet and a puffer. Still no speckled trout for me, but they are being caught at night. I just can't seem to get myself out of bed in time to find them. It seems that by 6am the bite is over for the day. Some surf anglers on the beach in Surf City have showed me some black drum (some large; 3 or 5 pounds) and some small just barely keepers. I have also seen a couple of red drum caught in the surf this week. There have been lots of black drum, not as many as last week, but enough to keep the anglers happy and well fed. This morning while walking our dogs, I found a half dozen large welk shells, and a huge conk shell. Stay tuned for more, as I can get out to the beach.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
November 17, 2008
Big Trout are Biting; more on the Way!
Well folks, it looks like winter is about to really show its face in eastern North Carolina! I don’t like to see such cold air coming in so fast but, that’s fishing and weather for ya. With that said; here is the fishing report pre cold air and forecast for after the cold air.
The Speckled trout fishing has been up and down for the last few weeks. We will catch good numbers of small fish one day, then we will catch a few big fish another day. So far this season we’ve caught as many as 30 plus trout on a half day charter. My charters have caught Specks on artificial as well as live shrimp; the bigger fish seem to be hitting the live shrimp. With that said we have caught a few nice trout on artificial too. I always try both during trout season; you just never know what they want some days!
Artificial baits that are producing for us have been grubs, shrimp grubs and hard baits. One grub color by Saltwater Assassin that has really been a great one this season is the new color (Chicken on a Chain). I don’t know why the trout like it so much but they DO; so I’m using it! Some other colors that are producing well are silver mullet, chart-diamond, space guppy and pearl. All these grubs are in the (sea shad) pattern. Don’t forget as the water temps drop fast; slow your retrieve on the grubs for the trout.
Shrimp pattern grubs we are using; Assassin’s shrimp cock tail in colors bone-diamond, clear and electric chicken. We are rigging the shrimp grubs on light jig heads 1/8oz to 1/4oz; this gives the shrimp a very natural look. When the water cools down, I will put a shot of (Bang shrimp scent). This seems to help with the trout holding on to the grubs a little longer when they hit.
The warmer weather we have had in the last few days gave us a great but quick redfish bite on the docks in the water way (ICW). We fished three to six docks a trip and found reds on every dock we fished; some more than others. The reds were in the 16 to a few over 30 inches, one good pull on light tackle! The reds hit fresh cut mullet and scented (Blurp) grubs. When fishing with the grubs we are rigging them on jig heads for the reds that are in deeper water five to ten feet of water. If the reds are in shallower water; rattling corks are paying off.
The Speckled trout fishing should really pick up with the colder air coming in; also the bigger trout should start show as well! I’m really looking forward to seeing those gators show up on the Cape Fear coast! Thanks for reading this report. If you would like a guided fishing trip drop me a line or give me a call.
Fishing gear my charters use:
Trout and Red Drum: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6030 and 6035. Bait cast reel Pflueger Summit. Ugly braid 10 and 15# Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. All Star bait cast rod Team series TISCS1 7’6” “Great bait cast trout rod”
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
The Speckled trout fishing has been up and down for the last few weeks. We will catch good numbers of small fish one day, then we will catch a few big fish another day. So far this season we’ve caught as many as 30 plus trout on a half day charter. My charters have caught Specks on artificial as well as live shrimp; the bigger fish seem to be hitting the live shrimp. With that said we have caught a few nice trout on artificial too. I always try both during trout season; you just never know what they want some days!
Artificial baits that are producing for us have been grubs, shrimp grubs and hard baits. One grub color by Saltwater Assassin that has really been a great one this season is the new color (Chicken on a Chain). I don’t know why the trout like it so much but they DO; so I’m using it! Some other colors that are producing well are silver mullet, chart-diamond, space guppy and pearl. All these grubs are in the (sea shad) pattern. Don’t forget as the water temps drop fast; slow your retrieve on the grubs for the trout.
Shrimp pattern grubs we are using; Assassin’s shrimp cock tail in colors bone-diamond, clear and electric chicken. We are rigging the shrimp grubs on light jig heads 1/8oz to 1/4oz; this gives the shrimp a very natural look. When the water cools down, I will put a shot of (Bang shrimp scent). This seems to help with the trout holding on to the grubs a little longer when they hit.
The warmer weather we have had in the last few days gave us a great but quick redfish bite on the docks in the water way (ICW). We fished three to six docks a trip and found reds on every dock we fished; some more than others. The reds were in the 16 to a few over 30 inches, one good pull on light tackle! The reds hit fresh cut mullet and scented (Blurp) grubs. When fishing with the grubs we are rigging them on jig heads for the reds that are in deeper water five to ten feet of water. If the reds are in shallower water; rattling corks are paying off.
The Speckled trout fishing should really pick up with the colder air coming in; also the bigger trout should start show as well! I’m really looking forward to seeing those gators show up on the Cape Fear coast! Thanks for reading this report. If you would like a guided fishing trip drop me a line or give me a call.
Fishing gear my charters use:
Trout and Red Drum: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6030 and 6035. Bait cast reel Pflueger Summit. Ugly braid 10 and 15# Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. All Star bait cast rod Team series TISCS1 7’6” “Great bait cast trout rod”
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
November 16, 2008
Topsail Report
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Today was a good day for fishing. Met a family at SeaView Pier that had a cooler full of sea mullets. Most were a pound or more. The guy said that they caught a bunch of black drum also, but didn't keep them. From the surf here in Surf City, everything was biting. Speckled trout, flounder, red drum, black drum, and sea mullets. One angler says he fished all day and caught only two small black drum. Then just at sunset, everything started biting, and he hit the triple grand slam. Keeper flounder, two slot sized red drum, and two speckled trout, all within a forty five minute time period. He also caught four sea mullets in the two pound range. Now that's catching, not just fishing!
I am planning a trip to the surf near our home early tomorrow am if Donna has a good night with her new knee. Thanks to everyone who sent prayers, emails, and get well wishes for Donna. She is making progress with her rehab and improving every day. She is sometimes forgetting to use her walker, and her limp has just about disappeared. Praise God for her quick recovery. God Bless you all.
I wish you all could have seen the moon tonight. It came up in the North East and was huge, with a slight redish silver color. What a beautiful site! Topsail Island has got to be one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina, maybe the world. Hope to see you all soon!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Today was a good day for fishing. Met a family at SeaView Pier that had a cooler full of sea mullets. Most were a pound or more. The guy said that they caught a bunch of black drum also, but didn't keep them. From the surf here in Surf City, everything was biting. Speckled trout, flounder, red drum, black drum, and sea mullets. One angler says he fished all day and caught only two small black drum. Then just at sunset, everything started biting, and he hit the triple grand slam. Keeper flounder, two slot sized red drum, and two speckled trout, all within a forty five minute time period. He also caught four sea mullets in the two pound range. Now that's catching, not just fishing!
I am planning a trip to the surf near our home early tomorrow am if Donna has a good night with her new knee. Thanks to everyone who sent prayers, emails, and get well wishes for Donna. She is making progress with her rehab and improving every day. She is sometimes forgetting to use her walker, and her limp has just about disappeared. Praise God for her quick recovery. God Bless you all.
I wish you all could have seen the moon tonight. It came up in the North East and was huge, with a slight redish silver color. What a beautiful site! Topsail Island has got to be one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina, maybe the world. Hope to see you all soon!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
November 11, 2008
Another Flounder
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Flounder are still in the surf. Dad caught another today using Gulp Saltwater swimming mullet. There was a lot of large pogies in the surf today. I was able to snag one for bait. We thought there may be blues in the water, but we didn't catch any. No mullets, speckled trout, or puffers today. I did get a rumor of some specks on the piers and in the sound. Full moon tonight. I would love to get out there, but prior commitments prevent it. Go gett'um!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Flounder are still in the surf. Dad caught another today using Gulp Saltwater swimming mullet. There was a lot of large pogies in the surf today. I was able to snag one for bait. We thought there may be blues in the water, but we didn't catch any. No mullets, speckled trout, or puffers today. I did get a rumor of some specks on the piers and in the sound. Full moon tonight. I would love to get out there, but prior commitments prevent it. Go gett'um!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Happy Veteran's Day!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Happy Veteran's Day!
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Happy Veteran's Day!
God bless all our veterans and their families. Freedom is NOT free! It was paid for by our veterans, and is being paid for now by our military men and women. We as Americans should be grateful!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
November 8, 2008
Fishing Slows a Bit
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
I talked to several of my fishin buds about the bite from piers and the surf. It has slowed a bit as far as sea mullets and spots are concerened, but flounder fishing has picked up a bit. Live bait are catching keepers in the surf as well as the piers. Boat anglers are still catching some really nice flatties floating with the current and dragging live bait on carolina rigs. Shrimp and finger mullets are catching more fish, but if you can find any more pogies around, they are catching soem really big flounder off shore and near the inlets. I heard of another doormat was landed in Snow's Cut at Carolina Beach. Speckled trout bite is still "spotty." Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun. There are a few specks biting, but it's hard to get any reliable info on specks from anyone. These guys are really secretive about their beloved speckled trout. All I can say is get out there and give them a try. For you anglers that love puffers, (and I can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't love eating this fish) the bite is picking up with the cooler water. I had a few reports of a dozen or more nice big ones caught on shrimp in the surf. So, even though fishing has slowed a bit, there are still fish out there for the angler that wants to go after them. Donna is improving after having a total knee replacement last week, so I hope to get back out to the surf soon. Stay tuned.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
I talked to several of my fishin buds about the bite from piers and the surf. It has slowed a bit as far as sea mullets and spots are concerened, but flounder fishing has picked up a bit. Live bait are catching keepers in the surf as well as the piers. Boat anglers are still catching some really nice flatties floating with the current and dragging live bait on carolina rigs. Shrimp and finger mullets are catching more fish, but if you can find any more pogies around, they are catching soem really big flounder off shore and near the inlets. I heard of another doormat was landed in Snow's Cut at Carolina Beach. Speckled trout bite is still "spotty." Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun. There are a few specks biting, but it's hard to get any reliable info on specks from anyone. These guys are really secretive about their beloved speckled trout. All I can say is get out there and give them a try. For you anglers that love puffers, (and I can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't love eating this fish) the bite is picking up with the cooler water. I had a few reports of a dozen or more nice big ones caught on shrimp in the surf. So, even though fishing has slowed a bit, there are still fish out there for the angler that wants to go after them. Donna is improving after having a total knee replacement last week, so I hope to get back out to the surf soon. Stay tuned.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
November 3, 2008
The Specks and Grays are Biting!
I hope everybody is enjoying the fall weather, It did get a little to cold for a couple days. I think that is over for the most part; “for now”. Water temps dropped very quickly during the cold snap. Now that the weather is getting back to normal; fishing has really picked up in the last couple of days! With that said here is the fishing report!
Trout has been the story for the most part lately. Grays and Specks are feeding well around in creeks, channels and inlets. The grays are hitting grubs and jigging spoons. Saltwater Assassin grubs in colors Chart-Silver glitter and Salt-pepper with chart-tail have worked well for the grays. The body shape that has worked for us is the sea shad in four inch size. We are using jig heads in colors pink and red; in weights ½ oz to 1 ½ oz. Colors for the jigging spoons that have worked well for the grays are Pink, Green/blue, and gold. Going with bright colors is a good “go too” choice when fishing for gray trout.
The Speckled trout fishing is really getting good and will continue to pick up. We have already caught some very nice trout in the four and five pound range on live and artificial baits. My charters have caught specks on a wide range of lures this season; some new and some good ole’ timer’s. Let’s start with the hard baits. Mirrolures; Catch 2000 jar, 52M and the new 17MR. The best Mirrolure colors that are catching the trout are; pink, chartreuse and silver. Grubs and soft baits; in the grub style baits colors chart-diamond, silver mullet and a new color that is working very well for us (chicken on a chain). Yes that is the real name of this grub color.
In the shrimp style grubs the colors we are using; Arkansas glow, clear and bone-diamond. We are rigging the Saltwater assassin shrimp with worm hooks and Texas style worm weights. To the live bait; it’s hard to beet the good ole’ live shrimp, they just work! Rigging the live shrimp with float rigs and light Carolina rigs has worked for us.
My charters have caught lots of bluefish while we have been Trout fishing; there really has been all the bluefish you can deal with lately!! If you like catching blues; Go Fishing! Flounder are biting as well, we’ve caught a good number while trout fishing. Some of the flounder are in the three to five pound range; a nice bonus while trout fishing. Thanks for reading this report, if you would like to go fishing drop me a line!
Fishing Gear we use:
Trout and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6030 and 6030. Bait cast reel Pflueger Summit. Ugly braid 10 and 15# Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. All Star bait cast rod Team series TISCS1 7’6”
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Trout has been the story for the most part lately. Grays and Specks are feeding well around in creeks, channels and inlets. The grays are hitting grubs and jigging spoons. Saltwater Assassin grubs in colors Chart-Silver glitter and Salt-pepper with chart-tail have worked well for the grays. The body shape that has worked for us is the sea shad in four inch size. We are using jig heads in colors pink and red; in weights ½ oz to 1 ½ oz. Colors for the jigging spoons that have worked well for the grays are Pink, Green/blue, and gold. Going with bright colors is a good “go too” choice when fishing for gray trout.
The Speckled trout fishing is really getting good and will continue to pick up. We have already caught some very nice trout in the four and five pound range on live and artificial baits. My charters have caught specks on a wide range of lures this season; some new and some good ole’ timer’s. Let’s start with the hard baits. Mirrolures; Catch 2000 jar, 52M and the new 17MR. The best Mirrolure colors that are catching the trout are; pink, chartreuse and silver. Grubs and soft baits; in the grub style baits colors chart-diamond, silver mullet and a new color that is working very well for us (chicken on a chain). Yes that is the real name of this grub color.
In the shrimp style grubs the colors we are using; Arkansas glow, clear and bone-diamond. We are rigging the Saltwater assassin shrimp with worm hooks and Texas style worm weights. To the live bait; it’s hard to beet the good ole’ live shrimp, they just work! Rigging the live shrimp with float rigs and light Carolina rigs has worked for us.
My charters have caught lots of bluefish while we have been Trout fishing; there really has been all the bluefish you can deal with lately!! If you like catching blues; Go Fishing! Flounder are biting as well, we’ve caught a good number while trout fishing. Some of the flounder are in the three to five pound range; a nice bonus while trout fishing. Thanks for reading this report, if you would like to go fishing drop me a line!
Fishing Gear we use:
Trout and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6030 and 6030. Bait cast reel Pflueger Summit. Ugly braid 10 and 15# Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. All Star bait cast rod Team series TISCS1 7’6”
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
November 1, 2008
Whiting and Black Drum in Surf!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Huge whiting are biting in the surf at Surf City. I am hearing they are biting on the whole island. Sand fleas are working best if you can find them. Take your shovel, they are deep. Fresh cut shrimp and bloodworms are also producing, as well as the artificials like "Fish Bites." The black drum are also helping to fill coolers on the beach. Go gettum while you can!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Huge whiting are biting in the surf at Surf City. I am hearing they are biting on the whole island. Sand fleas are working best if you can find them. Take your shovel, they are deep. Fresh cut shrimp and bloodworms are also producing, as well as the artificials like "Fish Bites." The black drum are also helping to fill coolers on the beach. Go gettum while you can!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Gill Nets
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
This is a post I received from Capt. Chris Medlin at East Coast Sports.
Click on the picture for a bigger version that you can read.
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
This is a post I received from Capt. Chris Medlin at East Coast Sports.
Click on the picture for a bigger version that you can read.
This is a guide for email or postal mail to the powers that be, letting them know your position. Copy and paste it to your email. Thanks
To whom it may concern,
In my opinion, the most important regulation in this plan is to adopt the required attendance of small mesh gill nets within 200 yards of any shoreline of any tributary of the Neuse, Pamlico and Pungo Rivers . This rule has already been endorsed by the Red Drum Advisory Committee and preliminarily approved by the Marine Fisheries Commission.
I strongly encourage you to adopt this rule. Furthermore, the Director of the Division of the Marine Fisheries needs to implement the intent of this rule by immediately issuing a Proclamation which will put the rule into law within the next two weeks.
Mandatory attendance of small mesh gill nets in these areas will:
allow commercial fishing to continue, but
reduce the amount of gear in the water
reduce the amount of soak time
force commercial fishermen to change tactics, less set netting and more strike netting which is less destructive
reduce bycatch
bycatch that is caught can usually be released alive with short soak times.
reduce conflicts between recreational and commercial fishermen
The MFC and the Director need to be reminded how important this rule is when it comes to protecting sub-legal size red drum. The intent of this rule is to protect these fish over the winter and it should be implemented immediately.
Respectfully,
(Insert your Name)
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 31, 2008
Black Drum Make Another Assault on Topsail Island!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
The black drum pushed in again today and anglers were catching two to five pound black drum most of the day, piers and surf. Mullet, reds, and flounder are still biting. Come get you some!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
The black drum pushed in again today and anglers were catching two to five pound black drum most of the day, piers and surf. Mullet, reds, and flounder are still biting. Come get you some!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 29, 2008
Whiting Still Hanging Around the Surf and (subtitle) Found Fishing Rods
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has improved a bit today. My morning walk was very informing. As I walked the beach and talked to several anglers, I saw several nice whiting, a few up to two pounds. The whiting were biting cut shrimp, as well as sand fleas. I saw a really nice one that I know went over two pounds, that was caught on a Berkley Gulp Saltwater Swimming Mullet! The fleas are getting harder to find, and the folks I talked to had to dig for them as they were too deep for the flea rake. I didn't see any flounder, or speckled trout, but there were still a lot of black drum biting. I mentioned last post that the beach was littered with black drum carcuses, and although there were not as many this morning as yesterday, there were still more than normal. I am planning to fish the incoming tide this evening with Berkley Gulp Saltwater, using my trout rod that my good friend and fellow Surf City Pier angler Bill made for me. Bill builds and repairs fishing rods, and specializes in casting rods for blues, spanish, and trout, along with real sturdy rods for sheepshead. I had given Bill a collection of old and damaged rods, and Bill rewarded me with this new trout rod that he made from a damaged one I had given him. You would be suprised at how many useable fishing rods that are thrown away by vacationers that don't have room or the inclination to transport them back home. I find them in trash cans both on the beach and on the piers, and some in trash bins set out for the garbage trucks. Now I don't "dumpster dive", but if I see part of a fishing rod sticking out of a trash bin, I will investigate if there are any useable parts. I never have to buy line guides, as I always have a supply of found guides on hand. Sometimes the only thing wrong with an abandoned fishing rod, is the tip broken off. An easy fix, and a nice useable fishing rod is added to my collection, which Donna says is way to large. She ask "How can you use all those fishing rods?" Of course, any "true angler" will know that one can NEVER have too many fishing rods! If you would like to talk to Bill about a custom fishing rod, send me an email with your contact information, and I will have Bill call you. Time to get into my waders and head for the surf. Hopefully I will be having flounder or speckled trout for supper tonight. Stay tuned!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has improved a bit today. My morning walk was very informing. As I walked the beach and talked to several anglers, I saw several nice whiting, a few up to two pounds. The whiting were biting cut shrimp, as well as sand fleas. I saw a really nice one that I know went over two pounds, that was caught on a Berkley Gulp Saltwater Swimming Mullet! The fleas are getting harder to find, and the folks I talked to had to dig for them as they were too deep for the flea rake. I didn't see any flounder, or speckled trout, but there were still a lot of black drum biting. I mentioned last post that the beach was littered with black drum carcuses, and although there were not as many this morning as yesterday, there were still more than normal. I am planning to fish the incoming tide this evening with Berkley Gulp Saltwater, using my trout rod that my good friend and fellow Surf City Pier angler Bill made for me. Bill builds and repairs fishing rods, and specializes in casting rods for blues, spanish, and trout, along with real sturdy rods for sheepshead. I had given Bill a collection of old and damaged rods, and Bill rewarded me with this new trout rod that he made from a damaged one I had given him. You would be suprised at how many useable fishing rods that are thrown away by vacationers that don't have room or the inclination to transport them back home. I find them in trash cans both on the beach and on the piers, and some in trash bins set out for the garbage trucks. Now I don't "dumpster dive", but if I see part of a fishing rod sticking out of a trash bin, I will investigate if there are any useable parts. I never have to buy line guides, as I always have a supply of found guides on hand. Sometimes the only thing wrong with an abandoned fishing rod, is the tip broken off. An easy fix, and a nice useable fishing rod is added to my collection, which Donna says is way to large. She ask "How can you use all those fishing rods?" Of course, any "true angler" will know that one can NEVER have too many fishing rods! If you would like to talk to Bill about a custom fishing rod, send me an email with your contact information, and I will have Bill call you. Time to get into my waders and head for the surf. Hopefully I will be having flounder or speckled trout for supper tonight. Stay tuned!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 28, 2008
Black Drum in Surf!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Donna and I walked down the beach about an hour before dark this evening. The beach was littered with black drum carcasses. We also saw several black drum caught while we were out there. Most were big, in the three to four pound range. They were biting cut mullet, cut shrimp, and bloodworms. There were also a few nice sea mullets in buckets and coolers on the beach. We even saw one blow fish. The water temp (WWAY TV 3 in Wilmington) is at 69 degrees and will probably fall a bit over night with the cold front that moved in last night and this morning. The air temperature is 46* at 11 PM this evening. The wind is out of the SW at 20 to 25 knots. No rain in site. Good day for fishing tomorrow. The wind will change to NE early Friday. Just a note, there were tons of finger mullets in the surf. I should have taken my cast net and got some in the freezer for spring. I have an appointment in the morning, but I will probably be surf fishing by 2 pm. Check back tomorrow evening for an update.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Donna and I walked down the beach about an hour before dark this evening. The beach was littered with black drum carcasses. We also saw several black drum caught while we were out there. Most were big, in the three to four pound range. They were biting cut mullet, cut shrimp, and bloodworms. There were also a few nice sea mullets in buckets and coolers on the beach. We even saw one blow fish. The water temp (WWAY TV 3 in Wilmington) is at 69 degrees and will probably fall a bit over night with the cold front that moved in last night and this morning. The air temperature is 46* at 11 PM this evening. The wind is out of the SW at 20 to 25 knots. No rain in site. Good day for fishing tomorrow. The wind will change to NE early Friday. Just a note, there were tons of finger mullets in the surf. I should have taken my cast net and got some in the freezer for spring. I have an appointment in the morning, but I will probably be surf fishing by 2 pm. Check back tomorrow evening for an update.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Wind Change, Front Moves In
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has slowed a bit with the wind change, (SW) and the cold front that moved in last night. The wind has picked up a bit, actually more than a bit, blowing trash containers into the roadways. Early this morning, I saw a surf angler catch two nice whiting, and another catch a puffer (he said, I didn't see it) Surf City Crab had no fresh shrimp this morning. Don't know what up with that. We usually have shrimp this time of year. I haven't tried anywhere else as yet. The weather is forcast to be clear, and cooler, no chance of rain. The wind will change again Friday, and come from the NE. Thats what we like for spots to bite. Maybe the Friday wind change will bring the spot bite back. Still catching some speckled trout in the sounds and creeks. Flounder and red drum continue to be good on the inside. Don't know if there are any shrimp in the creeks, but there should be. Finger mullets are still around and plentiful. Get some for the freezer if you can. They will catch specks, flounder, and red drum when spring warms the water a bit after the winter freeze.
Good luck!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing has slowed a bit with the wind change, (SW) and the cold front that moved in last night. The wind has picked up a bit, actually more than a bit, blowing trash containers into the roadways. Early this morning, I saw a surf angler catch two nice whiting, and another catch a puffer (he said, I didn't see it) Surf City Crab had no fresh shrimp this morning. Don't know what up with that. We usually have shrimp this time of year. I haven't tried anywhere else as yet. The weather is forcast to be clear, and cooler, no chance of rain. The wind will change again Friday, and come from the NE. Thats what we like for spots to bite. Maybe the Friday wind change will bring the spot bite back. Still catching some speckled trout in the sounds and creeks. Flounder and red drum continue to be good on the inside. Don't know if there are any shrimp in the creeks, but there should be. Finger mullets are still around and plentiful. Get some for the freezer if you can. They will catch specks, flounder, and red drum when spring warms the water a bit after the winter freeze.
Good luck!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
NC Red Drum Fishing
Red Drum fishing is still a great way to spend a fall day,John Pearson fished with the Cape Fear Guide this past Sunday,catching slot size red drum.Fish were caught on carolina rigs and cut bait,fishing the falling tide.
Capt.Mike Dennis
Capt.Mike@charter.net
http://www.capefear-guide.com/
910-619-0928
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Capt.Mike Dennis
Capt.Mike@charter.net
http://www.capefear-guide.com/
910-619-0928
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
October 26, 2008
SPOTS! SPOTS! SPOTS! SPOTS! SPOTS!
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Spots are biting two at a time on every pier on Topsail Island! BIG Black drum biting well also. Come on down. Don't know how long they will be here! Times uh wastin!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen
Hello from Surf City!
Spots are biting two at a time on every pier on Topsail Island! BIG Black drum biting well also. Come on down. Don't know how long they will be here! Times uh wastin!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 23, 2008
Flounder Action HOT!
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Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
I went surf fishing this morning. I didn't take any bottom rigs or heavy surf gear. Instead, I opted for my trout rod with jigs and grubs for bait. I had several small flounder and two keepers. They were only 15 and 16 inches, but they were really fat and healthy. Most all of the flatties I have caught this fall have been heavy for their length. MMMMMM! Makes some fine eating! I used Berkley Gulp swimming mullet, new penny color until I found a good flounder hole, then switched to plastics. Got loads of hits, but was having trouble hooking up for awhile. Didn't catch any speckled trout, but I had a fun morning casting the jigs for the flounder. Water is cooling nicely, and fishing should be good for another couple of weeks at least. I don't think the specks are schooling yet, as I have only caught a single speck in some of my surf outings. All have been undersized. I usually don't keep a speck under 15 inches, there just isn't enough meat to make a good fillet. I have heard that some anglers are catching specks using live shrimp and finger mullets. Oh, btw, the water is still full of finger mullets. I plan to take my cast net out this afternoon and get a bunch to freeze for later this winter, or early next spring. As usual, thanks to everyone for supporting our blog, and .......
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 22, 2008
Whiting From the Surf!
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Hello from Surf City!
The whiting are getting bigger. Yesterday caught several two pounds and over. We are catching most on fresh shrimp. I don't know why the sand fleas aren't producing as well as previous years. Also catching keeper flounder from the surf. Caught one on a Berkley Gulp and another on fresh cut shrimp. Haven't caught any specks in the surf yet, but they should start to school as the water temp goes down. There are lots of spots around, but the big yellow bellies are not here. An surf angler told me that if they didn't come this week, they may not be here. He says they are off shore, and won't come in until the water cools. We hope the water cools enough before they are all gone. Piers are a little slow, except kings, and they are still biting well. Several have been caught this week off the piers. Inside continues to be good, with specks in the creeks and reds on the grass lines and docks. There are a lot of finger mullets and silver sides in the surf, and plenty in the sound. Banks Channel in Topsail is holding lots of mullets and some pogies, so getting bait isn't going to be much of a problem.
Good luck to everyone!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 20, 2008
Fall Fishing is Hot Around Southeast NC
Well Folks, fall is really showing strong this week! One day with warm temps and light winds the very next day very windy, rainy and cold for October! Hey that’s what gets those fall fish biting so we can’t complain too much. With that said lets talk fall fishing!
Last week 10-13 to 10-17 we had some very good Spanish Mack runs. Most of the Spanish hit Clark spoons on number one planners, a few fish hit on top as well. We did get a few on Marie jigs casting when the Spanish got on top feeding. The Spanish were very nice in size; most fish were two to some over four pounds “nice fall size”. They were biting just off the beach to about two miles off the beach. I don’t know how much longer they will be here with this cooler air moving in; will just have to see!
The Flounder fishing has been good for the most part, on some trips we’ve caught over twelve keeper fish. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. We have caught some Flounder on Artificial baits as well. We have had the best luck with Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in molting color and “Chicken on a chain” color grubs. Rig the grubs on a red or black jig head for best results.
We’ve caught some bigger bull Redfish in and around the local inlets. We are catching Reds in the 24 to over 32 inch range, some days their over the slot some days their in the slot. Most of the Reds around the inlets are hitting mullets and fresh menhaden on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers with circle hooks 9/0 to 11/0. On some days we have had some luck on Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in colors molting and pearl; using heavier jig heads.
And last but Not lest, Speckled Trout are starting to show and bite! The Speckled trout fishing has gotten better and better around this area every year! It looks like it will be the same this year as well; “I Can’t wait, I love Trout fishing”! The best trout bites lately have been on grubs and hard baits, but we have caught some on the good ‘ole live shrimp as well! The best grub colors for us have been; chart-diamond, greenback shiner and silver mullet. In the Shrimp pattern colors; clear, bone-diamond and root beer. Rig the grubs and shrimp patterns on a red or black jig head for best results.
Hard lure’s that seem to be bringing the trout to the boat are Mirrolures and X-raps in colors pink, chartreuse, and white. Most of the trout we have caught have been in the creeks and main channels connecting to the ICW and inlets. There are still lots of pinfish, lizardfish, and small bluefish around: so we have not jumped in to the live shrimp full force yet.
In other fishing news: The 2008 Cape Fear Red-Trout Celebrity Classic to benefit Cystic fibrosis was held this last weekend 10-16 to 10-18. I really enjoy fishing this tournament year after year. It’s well run and very fun, there are a lot of very good guides that fish this tournament. I had the pleasure fishing with Adam Meyer and Liz Bielski with Charter Lakes Insurance group. I’m very happy to announce that team Charter Lakes took Lady Angler Grand Champion, Liz even caught more fish than Adam! Congrats Liz, great job! I look forward to fishing this tournament next year.
Fishing gear we use;
Bull Reds: Reels Pflueger Contender G15L, Rods Shakespeare Custom “USCB 1166 MH” Penn spinning reels 560L Live Liner with Penn Torque jigging rod 7’ 20 to 50 braids.
Spanish, Trout, and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
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Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Last week 10-13 to 10-17 we had some very good Spanish Mack runs. Most of the Spanish hit Clark spoons on number one planners, a few fish hit on top as well. We did get a few on Marie jigs casting when the Spanish got on top feeding. The Spanish were very nice in size; most fish were two to some over four pounds “nice fall size”. They were biting just off the beach to about two miles off the beach. I don’t know how much longer they will be here with this cooler air moving in; will just have to see!
The Flounder fishing has been good for the most part, on some trips we’ve caught over twelve keeper fish. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. We have caught some Flounder on Artificial baits as well. We have had the best luck with Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in molting color and “Chicken on a chain” color grubs. Rig the grubs on a red or black jig head for best results.
We’ve caught some bigger bull Redfish in and around the local inlets. We are catching Reds in the 24 to over 32 inch range, some days their over the slot some days their in the slot. Most of the Reds around the inlets are hitting mullets and fresh menhaden on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers with circle hooks 9/0 to 11/0. On some days we have had some luck on Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in colors molting and pearl; using heavier jig heads.
And last but Not lest, Speckled Trout are starting to show and bite! The Speckled trout fishing has gotten better and better around this area every year! It looks like it will be the same this year as well; “I Can’t wait, I love Trout fishing”! The best trout bites lately have been on grubs and hard baits, but we have caught some on the good ‘ole live shrimp as well! The best grub colors for us have been; chart-diamond, greenback shiner and silver mullet. In the Shrimp pattern colors; clear, bone-diamond and root beer. Rig the grubs and shrimp patterns on a red or black jig head for best results.
Hard lure’s that seem to be bringing the trout to the boat are Mirrolures and X-raps in colors pink, chartreuse, and white. Most of the trout we have caught have been in the creeks and main channels connecting to the ICW and inlets. There are still lots of pinfish, lizardfish, and small bluefish around: so we have not jumped in to the live shrimp full force yet.
In other fishing news: The 2008 Cape Fear Red-Trout Celebrity Classic to benefit Cystic fibrosis was held this last weekend 10-16 to 10-18. I really enjoy fishing this tournament year after year. It’s well run and very fun, there are a lot of very good guides that fish this tournament. I had the pleasure fishing with Adam Meyer and Liz Bielski with Charter Lakes Insurance group. I’m very happy to announce that team Charter Lakes took Lady Angler Grand Champion, Liz even caught more fish than Adam! Congrats Liz, great job! I look forward to fishing this tournament next year.
Fishing gear we use;
Bull Reds: Reels Pflueger Contender G15L, Rods Shakespeare Custom “USCB 1166 MH” Penn spinning reels 560L Live Liner with Penn Torque jigging rod 7’ 20 to 50 braids.
Spanish, Trout, and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Charter fishing
Wilmington NC Fishing charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
October 18, 2008
Rainy Day Topsail Redfish
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Hello from Surf City!
Today I had Russell and Doug join me for a day of fishing in the rain at Topsail Beach. Knowing that the weather was going to be nasty, I call Russell and ask if they wanted to fish in the rain. They said that they came to fish, so fish is what we did.
The bite wasn't exactly on "fire", but both Russell and Doug managed to catch Redfish in the 5-6lb class. Russell also landed a flounder that was slightly under the size limit. Though the weather was less than perfect, we had a good time and Russell and Doug have some nice fish for their cookout!!! Good job guys!! You deserve those fish for battling the conditions!!
Tight lines and good fishing!!
Capt. Brent
October 17, 2008
Oct 17 Topsail Report
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Topsail Area Charter Boats
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Hello from Surf City!
Fishing is good! Dad and I caught so many spots that we were giving them away. We caught flounder, we caught huge whiting, we caught blues, and pompano! I have heard of catches of red fish and spekled trout, in the sound and now from the surf. The water is full of bait. Spanish are still here, but in smaller numbers. Will the king bite on the piers ever quit? Doesn't look like it. Offshore, everything is biting. I'm not going to list them all, but if you have heard of it off the North Carolina coast, chances are it is biting offshore. Baits are the same as all summer. Live shrimp is the most prefered, with finger mullets coming in a close second. Then there is Gulp, all the Gulp baits are now producing. And let's add FishBites to that list. Spots love them especially the bloodworm flavor! If you haven't been to Topsail fishing this fall, why are you waiting? Come and gettum'.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
October 12, 2008
Weekend Topsail Report
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Hello from Surf City!
Fishing slowed a bit with the rain moving in, but with winds out of the North East, there are still a few fish around. Lots of pier anglers wearing their rain gear braved the weather and were rewarded with a nice catch of spots, mullets, black drum, pompano, and keeper flounder. The numbers weren't huge, but most anglers were happy with the catch. There will be some good spot dinners as a result. All the piers were reporting small catches of a variety of fish. An angler fishing off the end of Jolly Roger Pier landed a huge red drum. To keep the fish alive, it was returned to the water as quickly as possible, so it was not weighed or measured. The red was almost up to the anglers waist as he held the fish up to return it to the water. A special thanks to the angler for his unselfish actions in saving the fish.
Surf anglers are catching mostly the same as pier anglers, but with a few more puppy drum, some keepers, and larger flounder. The inside continues to produce catches of red drum, flounder, and speckled trout, with the best baits again live shrimp and finger mullets. Just a note, you anglers that can't find live shrimp or finger mullets, give small pin fish a try. I have had success with reds and flounder using the small spiney pinfish for bait. Best size for me have been from two to four inches. Sometimes with the bigger pinfish I will trim the top dorsal fin with a pair of scissors. Seems to get more bites for me. The rain has ended and hopefully the fish will come back in sometime tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has emailed us with their catch results. I rely on you for a lot of my posts. Keep 'em coming.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
Fishing slowed a bit with the rain moving in, but with winds out of the North East, there are still a few fish around. Lots of pier anglers wearing their rain gear braved the weather and were rewarded with a nice catch of spots, mullets, black drum, pompano, and keeper flounder. The numbers weren't huge, but most anglers were happy with the catch. There will be some good spot dinners as a result. All the piers were reporting small catches of a variety of fish. An angler fishing off the end of Jolly Roger Pier landed a huge red drum. To keep the fish alive, it was returned to the water as quickly as possible, so it was not weighed or measured. The red was almost up to the anglers waist as he held the fish up to return it to the water. A special thanks to the angler for his unselfish actions in saving the fish.
Surf anglers are catching mostly the same as pier anglers, but with a few more puppy drum, some keepers, and larger flounder. The inside continues to produce catches of red drum, flounder, and speckled trout, with the best baits again live shrimp and finger mullets. Just a note, you anglers that can't find live shrimp or finger mullets, give small pin fish a try. I have had success with reds and flounder using the small spiney pinfish for bait. Best size for me have been from two to four inches. Sometimes with the bigger pinfish I will trim the top dorsal fin with a pair of scissors. Seems to get more bites for me. The rain has ended and hopefully the fish will come back in sometime tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has emailed us with their catch results. I rely on you for a lot of my posts. Keep 'em coming.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 10, 2008
Some coastal towns will have to pay for dredging
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Below is an article that appeared in the Star News website. This is important!
All water sports enthusiasts, especially anglers, should contact your representatives in congress to insure that our Intracoastal Waterway stays open. This is vital for our coastal communities who depend on the waterway for the tourist industry and as anglers and boaters, you know how important this issue is. We have to fight for this every year, and the time is NOW! Thank you for your support.
CLICK HERE for the StarNewsOnline.com website:
[quote]
By Gareth McGrath
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:16 p.m.
For the second time in three years, North Carolina and some coastal communities will have to dig into their own pockets to help dredge shoaled-up sections of the Intracoastal Waterway.
But unlike the first time around, this year’s estimated $5 million price tag comes amid the biggest economic meltdown in a generation.
Yet even with tax revenues shrinking and governments contemplating budget cutbacks, state and local officials might find it too costly not to pay for the dredging work.
“If the waterway isn’t passable, every beach community is affected and the whole state is affected,” said Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith, whose town might have to find up to $315,000 to keep the Shallotte Inlet and Shallotte River crossings of the waterway navigable. “And we need all parts of the waterway to be passable, or else it doesn’t really work. We can’t have a disjointed waterway.”
Still, the idea that Washington is again walking away from what historically has been a federal responsibility isn’t sitting well with local officials who suddenly find themselves squeezed between adding yet another funding request or potentially letting an economic and recreational asset sink.
Rick Catlin, head of the New Hanover Port, Waterway and Beach Commission, said the lack of adequate federal funding for the state’s beach and waterway infrastructure projects isn’t something new and probably portends a growing wave of the future.
He said it also highlights the need for North Carolina, both at the state and local levels, to get serious about creating a reliable and renewable revenue source for such dredging projects.
“We have to take a new, hard look at cost-sharing,” said Catlin, who also is chairman of the N.C. Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association. “We have to. We have to be realistic.”
The Army Corps of Engineers, faced with its own lean fiscal times, has said it doesn’t expect to receive enough federal funding this year to do more than simply maintain the Intracoastal, limiting its work largely to surveying the waterway and carrying out mosquito-control work.
That means the agency likely won’t have enough money to dredge several shallow-draft inlet crossings of the waterway, and possibly even Snows Cut, this winter.
Those areas are shoaling “hot spots” where sand quickly accumulates due to strong currents and tidal energy.
So the N.C. Division of Water Resources, in an agreement with the corps, is proposing to split the costs between Raleigh and the communities that would benefit from the dredged sand being placed on their beaches.
“If we don’t come up with the money, they’re not going to do the dredging,” said John Sutherland, chief of the agency’s Water Projects Section. “It’s really that simple.”
Brunswick County, which would pay half the cost of pumping sand onto Oak Island, Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, is being asked to contribute more than $550,000.
County Manager Marty Lawing said coming up with the money won’t be easy, especially considering Brunswick hadn’t earmarked any funds to support dredging in its 2008-09 budget.
“With the economic slowdown impacting revenue fairly significantly and it already being a tight budget year, we might have to get creative,” he said. “But when we have a project leveraged with state and local funds, we really have to take a hard look at taking advantage of it.”
Ocean Isle’s Smith said her town also would likely help pay for the dredging.
“That should be a federal responsibility, or they should be paying for a large percentage of it,” she said. “But there’s just no money in the budget for it. So I guess we’ll have to do what we have to do.”
The dredging work this winter also could include the western part of Snows Cut, the Southport boat basin and Bogue Inlet in Carteret County.
But corps project manager Mitch Hall said disposal and permit issues still need to be worked out for those projects to be included in this round of dredging work.
If the Snows Cut work goes ahead, Raleigh would likely pick up the cost of dredging the estimated 122,000 cubic yards of material.
“We’re not expecting any local cost-share for a project that doesn’t have direct benefits for the local governments,” Sutherland said.
Gareth McGrath: 343-2384
gareth.mcgrath@starnewsonline.com
[end quote]
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Below is an article that appeared in the Star News website. This is important!
All water sports enthusiasts, especially anglers, should contact your representatives in congress to insure that our Intracoastal Waterway stays open. This is vital for our coastal communities who depend on the waterway for the tourist industry and as anglers and boaters, you know how important this issue is. We have to fight for this every year, and the time is NOW! Thank you for your support.
CLICK HERE for the StarNewsOnline.com website:
[quote]
By Gareth McGrath
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:16 p.m.
For the second time in three years, North Carolina and some coastal communities will have to dig into their own pockets to help dredge shoaled-up sections of the Intracoastal Waterway.
But unlike the first time around, this year’s estimated $5 million price tag comes amid the biggest economic meltdown in a generation.
Yet even with tax revenues shrinking and governments contemplating budget cutbacks, state and local officials might find it too costly not to pay for the dredging work.
“If the waterway isn’t passable, every beach community is affected and the whole state is affected,” said Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith, whose town might have to find up to $315,000 to keep the Shallotte Inlet and Shallotte River crossings of the waterway navigable. “And we need all parts of the waterway to be passable, or else it doesn’t really work. We can’t have a disjointed waterway.”
Still, the idea that Washington is again walking away from what historically has been a federal responsibility isn’t sitting well with local officials who suddenly find themselves squeezed between adding yet another funding request or potentially letting an economic and recreational asset sink.
Rick Catlin, head of the New Hanover Port, Waterway and Beach Commission, said the lack of adequate federal funding for the state’s beach and waterway infrastructure projects isn’t something new and probably portends a growing wave of the future.
He said it also highlights the need for North Carolina, both at the state and local levels, to get serious about creating a reliable and renewable revenue source for such dredging projects.
“We have to take a new, hard look at cost-sharing,” said Catlin, who also is chairman of the N.C. Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association. “We have to. We have to be realistic.”
The Army Corps of Engineers, faced with its own lean fiscal times, has said it doesn’t expect to receive enough federal funding this year to do more than simply maintain the Intracoastal, limiting its work largely to surveying the waterway and carrying out mosquito-control work.
That means the agency likely won’t have enough money to dredge several shallow-draft inlet crossings of the waterway, and possibly even Snows Cut, this winter.
Those areas are shoaling “hot spots” where sand quickly accumulates due to strong currents and tidal energy.
So the N.C. Division of Water Resources, in an agreement with the corps, is proposing to split the costs between Raleigh and the communities that would benefit from the dredged sand being placed on their beaches.
“If we don’t come up with the money, they’re not going to do the dredging,” said John Sutherland, chief of the agency’s Water Projects Section. “It’s really that simple.”
Brunswick County, which would pay half the cost of pumping sand onto Oak Island, Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, is being asked to contribute more than $550,000.
County Manager Marty Lawing said coming up with the money won’t be easy, especially considering Brunswick hadn’t earmarked any funds to support dredging in its 2008-09 budget.
“With the economic slowdown impacting revenue fairly significantly and it already being a tight budget year, we might have to get creative,” he said. “But when we have a project leveraged with state and local funds, we really have to take a hard look at taking advantage of it.”
Ocean Isle’s Smith said her town also would likely help pay for the dredging.
“That should be a federal responsibility, or they should be paying for a large percentage of it,” she said. “But there’s just no money in the budget for it. So I guess we’ll have to do what we have to do.”
The dredging work this winter also could include the western part of Snows Cut, the Southport boat basin and Bogue Inlet in Carteret County.
But corps project manager Mitch Hall said disposal and permit issues still need to be worked out for those projects to be included in this round of dredging work.
If the Snows Cut work goes ahead, Raleigh would likely pick up the cost of dredging the estimated 122,000 cubic yards of material.
“We’re not expecting any local cost-share for a project that doesn’t have direct benefits for the local governments,” Sutherland said.
Gareth McGrath: 343-2384
gareth.mcgrath@starnewsonline.com
[end quote]
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Pompano and Spots!
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Hello from Surf City!
The spots are moving. On Wednesday anglers were pulling them up two at a time from Jolly Roger Pier. Today in the surf Donna and I caught 9 pompano and one spot. [Friday night supper!] Tiny sea mullets were biting hard, but no keeper mullet or whiting took our bait. [cut shrimp] I tried some sand fleas but no hits on the fleas. Fleas were plentiful, but they were deep. Topsail Island piers are busy with plenty of spot with some being caught two at a time. at times. Sea mullet, drum and pompano are being caught on the piers along with flounder and speckled trout. The flounder and specks are biting finger mullets and live shrimp. The Spanish are still biting early in the AM. Bluefish are still biting also. Fall fishing! Gotta love it!
I was shocked to see a four to five foot shark right in the surf today. I could see it's eye! I could have reached out and touched it! I have seen sharks that close only one other time back when Salty's Pier was running in North Topsail Beach. That evening there were at least a dozen swimming around in the surf real close to shore. They were so shallow that their backs, dorcel fin, and tail were all out of the water. Stay tuned for more the spot blitz will come any day now. They are biting steady around Morehead City, heading this way.
Thanks for reading our blog. We appreciate the nice comments and questions which we try to answer to the best of our ability. Keep 'em coming!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
The spots are moving. On Wednesday anglers were pulling them up two at a time from Jolly Roger Pier. Today in the surf Donna and I caught 9 pompano and one spot. [Friday night supper!] Tiny sea mullets were biting hard, but no keeper mullet or whiting took our bait. [cut shrimp] I tried some sand fleas but no hits on the fleas. Fleas were plentiful, but they were deep. Topsail Island piers are busy with plenty of spot with some being caught two at a time. at times. Sea mullet, drum and pompano are being caught on the piers along with flounder and speckled trout. The flounder and specks are biting finger mullets and live shrimp. The Spanish are still biting early in the AM. Bluefish are still biting also. Fall fishing! Gotta love it!
I was shocked to see a four to five foot shark right in the surf today. I could see it's eye! I could have reached out and touched it! I have seen sharks that close only one other time back when Salty's Pier was running in North Topsail Beach. That evening there were at least a dozen swimming around in the surf real close to shore. They were so shallow that their backs, dorcel fin, and tail were all out of the water. Stay tuned for more the spot blitz will come any day now. They are biting steady around Morehead City, heading this way.
Thanks for reading our blog. We appreciate the nice comments and questions which we try to answer to the best of our ability. Keep 'em coming!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 8, 2008
Spots!
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I got this alert from Chris at East Coast Sports. Check it out.
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I got this alert from Chris at East Coast Sports. Check it out.
Fishing Topsail Message Board
October 7, 2008
4 Wheel Drive Access to New River Inlet
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Hello from Surf City!
Success! Today the town board voted to take NO action concerning 4 wheel drive access to the New River Inlet. They are keeping the proposal on the table for more study. Everyone keep emailing and writing your objections to this action. This is one of the few access points left in North Topsail Beach, and the only access to the New River Inlet.
My 2 cents.
Fishing continues to get better with more catches of "everything" in the surf. The fall spot run hasn't started yet, but there are plenty of yellow butterflies around, and the spots are biting hard in Emerald Isle. The pier is full tonight, but I haven't been up to see what is biting if anything.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
Success! Today the town board voted to take NO action concerning 4 wheel drive access to the New River Inlet. They are keeping the proposal on the table for more study. Everyone keep emailing and writing your objections to this action. This is one of the few access points left in North Topsail Beach, and the only access to the New River Inlet.
My 2 cents.
Fishing continues to get better with more catches of "everything" in the surf. The fall spot run hasn't started yet, but there are plenty of yellow butterflies around, and the spots are biting hard in Emerald Isle. The pier is full tonight, but I haven't been up to see what is biting if anything.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
October 6, 2008
The Air is Cooling Down but the Fishing is Heating Up!
I’m very happy that fall is really starting show here in eastern North Carolina. This is by far my favorite time of the year for outdoors and fishing in North Carolina. As the air temps Fall the fishing action just heats up more and more every day!
We’ve done a lot of Flounder fishing the last couple of weeks, with some pretty good days of fishing. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. If you would rather use artificial bait, I would try a Saltwater Assassin Blurp grub in molting color. Rig the Blurp on a red or black jig head for best results.
We have found most of the Flounder in the creeks in mixed size but higher numbers. Fishing the drop of the main channel in the creeks, this is where we have found the most fish. The bigger Flounder seem to be around the inlets and just off the beach. There seems to be less action and Flounder but, they are very nice Flounder; in the three the over six pound range. (The creeks have been more fun for Flounder fishing.)
There are still fair amounts of good ole’ Redfish around, some in the creeks and some in the ocean. In the creeks and waterway top water plugs and live baits are doing the trick. We fish top water early in the morning and late afternoon when the sun in low. The ocean Redfish is eating; live bait and Blurp shrimp and or shad grubs. Extra scent never hurts when Red fishing!
The Trout are starting to show up around the area. We’ve caught Trout from right around Wrightsville Beach to down in the Cape Fear River. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart Diamond, Pump Seed/Chart tail and sliver mullet on red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and white back white belly.
As water temps drop the Trout fishing will get better and better. The last couple of seasons have been the best Trout fishing I have ever seen around Wrightsville Beach, it seems to get better every year! I do a great deal of Trout charters in November, if you would like to go book soon for I will book up fast!
In other fishing news: I’m proud to announce that myself and Capt. Jeremiah Hieronymus, took second place and First place TWT “largest Redfish” in the Redfish Action Inshore Classic this last weekend. We had a great time fishing this well run event and look very forward to fishing more in the feature! Capt. Lee Willis and the Redfish action crew did a wonderful job running this tournament, my hat comes off to Him and his crew! I will always recommend this series to anyone how enjoys Red fishing and tournaments.
The Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. 20 pound Ugly Braid.
In the Redfish Action tournament I could not have done it with out my: Pflueger Supreme low profile bait caster and All Star Platinum P845MC 7’ rod. This combo gave me extreme casting distance that truly helped us place in this tournament. Check one of those out, you won’t be unhappy!
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington NC Fishing Charters
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We’ve done a lot of Flounder fishing the last couple of weeks, with some pretty good days of fishing. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. If you would rather use artificial bait, I would try a Saltwater Assassin Blurp grub in molting color. Rig the Blurp on a red or black jig head for best results.
We have found most of the Flounder in the creeks in mixed size but higher numbers. Fishing the drop of the main channel in the creeks, this is where we have found the most fish. The bigger Flounder seem to be around the inlets and just off the beach. There seems to be less action and Flounder but, they are very nice Flounder; in the three the over six pound range. (The creeks have been more fun for Flounder fishing.)
There are still fair amounts of good ole’ Redfish around, some in the creeks and some in the ocean. In the creeks and waterway top water plugs and live baits are doing the trick. We fish top water early in the morning and late afternoon when the sun in low. The ocean Redfish is eating; live bait and Blurp shrimp and or shad grubs. Extra scent never hurts when Red fishing!
The Trout are starting to show up around the area. We’ve caught Trout from right around Wrightsville Beach to down in the Cape Fear River. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart Diamond, Pump Seed/Chart tail and sliver mullet on red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and white back white belly.
As water temps drop the Trout fishing will get better and better. The last couple of seasons have been the best Trout fishing I have ever seen around Wrightsville Beach, it seems to get better every year! I do a great deal of Trout charters in November, if you would like to go book soon for I will book up fast!
In other fishing news: I’m proud to announce that myself and Capt. Jeremiah Hieronymus, took second place and First place TWT “largest Redfish” in the Redfish Action Inshore Classic this last weekend. We had a great time fishing this well run event and look very forward to fishing more in the feature! Capt. Lee Willis and the Redfish action crew did a wonderful job running this tournament, my hat comes off to Him and his crew! I will always recommend this series to anyone how enjoys Red fishing and tournaments.
The Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. 20 pound Ugly Braid.
In the Redfish Action tournament I could not have done it with out my: Pflueger Supreme low profile bait caster and All Star Platinum P845MC 7’ rod. This combo gave me extreme casting distance that truly helped us place in this tournament. Check one of those out, you won’t be unhappy!
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington NC Fishing Charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
October 5, 2008
NC Red Drum Fishing
The fall weather conditions have just been great the last several days light wind,mild tempertures,and Carolina Blue Skies,here in the Cape Fear Region of N.C.
Red Drum fishing has been steady since the weather has settled down,good sized slot redfish are being caught,and are fighting hard !
Spanish mackerel are biting well just off Carolina Beach,fish are large 3lb.to 4lb. are being caught trolling & casting plugs just beyond the surf in 15' to 20' of water.
A few king mackerel are being caught with live bait right on the beach,a 34lb fish was caught Friday just south of Carolina Beach Inlet.
Give the Cape Fear Guide a call to enjoy this great fall weather we are having !
Capt.Mike Dennis
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928
www.capefear-guide.com
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Red Drum fishing has been steady since the weather has settled down,good sized slot redfish are being caught,and are fighting hard !
Spanish mackerel are biting well just off Carolina Beach,fish are large 3lb.to 4lb. are being caught trolling & casting plugs just beyond the surf in 15' to 20' of water.
A few king mackerel are being caught with live bait right on the beach,a 34lb fish was caught Friday just south of Carolina Beach Inlet.
Give the Cape Fear Guide a call to enjoy this great fall weather we are having !
Capt.Mike Dennis
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928
www.capefear-guide.com
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October 4, 2008
I am starting this report announcing that I recently landed the greatest catch of my life. Karen, my sweetie of 3 years accepted my marriage proposal this past week. This has truly been a great week.
Now for the fishing. The bait fish are abundant and making their fall migrations South. As a result, the predators are feeding heavily and the fishing couldn't be better. My last few trips have mainly been inshore trips targeting Speckled Trout and Redfish and the bite has been quite good. The Redfish have been biting soft plastics quite well. Most of the fish are good slot fish in the 24-26-inch range.
The Specks are also really starting to turn on. This past Friday, I landed a 4lb Speck. on a DOA paddle tail. I also caught another 3lber on a top water plug. There is nothing like catching fish on topwater plugs!!!
I have lots of good falls dates available. Call today and book your trip!!!
Tight lines!!!
Capt. Brent
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October 3, 2008
Fall Fishing Picking Up!
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Met a guy on the beach today. He had a 5 gallon bucket half full of fish. Blues, spots, pompano, flounder, and sea mullets. This guy had a nice morning with his feet in the sand. Fall fishing has really picked up recently with the water getting cooler and now cleared up from the last storm that passed by. Same on the inside. Lots of big over the slot reds are being caught from New Topsail Inlet to New River Inlet. Donna and I will be out there in the surf Friday morning, early, God willing. Fishing is picking up on the piers also. There are still lots of spanish around with enough kings being landed to keep everyone interested. Bottom fishing is getting good. I have caught two keeper flounder in the surf this week. Last year I only caught two keepers the whole year. It's gonna be a good year. Better get on down here and do some fishing!
Pray for our nations leaders, and the candidates. No matter who you choose, pray that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Met a guy on the beach today. He had a 5 gallon bucket half full of fish. Blues, spots, pompano, flounder, and sea mullets. This guy had a nice morning with his feet in the sand. Fall fishing has really picked up recently with the water getting cooler and now cleared up from the last storm that passed by. Same on the inside. Lots of big over the slot reds are being caught from New Topsail Inlet to New River Inlet. Donna and I will be out there in the surf Friday morning, early, God willing. Fishing is picking up on the piers also. There are still lots of spanish around with enough kings being landed to keep everyone interested. Bottom fishing is getting good. I have caught two keeper flounder in the surf this week. Last year I only caught two keepers the whole year. It's gonna be a good year. Better get on down here and do some fishing!
Pray for our nations leaders, and the candidates. No matter who you choose, pray that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
September 29, 2008
Monday Surf Fishing Trip
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Hello from Surf City!
My friend Ken and I went surf fishing today south of Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach. Before going to the beach, we stopped at the engineers pier on Banks Channel to try and get bait. We couldn't find any finger mullet even thought we walked toward the inlet a good distance. We headed to the surf with cut shrimp looking for red drum. There was a lot of reds caught Sunday, and we were hoping they were still around. But no luck with the drum. We had a pretty good day though, catching one keeper flounder and a half dozen nice pompano. The blue fish kept us busy most of the morning, and cut my line several times. I can't remember how many we caught, we lost count. It was loads of fun, but none were large enough to fillet. I hooked into what I believe was a red drum. The fish steadily, but not real quickly, pulled line off my real. After a fight of five or more minutes, I lost the fish on the edge of a ditch that was about ten feet from the tide lines. I was fishing with a bottom rig and two number 4 hooks. The rig didn't look "chewed" so I don't think it was a big blue. So we had a pretty good morning of fishing.
But my biggest, and most exciting catch was a HUGE Osprey! As I was reeling in a blue fish to the shore, the bird dived on my blue fish, and tried to take off with it. But the top hook of my bottom rig caught the Osprey in the foot, more precisely a toe (?) right where his huge talons were. "After getting it to the beach, I tried to cover it with a towel, the way I cover a sea gull that gets tangled up in line. The towel over the head will calm a sea gull right down. But not this Osprey! He spread his wings and fought with the towel. OK, a towel over an Osprey's head don't work. Slowly and carefully, I eased down the line with plyers in hand, until I had the hook in the jaws of my plyers. A quick twist, and the hook was out. I backed up, and after a few seconds, that magnificient bird stretched out all five feet of his wings and away it went. What an experience! I have never been that close to a bird of prey. I have no idea why it didn't attack me while I was so close. I could have toughed his head with the huge beak talons open and ready to battle. But the bird just sat there calmly with his wings spread, and his beak open, making little noises that sounded a bit threatening. The Osprey could have shreaded my hands and arms if it had decided to attack me. Glad it didn't. I am hoping the foot won't get infected as the hook was in just past the barb. So not much damage was done to the foot. I was more excited about seeing this fabulous bird so close, than the keeper flounder I fileted and put in the freezer. Feet in the sand, saltwater washing up around my legs and feet. What a day at the beach!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
My friend Ken and I went surf fishing today south of Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach. Before going to the beach, we stopped at the engineers pier on Banks Channel to try and get bait. We couldn't find any finger mullet even thought we walked toward the inlet a good distance. We headed to the surf with cut shrimp looking for red drum. There was a lot of reds caught Sunday, and we were hoping they were still around. But no luck with the drum. We had a pretty good day though, catching one keeper flounder and a half dozen nice pompano. The blue fish kept us busy most of the morning, and cut my line several times. I can't remember how many we caught, we lost count. It was loads of fun, but none were large enough to fillet. I hooked into what I believe was a red drum. The fish steadily, but not real quickly, pulled line off my real. After a fight of five or more minutes, I lost the fish on the edge of a ditch that was about ten feet from the tide lines. I was fishing with a bottom rig and two number 4 hooks. The rig didn't look "chewed" so I don't think it was a big blue. So we had a pretty good morning of fishing.
But my biggest, and most exciting catch was a HUGE Osprey! As I was reeling in a blue fish to the shore, the bird dived on my blue fish, and tried to take off with it. But the top hook of my bottom rig caught the Osprey in the foot, more precisely a toe (?) right where his huge talons were. "After getting it to the beach, I tried to cover it with a towel, the way I cover a sea gull that gets tangled up in line. The towel over the head will calm a sea gull right down. But not this Osprey! He spread his wings and fought with the towel. OK, a towel over an Osprey's head don't work. Slowly and carefully, I eased down the line with plyers in hand, until I had the hook in the jaws of my plyers. A quick twist, and the hook was out. I backed up, and after a few seconds, that magnificient bird stretched out all five feet of his wings and away it went. What an experience! I have never been that close to a bird of prey. I have no idea why it didn't attack me while I was so close. I could have toughed his head with the huge beak talons open and ready to battle. But the bird just sat there calmly with his wings spread, and his beak open, making little noises that sounded a bit threatening. The Osprey could have shreaded my hands and arms if it had decided to attack me. Glad it didn't. I am hoping the foot won't get infected as the hook was in just past the barb. So not much damage was done to the foot. I was more excited about seeing this fabulous bird so close, than the keeper flounder I fileted and put in the freezer. Feet in the sand, saltwater washing up around my legs and feet. What a day at the beach!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
September 27, 2008
Fall Fishing is Here!
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Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
Fall fishing is here! Pluggers are getting some spanish in the morning, and blues early and late in the day. There are lots of black drum, big Croakers, some small puppy drum, keeper flounder, and yes, spots, still not 2 at a time, but but the time is real close. I have seen lots of yellow butterflys, and I am told that means spots will be here soon. (don't know where that came from, but most locals believe it). The water is dirty, and full of seaweed and trash. The waves have calmed down and the wind has layed down at a bit, and fish are biting. I hear the spots are biting in the ICW near the high rise bridge. Red drum are thick in Banks channel near the inlet, and I hear anglers are tearing the reds up at Lea Island. Bait is plentiful in and near the ICW. There has been some specks caught in the surf, but numbers are real low. Got to get back out there.
The Nor'easter that blew through this week left lots of damage on the beach. At least three feet and as much as six feet of dunes were washed away. Almost all the access steps were damaged, but SC officials are doing a great job getting them back in shape. Things could have been much worse.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from Surf City!
Fall fishing is here! Pluggers are getting some spanish in the morning, and blues early and late in the day. There are lots of black drum, big Croakers, some small puppy drum, keeper flounder, and yes, spots, still not 2 at a time, but but the time is real close. I have seen lots of yellow butterflys, and I am told that means spots will be here soon. (don't know where that came from, but most locals believe it). The water is dirty, and full of seaweed and trash. The waves have calmed down and the wind has layed down at a bit, and fish are biting. I hear the spots are biting in the ICW near the high rise bridge. Red drum are thick in Banks channel near the inlet, and I hear anglers are tearing the reds up at Lea Island. Bait is plentiful in and near the ICW. There has been some specks caught in the surf, but numbers are real low. Got to get back out there.
The Nor'easter that blew through this week left lots of damage on the beach. At least three feet and as much as six feet of dunes were washed away. Almost all the access steps were damaged, but SC officials are doing a great job getting them back in shape. Things could have been much worse.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
September 24, 2008
North Wind
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from a windy Surf City. Don't come to Topsail fishing for the next couple of days. Winds are expected to be upwards of 35 mph. We have already lost about two feet of beach near the county line.
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hello from a windy Surf City. Don't come to Topsail fishing for the next couple of days. Winds are expected to be upwards of 35 mph. We have already lost about two feet of beach near the county line.
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny
September 22, 2008
Good Ole' Fall Fishing
Well folks, fall is really showing it’s self around southeast North Carolina. With that said fall fishing is picking up too! The mullet run is in full force and the fish know it and are reacting to it. Redfish, Flounder and even a few early speckled trout are chasing the mullet around.
The Redfish have started to show up in and around the local inlets. We are catching Reds in the 24 to over 32 inch range, some days their over the slot some days their in the slot. Most of the Reds around the inlets are hitting mullets on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers. On some days we have had some luck on Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in colors molting and pearl.
When we have been Red fishing around the inlets we are picking up some nice Flounder as well. The Flounder are in the size range of 2 to some over 5 pounds; a right nice bonus to the day of fishing. There again the Flounder are hitting mullets on Carolina rigs and scented grubs. One fish last week went six pounds, one happy little boy that caught that one! We also have gotten some Flounder in the creeks around Wrightsville as well.
There has been a few Trout starting to show up around. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart. Diamond and sliver mullet and red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and green back white belly. It won’t be long before the trout will move in around southeast NC, I can’t wait!
The Sheephead are still going strong and should to the end of October. The best fishing lately for the Sheephead has been around bridges, docks and bulk-heads. Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us. We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks. Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas. Check out the October NC sportsman; I have a very good article on Sheephead fishing in the magazine
I have recently tried a new product from Bang scent Inc. It’s called “Texas Tea” and is a spray scent for soft and hard baits. It is a mixture of a few different fish and shrimp oils, great for Redfish and Flounder fishing. Give it a try, so far so good for my fishing trips.
Thanks for reading this report, if you would like to go on a guided trip give me a call 910-233-4139.
Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout, Flounder and Sheephead: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Fishing Charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
The Redfish have started to show up in and around the local inlets. We are catching Reds in the 24 to over 32 inch range, some days their over the slot some days their in the slot. Most of the Reds around the inlets are hitting mullets on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers. On some days we have had some luck on Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in colors molting and pearl.
When we have been Red fishing around the inlets we are picking up some nice Flounder as well. The Flounder are in the size range of 2 to some over 5 pounds; a right nice bonus to the day of fishing. There again the Flounder are hitting mullets on Carolina rigs and scented grubs. One fish last week went six pounds, one happy little boy that caught that one! We also have gotten some Flounder in the creeks around Wrightsville as well.
There has been a few Trout starting to show up around. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart. Diamond and sliver mullet and red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and green back white belly. It won’t be long before the trout will move in around southeast NC, I can’t wait!
The Sheephead are still going strong and should to the end of October. The best fishing lately for the Sheephead has been around bridges, docks and bulk-heads. Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us. We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks. Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas. Check out the October NC sportsman; I have a very good article on Sheephead fishing in the magazine
I have recently tried a new product from Bang scent Inc. It’s called “Texas Tea” and is a spray scent for soft and hard baits. It is a mixture of a few different fish and shrimp oils, great for Redfish and Flounder fishing. Give it a try, so far so good for my fishing trips.
Thanks for reading this report, if you would like to go on a guided trip give me a call 910-233-4139.
Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout, Flounder and Sheephead: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Wrightsville Beach NC Fishing Charters
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 21, 2008
STATE RECORD 193 lb TARPON!
A new North Carolina state record for Tarpon was set Wednesday, Sept 17 by Malcom Condie, fishing from Sea View Pier. Check out more of the story and see a picture at www.topsailangler.com.
The weekend has been good fishing form Topsail Island's piers, as well as the surf. We have even caught a few more spots. The water is getting cooler, and more spots are starting to show up. The speckled trout bite should be starting up in the surf any time now. Try grubs or live shrimp floated under a cork in the early morning. Anglers fishing Topsail have this week have caught puppy drum, black rum, pompano ,bluefish ,spanish, mullet, spots, and flounder. A king mackerel has been weighed in almost everyday this week at Surf City Pier. Fishing is starting to look better, nights are cooler, days are cloudy, the water is cooling quickly, and it won't be long until I drag out the waders. An angler fishing Lea Island told us that the large blues were so thick at Lea Island one day this week, they were chasing roe mullets up onto the beach. I don't have an offshore or inside report.
Until next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
The weekend has been good fishing form Topsail Island's piers, as well as the surf. We have even caught a few more spots. The water is getting cooler, and more spots are starting to show up. The speckled trout bite should be starting up in the surf any time now. Try grubs or live shrimp floated under a cork in the early morning. Anglers fishing Topsail have this week have caught puppy drum, black rum, pompano ,bluefish ,spanish, mullet, spots, and flounder. A king mackerel has been weighed in almost everyday this week at Surf City Pier. Fishing is starting to look better, nights are cooler, days are cloudy, the water is cooling quickly, and it won't be long until I drag out the waders. An angler fishing Lea Island told us that the large blues were so thick at Lea Island one day this week, they were chasing roe mullets up onto the beach. I don't have an offshore or inside report.
Until next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 17, 2008
Spots Make an Appearance
Spots are starting to show up on the island. Surf City Pier reports a few Monday and Tuesday. Jolly Roger reports a few both days. No mention of any at Sea View as yet. Some anglers are getting only a couple, and some are getting as many as a couple of dozen spots. There are also a few spanish coming off the piers, larger than last weeks small undersize spanish. The blues are not as plentiful, but are larger. Puppy drum are getting more abundant in the suds and are liking finger mullets. There are also some nice pompano coming in during the daylight hours. Surf anglers are catching a few bigger whiting all up and down the beach, with a few, (very few) keeper flounder mixed in caught on bottom rigs. I haven't talked to anyone fishing lures in the surf, so I don't know if there are any flounder or speckled trout showing up in the surf. I have had a bad summer with my health, and I just haven't felt like going out to the surf to throw any grubs or mirro-lures. When I hear something, I will let you know. Oh, Adolpho caught a nice 35 pound king from Surf City Pier Tuesday, and I heard they caught two kings and a barracuda Monday.
My friend Mike reported on his site that he and his friends caught some bull red drum, I think one was 48 inches, but you better check it out just to make sure. His site is called "Topsail Angler." Check it out. The speckled trout are biting in the creeks towards New River Inlet, and flounder are biting everywhere on the inside. Live shrimp on a carolina rig is producing best, or use live finger mullet, live pinfish, or Berkley Gulp Saltwater baits. For those of you that think pin fish are useless, a huge 10 pounder was caught this week in snows cut (Carolina Beach) on a live pin fish and carolina rig. Don't overlook this plentiful bait! Fall fishing is starting up. So come on down and get you some!
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
My friend Mike reported on his site that he and his friends caught some bull red drum, I think one was 48 inches, but you better check it out just to make sure. His site is called "Topsail Angler." Check it out. The speckled trout are biting in the creeks towards New River Inlet, and flounder are biting everywhere on the inside. Live shrimp on a carolina rig is producing best, or use live finger mullet, live pinfish, or Berkley Gulp Saltwater baits. For those of you that think pin fish are useless, a huge 10 pounder was caught this week in snows cut (Carolina Beach) on a live pin fish and carolina rig. Don't overlook this plentiful bait! Fall fishing is starting up. So come on down and get you some!
Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 12, 2008
Blues Make a Charge at Topsail
Blues have been biting well from Topsail. All piers are reporting some nice catches, and there have been some nice catches from the surf as well, especially near the inlets. Check out the pictures on Surf City Pier website. Click Here and scroll down. Check out the looks on these kids faces. Isn't this just precious? Remember to take a kid fishing!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 10, 2008
Cape Fear River Red Fishing
I took Jeremy Hyatt inshore fishing on Sept.9,2008,from Leicester,N.C. he visits the Topsail Beach every year on vacation,I think he is hooked on catching Red Drum in the Cape Fear River
Tropical storm Hanna has passed the Cape Fear Region now,it has not affected the Red Fish bite at all. Fish are biting well on live bait and fresh cut bait on Carolina rigs.
Tropical storm Hanna has passed the Cape Fear Region now,it has not affected the Red Fish bite at all. Fish are biting well on live bait and fresh cut bait on Carolina rigs.
If you are visiting the Topsail Beach area it is just a short drive to fish with the Cape Fear Guide out of Carolina Beach,N.C.
September 8, 2008
Largemouth Bass and Red Drum Fishing
email question from blog
[quote]
Johnny,
Really the only thing I have done in the surf is double bottom rig. I am a
bass tournament guy and have become interested in surf with what little I
have been fortunate to do. I have been red fishing in Fl. WOW. Those
critters fight. I do not want to bother you but if you could tell me more
about how to catch the bigger fish along with pompano( I hear they are
delicious). I guess the rigs and what kind of rod setup I need. Also do we
need to look below Jolly Roger or does this matter. [end quote]
Hi Wayne, I don't qualify myself as an expert on any kind of fishing. I
only relay what has worked for me, or more specifically, what is
working "now." I was also a die hard largemouth angler (catch and
release only) for years before moving to the coast. Fishing the ocean
and backwaters is like fishing an extremely large lake. What worked
yesterday or last week, it NOT necessarily what is working this week. With that said.....
Pompano in the surf, when a school comes through your area, will bite just about anything from bloodworms, shrimp, crab parts, cut fish, but they absolutely love sand fleas, especially the big ones. These large pompano seem to hang out on the edge of the sand bars, not in the near shore surf like their smaller brothers and sisters do. Bait up with a number 4 hook on a plain bottom rig, (no bling) with large sand fleas, and try to hit the edge of the sand bar.
Red drum on the inside, boat fishing
I have found that fishing for red drum is a lot like fishing for largemouth bass. They like structure. You find their food source and you will likely find them. The only thing that is different, it tides. Reds seem to move from place to place with the tides. I have had the most luck around docks, piers, and bridges on outgoing tides. On incoming tides, I fish grass lines, especially grass lines near oyster beds. Reds love oysters, and crabs, and you will most always find crabs near oyster beds. The incoming tides will flush sea life out of the marsh grass and the reds will be there waiting. Reds like most of the same baits as largemough bass. Spinner baits, topwater baits, shallow diving crank baits, jigs and grubs, even plastic worms. But my favorite alround bait, my go to bait when the bite is tough is Berkley Gulp Saltwater, 4 inch Shrimp or Swimming Mullet. Match the color to the water, just like bass fishing. Bright colors on sunny days, dark colors on overcast days. When I can see the reds in the shallows, and they are spooked easily and just won't bite anything, stealth is the key. I use the wind to drift near or over the schools. I bait with light line, with a 12 lb good quality shock leader (oyster beds will wreck a leader) a weedless hook and NO WEIGHT. Position your boat for the drift, cast out your bait, and drift quietly over the fish. And HOLD ON!
Most of the above applies to flounder also, except the flounder much prefer live bait, not so much the spinners or cranks, but they will bite any of the Berkley Gulp Saltwater baits when fish on a carolina rig.
A bit about surf fishing.
The inlets, Yes, a trip to the inlets will almost always be worth the trip. But, if you are walking in, it's a long walk, take your snacks, lots of water, (not soft drinks or beer) watch out for dehydration. Rescue is called to the inlets every year for someone who is dehydrated and has heat problems. (me included).
There are fish all up and down the beach. Just like bass, most surf fish like structure. Surf structure may be just an uneven bottom, a shallow hole washed by the tide, old pier pilings, anything different from the surrounding areas. Bait will wash into these holes, and where the bait is, the fish will be. The best ways to find these holes is walk the area you will be fishing at low tide. Then go back as the tide comes in. Some anglers have a favorite time to fish. And so do I. I love to fish in the ocean when the water is moving. lol, really the only time I don't like to fish, is dead low tide, and there is even an exception to that rule. In the late fall, when the water is too cold to wade without waders, I like to wade to the sandbar at low tide and throw a jig and gulp saltwater for flounder and speckled trout. The water has to be relatively calm for this, but it can be productive. Starting in middle October, I start casting for specks. Unlike a lot of folks, I use light line when surf fishing. I use 12 lb test line, and tie about a 20 lb test 8 ft long shock leader on my line. This cuts down on line drift caused by wind and surf, and I don't loose many fish due to the smaller diameter and tensil strength of the line. My favorite all around bait for surf fishing is sand fleas, I have caught everything on fleas, except for flounder and blues, and I have heard of these biting fleas. And fleas are free with a little sweat. My biggest surf caught fish, a 44 inch red drum, was caught at Topsail Beach, Surf City city limits on a sand flea and 12 lb test line. It took thirty five minutes to land the beauty. All of a sudden, I am out of ideas, so if you have any more questions, just email, and I will answer them. I am going to post this answer and question, but I will not post your email. Thanks again for reading my blog, and as always....
Until next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
[quote]
Johnny,
Really the only thing I have done in the surf is double bottom rig. I am a
bass tournament guy and have become interested in surf with what little I
have been fortunate to do. I have been red fishing in Fl. WOW. Those
critters fight. I do not want to bother you but if you could tell me more
about how to catch the bigger fish along with pompano( I hear they are
delicious). I guess the rigs and what kind of rod setup I need. Also do we
need to look below Jolly Roger or does this matter. [end quote]
Hi Wayne, I don't qualify myself as an expert on any kind of fishing. I
only relay what has worked for me, or more specifically, what is
working "now." I was also a die hard largemouth angler (catch and
release only) for years before moving to the coast. Fishing the ocean
and backwaters is like fishing an extremely large lake. What worked
yesterday or last week, it NOT necessarily what is working this week. With that said.....
Pompano in the surf, when a school comes through your area, will bite just about anything from bloodworms, shrimp, crab parts, cut fish, but they absolutely love sand fleas, especially the big ones. These large pompano seem to hang out on the edge of the sand bars, not in the near shore surf like their smaller brothers and sisters do. Bait up with a number 4 hook on a plain bottom rig, (no bling) with large sand fleas, and try to hit the edge of the sand bar.
Red drum on the inside, boat fishing
I have found that fishing for red drum is a lot like fishing for largemouth bass. They like structure. You find their food source and you will likely find them. The only thing that is different, it tides. Reds seem to move from place to place with the tides. I have had the most luck around docks, piers, and bridges on outgoing tides. On incoming tides, I fish grass lines, especially grass lines near oyster beds. Reds love oysters, and crabs, and you will most always find crabs near oyster beds. The incoming tides will flush sea life out of the marsh grass and the reds will be there waiting. Reds like most of the same baits as largemough bass. Spinner baits, topwater baits, shallow diving crank baits, jigs and grubs, even plastic worms. But my favorite alround bait, my go to bait when the bite is tough is Berkley Gulp Saltwater, 4 inch Shrimp or Swimming Mullet. Match the color to the water, just like bass fishing. Bright colors on sunny days, dark colors on overcast days. When I can see the reds in the shallows, and they are spooked easily and just won't bite anything, stealth is the key. I use the wind to drift near or over the schools. I bait with light line, with a 12 lb good quality shock leader (oyster beds will wreck a leader) a weedless hook and NO WEIGHT. Position your boat for the drift, cast out your bait, and drift quietly over the fish. And HOLD ON!
Most of the above applies to flounder also, except the flounder much prefer live bait, not so much the spinners or cranks, but they will bite any of the Berkley Gulp Saltwater baits when fish on a carolina rig.
A bit about surf fishing.
The inlets, Yes, a trip to the inlets will almost always be worth the trip. But, if you are walking in, it's a long walk, take your snacks, lots of water, (not soft drinks or beer) watch out for dehydration. Rescue is called to the inlets every year for someone who is dehydrated and has heat problems. (me included).
There are fish all up and down the beach. Just like bass, most surf fish like structure. Surf structure may be just an uneven bottom, a shallow hole washed by the tide, old pier pilings, anything different from the surrounding areas. Bait will wash into these holes, and where the bait is, the fish will be. The best ways to find these holes is walk the area you will be fishing at low tide. Then go back as the tide comes in. Some anglers have a favorite time to fish. And so do I. I love to fish in the ocean when the water is moving. lol, really the only time I don't like to fish, is dead low tide, and there is even an exception to that rule. In the late fall, when the water is too cold to wade without waders, I like to wade to the sandbar at low tide and throw a jig and gulp saltwater for flounder and speckled trout. The water has to be relatively calm for this, but it can be productive. Starting in middle October, I start casting for specks. Unlike a lot of folks, I use light line when surf fishing. I use 12 lb test line, and tie about a 20 lb test 8 ft long shock leader on my line. This cuts down on line drift caused by wind and surf, and I don't loose many fish due to the smaller diameter and tensil strength of the line. My favorite all around bait for surf fishing is sand fleas, I have caught everything on fleas, except for flounder and blues, and I have heard of these biting fleas. And fleas are free with a little sweat. My biggest surf caught fish, a 44 inch red drum, was caught at Topsail Beach, Surf City city limits on a sand flea and 12 lb test line. It took thirty five minutes to land the beauty. All of a sudden, I am out of ideas, so if you have any more questions, just email, and I will answer them. I am going to post this answer and question, but I will not post your email. Thanks again for reading my blog, and as always....
Until next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Post Hanna: First Signs of Life
Fish are starting to show up, in small numbers at the area piers. Small mullets, black drum, pompano and blues on bottom rigs. The water is still too muddy for spanish or blues on gotchas or diamond jigs. Surf City Pier reported one small puppy drum, had to be released.
NO SPOTS YET. WATER TEMP IS ABOUT 84*. NEEDS TO COOL DOWN SOME MORE. WE NEED THOSE NORTH AND NORTH EAST WINDS. WATCH FOR THE YELLOW BUTTERFLYS COMING OFF THE OCEAN. THE SPOT WILL BE CLOSE BEHIND.
There is plenty of bait fish in the water. It is one school after another near the piers. And in the surf, they are right at your feet. You could probably net some without getting wet with a slightly modified cast net. I have seen big schools of roe mullet in the surf, a bit past the breakers, too far to net from the surf. I have talked to several surf anglers and didn't get a good report from anyone. I have not talked to anyone fishing the inside, or the inlets. That's all I have for now.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
NO SPOTS YET. WATER TEMP IS ABOUT 84*. NEEDS TO COOL DOWN SOME MORE. WE NEED THOSE NORTH AND NORTH EAST WINDS. WATCH FOR THE YELLOW BUTTERFLYS COMING OFF THE OCEAN. THE SPOT WILL BE CLOSE BEHIND.
There is plenty of bait fish in the water. It is one school after another near the piers. And in the surf, they are right at your feet. You could probably net some without getting wet with a slightly modified cast net. I have seen big schools of roe mullet in the surf, a bit past the breakers, too far to net from the surf. I have talked to several surf anglers and didn't get a good report from anyone. I have not talked to anyone fishing the inside, or the inlets. That's all I have for now.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 7, 2008
Good Fishing and Hanna is GONE!
I hope everybody made through Hanna ok. I’m very glad it was not a major storm, and it looks likes Ike is going to the Gulf. Good for us in the Carolina; not so good for the Gulf. Our hopes and preys are with the Gulf States. Fishing was good until we stopped for the passing of Hanna. I’m sure it will pick right back up too!
The Spanish mackerel have still been biting good to great on most days, with some small keeper kings as well. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. The colors that seem to be working are pink, green and blue in sizes seven & fourteen gram. The Spanish are eating very small bait fish, with this happening I have gone to smaller lures. This has helped greatly in the good numbers of Spanish we have caught.
The King mackerel have also showed up this last week, they are not real big but a lot of fun on light tackle! The kings are also biting the Yo-Zuri’s. The colors that are working the best have been Pink and Clown. We are trolling the crystal minnows two to three knots. The good thing about trolling this Yo-Zuri is you can use light tackle which makes it a lot of fun.
Sheephead are still biting good, we have caught some real nice Sheephead this year. We’ve had two fish over ten pounds, so much fun on light tackle. They are so good to eat as well! The best fishing lately for us has been around bridges, docks and bulk-heads. Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us. We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks. Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas have worked just fine. Give it a shot, it takes time but you’ll get one; Hold-on”!
The fishing should get better as the water clears up from Hanna’s hit and run. Get out there and do some fishing, fall fishing should be just around the corner. Thanks for reading this report, and good luck fishing. If you would like to go fishing give me call!
Fishing Gear we use:
Sheephead, King and Spanish mackerel: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
The Spanish mackerel have still been biting good to great on most days, with some small keeper kings as well. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. The colors that seem to be working are pink, green and blue in sizes seven & fourteen gram. The Spanish are eating very small bait fish, with this happening I have gone to smaller lures. This has helped greatly in the good numbers of Spanish we have caught.
The King mackerel have also showed up this last week, they are not real big but a lot of fun on light tackle! The kings are also biting the Yo-Zuri’s. The colors that are working the best have been Pink and Clown. We are trolling the crystal minnows two to three knots. The good thing about trolling this Yo-Zuri is you can use light tackle which makes it a lot of fun.
Sheephead are still biting good, we have caught some real nice Sheephead this year. We’ve had two fish over ten pounds, so much fun on light tackle. They are so good to eat as well! The best fishing lately for us has been around bridges, docks and bulk-heads. Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us. We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks. Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas have worked just fine. Give it a shot, it takes time but you’ll get one; Hold-on”!
The fishing should get better as the water clears up from Hanna’s hit and run. Get out there and do some fishing, fall fishing should be just around the corner. Thanks for reading this report, and good luck fishing. If you would like to go fishing give me call!
Fishing Gear we use:
Sheephead, King and Spanish mackerel: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
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Topsail Area Charter Boats
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Hanna Chases Fish Away!
If you were one of the folks that thought fishing couldn't get any worse, and yea, there were a few of you, well you were wrong. Even the crabs now have lockjaw. There is nothing biting anywhere. At least nothing that I can hear about. I have called everyone I know, and here is what I have uncovered. Nothin'! Nothin from the piers. Nothin from the surf. Nothin from the sound or waterways. I couldn't find out anything from the New River or offshore, but it seems to me, if something was going on out there, there would at least be some chatter about it. Maybe it will pick up in a day or so.
Till then....
Tight lines!
Cleaning up sand from Hanna!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Till then....
Tight lines!
Cleaning up sand from Hanna!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 6, 2008
TS Hanna Now a Memory For Topsail Area
We made it through TS Hanna. A quick walk to the beach this morning revealed a scene that I had prayed for throughout the night. No erosion, at least in the area where we live. One of the neighbors on the ocean front lost the rail from his deck, but that's the only damage I observed. We lost power for only a short time, as did some other Topsail Island residents. The outages were not city wide but spotty, and all power is back on now. Rainfall was not as much as expected, there was some street flooding, but all streets are ok. The fishing piers sustained no damage that I am aware of.
Our neighbors to the South didn't fare as well as us. This is what I have been able to gather up to now.
Bald Head Island: The island was still without power at 9:30 a.m. Shingle damage was reported.
Boiling Spring Lakes: There were some trees and power lines down, but no major damage.
Calabash: There was some damage to signs, and there were fallen trees in some areas.
Caswell Beach: The door of the Oak Island Lighthouse blew out, damage to a building in town was reported.
Holden Beach: There was minor property damage, slight erosion and scattered outages. The bridge has reopened.
Oak Island: There was some overwash reported on the beach.
Ocean Isle Beach: There was some overwash at the east end of the island.
Southport: There were some fallen trees and scattered debris.
Sunset Beach: There was some minor damages to homes and some beach erosion. The bridge has reopened.
It appears that Ike and Josephine may not threaten the Topsail area, so we are hopeful that we will not have to repeat last night this year. But we do live in a hurricane area, and this is what we do if we want to live here. We have to accept the bad to have the good. We pray that there is no further loss of life from this storm or others behind it.
I have heard that fishing is good behind a storm. I have heard that fishing is bad behind a storm. The only thing I am sure of is if you like seaweed, you can pull up plenty of it after a hurricane, or a TS or a Nor'Easter passes through. So I don't know what to tell you about the prospect of fishing for the rest of the week. I will let you know as I start to get reports.
Till next time....
Thankful that we weathered the storm!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Our neighbors to the South didn't fare as well as us. This is what I have been able to gather up to now.
Bald Head Island: The island was still without power at 9:30 a.m. Shingle damage was reported.
Boiling Spring Lakes: There were some trees and power lines down, but no major damage.
Calabash: There was some damage to signs, and there were fallen trees in some areas.
Caswell Beach: The door of the Oak Island Lighthouse blew out, damage to a building in town was reported.
Holden Beach: There was minor property damage, slight erosion and scattered outages. The bridge has reopened.
Oak Island: There was some overwash reported on the beach.
Ocean Isle Beach: There was some overwash at the east end of the island.
Southport: There were some fallen trees and scattered debris.
Sunset Beach: There was some minor damages to homes and some beach erosion. The bridge has reopened.
It appears that Ike and Josephine may not threaten the Topsail area, so we are hopeful that we will not have to repeat last night this year. But we do live in a hurricane area, and this is what we do if we want to live here. We have to accept the bad to have the good. We pray that there is no further loss of life from this storm or others behind it.
I have heard that fishing is good behind a storm. I have heard that fishing is bad behind a storm. The only thing I am sure of is if you like seaweed, you can pull up plenty of it after a hurricane, or a TS or a Nor'Easter passes through. So I don't know what to tell you about the prospect of fishing for the rest of the week. I will let you know as I start to get reports.
Till next time....
Thankful that we weathered the storm!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 5, 2008
TS Hanna 11 PM update
Donna and I just got back from a journey beyond the dunes. We walked the block from our apartment to the ocean, in the driving rain and 35 mph wind. We crossed over the dunes at the public access steps, and were almost blew back down the steps. We were surprised to see the waves stopping before they reached the dunes. High tide is scheduled at 12:22AM, and with landfall anticipated at between two and three AM, we may have dodged the proverbial bullet. We saw no one else silly enough to be out in the driving rain. We just now heard that Holly Ridge has joined Onslow County in implimenting a curfew until dawn. As of 11 PM Friday, Surf City and Pender County do not have a curfew in place. At this time, we are experiencing rain bands along with strong winds with periods of calm and light rain.
Here is the 11PM update per Surf City website:
Tropical Storm Hanna 11:00 P.M. Update
Friday Evening
The Town of Surf City and Pender County do not have a curfew at this time.
Tropical Storm Hanna continues to approach Surf City. The Hurricane Center expects Hanna to remain a Tropical Storm with winds reaching 70 mph.
Landfall is expected in the vicinity of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Surf City is expecting gale winds, up to 39 mph to begin today around 6:30 p.m. Land fall and Tropical winds, 40 mph up to 70 mph are expected around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Current projections show Hanna past Surf City early afternoon on Saturday.
Rain fall accumulations are expected to be between 3 to 7 inches.
Ok, That's it for now. We are still dry, and hoping to stay that way.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Here is the 11PM update per Surf City website:
Tropical Storm Hanna 11:00 P.M. Update
Friday Evening
The Town of Surf City and Pender County do not have a curfew at this time.
Tropical Storm Hanna continues to approach Surf City. The Hurricane Center expects Hanna to remain a Tropical Storm with winds reaching 70 mph.
Landfall is expected in the vicinity of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Surf City is expecting gale winds, up to 39 mph to begin today around 6:30 p.m. Land fall and Tropical winds, 40 mph up to 70 mph are expected around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Current projections show Hanna past Surf City early afternoon on Saturday.
Rain fall accumulations are expected to be between 3 to 7 inches.
Ok, That's it for now. We are still dry, and hoping to stay that way.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Hanna Update 10:10 pm
Donna and I decided to ride out Hanna in our apartment in Surf City on Topsail Island. We are not expecting to much, tropical storm force winds and rain, a little storm surge or at most a cat one hurricane. My only worry, and this is a small one, our apartment is on the ground floor, so if there is any overwash of the dunes, we will probably be moping water. Both bridges will be closed once the winds get up to tropical speed, so a late exit will be impossible. We are here till morning. I will post when I get another chance, as long as we have power.
We walked over to the ocean about 6 pm. Water was high, but not up to the dunes. Waves are really big, coming in sets of 4 or 5 big waves, then 4 or 5 smaller ones. Note: we have seen much larger waves, with no storm looming.
The latest info we have on TS Hanna: 8pm update:
Tropical Storm Hanna continues to approach Surf City. The Hurricane Center expects Hanna to remain a Tropical Storm with winds reaching 70 mph.
Landfall is expected in the vicinity of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Surf City is expecting gale winds, up to 39 mph to begin today around 6:30 p.m. Land fall and Tropical winds, 40 mph up to 70 mph are expected around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Current projections show Hanna past Surf City early afternoon on Saturday.
Rain fall accumulations are expected to be between 3 to 7 inches.
I wonder ....... Will puppy drum bite during a tropical blow?
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Still dry for now,
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
We walked over to the ocean about 6 pm. Water was high, but not up to the dunes. Waves are really big, coming in sets of 4 or 5 big waves, then 4 or 5 smaller ones. Note: we have seen much larger waves, with no storm looming.
The latest info we have on TS Hanna: 8pm update:
Tropical Storm Hanna continues to approach Surf City. The Hurricane Center expects Hanna to remain a Tropical Storm with winds reaching 70 mph.
Landfall is expected in the vicinity of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Surf City is expecting gale winds, up to 39 mph to begin today around 6:30 p.m. Land fall and Tropical winds, 40 mph up to 70 mph are expected around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Current projections show Hanna past Surf City early afternoon on Saturday.
Rain fall accumulations are expected to be between 3 to 7 inches.
I wonder ....... Will puppy drum bite during a tropical blow?
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Still dry for now,
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
September 4, 2008
Approaching Hurricane Hanna Doesn't Stop Fishing!
Hello from Surf City! Well, much to our suprise, the water was not rough today. There were some big waves, but not a lot of chop as I had expected. A big king, I think 24 lbs. was caught at Surf City Pier today, along with some small spanish and blues on gotcha plugs. My fishing bud Glen caught a small sheepshead, but not much else. Glen is a top notch sheepshead angler, and if they are in the water, Glen will pull 'em out. He says they aren't as plentiful as they were last year, or even earlier this year. He has caught some nice ones in early summer. If you are planning to be here this weekend, I might think about it. Hanna will be making landfall somewhere near, from Charleston to Jacksonville, (as of midnight) and although she isn't a huge or powerful storm, she will drop some water, and blow around a little sand. We aren't planning to leave the island unless we are ask to by the town of Surf City officials, then we will just go to a friends home in Holly Ridge. The storm that is worrying most of us is Ike. Ike is right behind Hanna, expected to follow much the same route, and he is already a cat 2 storm. We are looking for Ike the first of next week. I just have a cautious feeling about Ike. We am going to move Donna's Saturn off the beach, and pack the blazer, put the furniture up on blocks, and get sandbags ready for the doors, just in case ........ but lets hope I am just being a "worry wort."
Till next time.... (which I hope will be real soon! LOL!)
Tight lines, and stay dry!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
Till next time.... (which I hope will be real soon! LOL!)
Tight lines, and stay dry!
Johnny and Donna
Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes
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