Topsail Beach Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Fished Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach, North Carolina today. Nothing much biting except a few puffer fish. I would have kept them, but there were not enough for a good meal. There were only about a half dozen anglers on the pier. We are going back this evening. Maybe we will have better luck after dusk. No inside report today, no report from Topsail's other piers.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
http://www.fishintopsail.com

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
On April 15 2009 I had the pleasure of taking Ron Naummowicz and his daughter Tara fishing,skies were cloudy,but the wind was light making a descent day to fish. Found the Red Drum to be biting at the inlet,caught a couple of slot size red drum,black drum, bluefish, and flounder with several releases on 16" and 17" red drum.Spring time is here with the water temperutre showing 63 degrees,up 4 degrees from last Wednesday fishing should be really on fire in a couple more weeks.
Capt.Mike Dennis
Cape Fear Guide
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928

Spring Fishing is Great around the area!

Good day to everyone. The weather is starting to finally get right; we are having more warm days than cooler ones. The forecast has warmer days for the rest of the week. Wind wise a little better everyday, we’ve finally started to get out on the ocean and start looking for those Bonita’s. Let’s talk about that.

Those high speed Bonita’s should show up any day now; there has already been a small push of Spanish in the last few days. I think this is a push of fish and warm water; these fish will probably move out of here. The Bluefish are mixed in with them too. We’re catching them by trolling and casting. The trolling rigs that we’re using are; a number one planner with thirty to forty feet of forty pound mono leader. Tied to the leader is a Clark spoon in size’s 0, 1 and 2, I like to use the gold and pink flash Clark spoons. Troll them about five to six knots. You can also troll small deep diving plugs too, but you need to slow down your speed to around three knots.

If you would like to try casting or jigging for the Bonita’s, Blues and Spanish I would use Maria jigs. They do have a price tag on them, but when the bite is tough these jigs will pay off! Maria’s that I have the best luck with are size’s seven and fourteen grams. The fourteens are easier to cast. Colors to use; green, blue and pink seem to work the best for me. I put a small shot of forty pound mono leader 12 to14 inches.

There has been a very good Black drum bite the last two weeks, most days I’m catching 14+ plus on a half day. Most of the drum are biting around docks and creek mouths in the ICW. The best bait “by far” has been fresh cut shrimp in small pieces. We are using small two hook drop rig, with a number 2 bait holder hook and one or two oz bank sinkers.

The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks. Most fish are coming out of creeks, flats and channels around the waterway and inlets. Best bet for the trout so far has been grubs, working the grubs slow in holes and drop-offs. The grubs I like in the spring mouths are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”. Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, Chicken on a chain and salt/pep shad. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent in the spring too, this helps because there is not much bait in the water yet. I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in the cool spring mouths it can really help.

Gear used: Reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7'0" Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing!


Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Sunday Night Topsail Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Black drum and large virginia mullet are in the news today. All piers report catches of black drum, some as large as six pounds plus. Nice catches of virginia mullet was the norm Saturday night and Sunday. Still nothing in the surf. Inside anglers are getting small flounder, dink speckled trout, puppy drum, and small croakers. The fishing outlook for this week is looking good.

Topsail Surf Report for Monday Water temp is 64*.

Weather Overview....... Sunday was a beautiful day, with lots of sun and light wind. Clouds. Looks like the heavy rain and chance for severe weather will come in two waves... The first Monday night, the second Tuesday afternoon. Sunday
night Lo: 44 A light shower here and there is possible after midnight, but mainly look for clouds to build in.

Monday Hi: 68 Rain starts in after 2pm in the form of scattered showers. Monday evening there will be some thunderstorms coupled with a slight chance at severe storms. .10" to .50" of rain possible.

Tuesday Hi: 74 Lo: 55 As of Sunday at 5:00pm afternoon storm with 'plenty' of rain and the chance for severe weather.

Wednesday Hi: 70 Lo: 45 Clouds move out and weak high pressure moves in for the remainder of the week.

National Weather Service
COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1124 PM EDT SUN APR 12 2009 SURF CITY NC TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM

SYNOPSIS FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA OUT TO 20 NAUTICAL MILES...
CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL RIDGE SOUTH INTO THE CAROLINAS
THROUGH THE NIGHT. A FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES
WILL BRING INCREASED WINDS AND SEAS ALONG WITH THE CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AND TUESDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE
AND MODERATING CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK.


New Topsail InletTides for Monday
12:11 AM EDT -0.06 feet Low Tide
5:48 AM EDT 3.21 feet High Tide
12:44 PM EDT -0.14 feet Low Tide
6:17 PM EDT 3.19 feet High Tide

Go Get 'um!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Mullets! Black Drum! and Plenty of Them!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

The virginia mullet are biting good at Surf City Pier. Folks are getting from 20 to 35 keeper mullets. Of course, some anglers will keep anything! LOL Also the black drum are making a good showing today and tonight. I know of at least two three plus pounders, and one over six and a half pounds. Report from Jolly Roger Pier is not as promising as Surf City, but they are catching a few mullets and black drum also. The season is upon us! Go Get 'um! We have a few thunderstorms coming in overnight, but Saturday is looking good, with partly cloudy skies, and a 78* high. Tides for tomorrow follow.....

4:23 AM EDT -0.15 feet Low Tide
9:36 AM EDT 2.71 feet High Tide
4:08 PM EDT -0.12 feet Low Tide
9:57 PM EDT 3.62 feet High Tide

Water temp: 60*
winds from south at 10 to 20 mph
waves, chest high and choppy.


Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
aka FishinTopsail

Surf City Pier Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. My dad is down for a visit, and he fished Surf City Pier for a few hours this evening. I didn't go with him, as I was waiting for our grandchildren to get here. Dad caught several small virginia mullets, and a couple of nice big ones. He reports that most anglers on the pier seemed to be catching a few, but no one was catching a bunch. There were also some small sharks, and a few skates. I still can't tell you anything promising about the surf, as I haven't talked to anyone that has caught anything from the surf. Fishing on the inside can get small "dink" speckled trout, and puppy drum.

Winds tonight are from the west, blowing about 10 to 15 mph. The water temp is 59*, down two degrees from Tuesday's 61*. The waves are about knee high and clean. The current temp at 10:53 pm was 59*. For Friday the forecast is: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s at the beaches. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Friday night: partly cloudy with scattered showers in the evening. . . Then mostly cloudy with numerous showers with isolated thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 60. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. . Saturday will see high temp around 75* and partly cloudy with scattered showers in the morning hours. West winds of about 15 mph changing to Northwest in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50%.

Looks like an OK weekend.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Federal Fishery Advisory Panel Seats Open to Applicants

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

If you would like to have a say in how these panels make decisions that affect us all, Check out the following email I received. Make a difference. Volunteer your time.
Johnny

[quote]

Federal Fishery Advisory Panel Seats Open to Applicants

Members of the public are encouraged to submit applications to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council for seats currently available on its advisory panels. Working at the grass roots level, advisory panel members provide information and guidance in the development and implementation of federal fishery management plans. The Council has 15 separate advisory panels composed of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of, or are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery or group of fishes to be managed. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, conservationists, scientists, and concerned citizens.

Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council and serve for a three-year period, based on the frequency of meetings. As those appointments expire, members currently serving on the AP can reapply for their positions. These seats also become open to new applicants. AP members generally meet no more than once or twice each year and are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for all meetings. Applications are now being solicited for the following positions:

Coral Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat for a Scientist with Live Bottom/Hard Bottom Experience


Golden Crab Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat


Shrimp Advisory Panel (1) North Carolina Seat and (1) South Carolina Seat


Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat for a For-Hire Representative; (4) Open Seats; and 1 Wreckfish Sub-panel Seat


If you are interested in serving as a member on the Council's advisory panels, please submit an application to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. Applications can be obtained by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10. Application forms are available online at www.safmc.net. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available at www.safmc.net or through the Council office.

Advisory panel members will be selected during the next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, scheduled for June 7 – 12, 2009 in Stuart, Florida. Applications must be received by May 8, 2009.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.

[end quote]

Cape Fear Guide Spring 2009

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
Spring is here in the Cape Fear Region Capt.Mike had the pleasure of taking a enthusiastic group of young anglers this morning,even though conditions were windy a quite cool these young men had never been fishing and were ready to go!
Water temperture was 58 degrees, but the black drum were ready to bite,fresh shrimp on bottom rigs seemed to be the ticket today.
Rods used Key Largo 6'6" light tip,with Shimano Spheros 3000 FA reels,great set up for for light tackle angling.
Capt.Mike Dennis
Cape Fear Guide
Capt.Mike@charter.net
910-619-0928

Inshore and Pier Report - Topsail Island

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! Red drum and black drum are biting fresh shrimp around the docks and in the creeks. Some speckled trout are starting to bite near the marshy areas near creek mouths and in the creeks. Best producing baits have been Berkley Gulp Saltwater, and Bass Assassin Blurp. I know this isn't much information, but I couldn't get any more details.
Surf City Pier reports some spots, and a few mullets, mostly at night. Jolly Roger reports some virginia mullet and small sharks. Sea View Pier is open, and reports some catches of small spots and virginia mullets. No Surf Report. Too windy and cold! BRRRRRRRR!
Go Get 'um!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

MARINE PATROL SEIZES ILLEGAL GROUPER CATCH

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Below is a copy of an email from NC Marine Fisheries.

[quote]
MOREHEAD CITY – N.C. Marine Patrol officers seized 12 illegally-caught grouper Friday night, after staking out a Brunswick County fish house, waiting for the commercial fishing vessel Capt. Star. Marine Patrol Officers Jonathan Weaver and Jonathan Hall charged the boat’s captain, Milton Muellerweiss, 50, of Ocean Isle Beach, with engaging in a commercial fishing operation without being properly licensed and with exceeding the harvest limit for black and gag grouper. Three other crew members were charged with participating in a commercial fishing operation without being properly licensed and with exceeding the possession limit of gag grouper during a commercial closure. Crew members were Philip Craig Dellinger, 63, of Oak Island; Donald Douglas Lowe, 45, of Mount Holly; and Winford Hezekiah Caldwell, 62, of Wake Forest.

Marine Patrol had received reports that the Capt. Star was bringing in more black grouper and gag grouper than allowed. Under both federal and state fishing rules, fishermen are not allowed to sell or purchase gag or black grouper during March or April, and are only allowed 2-fish per person, for recreational purposes. For the past three weeks, officers in the Southern District had watched for the Capt. Star to come to the docks. They began the stakeout March 31. When the Capt. Star docked, Marine Patrol officers checked the boat and found that none of the four-man crew had a valid commercial fishing license. The crew claimed they had kept only their recreational allowance of black and gag grouper, however 12 of the fish were found on board.

Marine Patrol officers volunteered their time Saturday to clean the grouper and donate the fish to two nonprofit organizations, a church soup kitchen and a church meals-on-wheels program. The captain was allowed to bid out the rest of his snapper-grouper catch, which was in season. The fish were sold for $6,278, and the check was turned over to the Brunswick County clerk of court.

For more information, contact Marine Patrol Capt. Jim Kelley at (910) 796-7220 or jim.m.kelley@ncmail.net.

This may seem harsh to some, but the rules are made for everyone, with the purpose of saving the fishery for our children and grandchildren. My hat is off to the officers, and especially the person who called in the tip that led to the seizure.
Good Job!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Black Drum Make an Arrival at Jolly Roger Pier

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. Although I didn't catch anything this weekend, Virginia mullets and black drum made a show at Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach. There were also a few spot in the mix, with puffers, skates, and some good fighting dogfish. The anglers at the pier, though few in numbers, all seemed to be having a good time catching something, at least. One angler said that even the sharks were welcome, since he hadn't caught anything since the fall. Vinita at Surf City Pier reports a few virginia mullets during the day, and "lots of mullets" at night. "Paul left out of here one night with over 30 mullet and by the sounds of things he wasn't the only one....." Vinita reported on the pier website. I haven't gotten a report from the sounds recently. I have made several trips to Banks channel looking for finger mullets, and I haven't seen any yet. They should be getting on in here. Sea View Pier is completing the renovations after the fire, and should be opened soon. The bait and tackle shops in the area are gearing up for spring fishing, and they will have all you need to get your fill of fishing.

Here are the tide predictions at New Topsail Inlet for Monday
Low 12:11AM High 5.48AM Low 12:54PM High 06:18PM

Water temp 61*

Topsail Beach Weather


MONDAY - Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

MONDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 40. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. Lows in the lower 30s - except in the mid 30s at the beaches. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Clear. Highs in the lower 60s. Lows in the upper 30s.

THURSDAY - Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

THURSDAY NIGHT - Mostly clear in the evening - then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT - Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Lows in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

SATURDAY - Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Fishing is Looking UP!

Hello folks, well the weather is still a bit up and down; but it is really starting to get better. Fishing is picking up as well! Hopefully the pollen will be out of here soon and it will be easier to keep the boat and car clean. To the fishing report>>>

There are some Redfish in the ICW and channels just off the ICW. We are starting to see a few smaller Reds 14” to 21” in some of the creeks on warmer days. Most Reds are hitting mud minnows and “fresh as you can get shrimp”. If you would like to go the artificial root, I would recommend using scented grubs. The best bet I’ve used has been Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in Colors Molting and good penny. These Blurps are really well scented; they put out one great scent trail. Those Reds will find them, trust me! Jigs heads for the grubs in ¼ to 3/8 oz, colors red and black seem to be the trick. Work’em slow around docks and drop-offs on grass lines and oyster rocks.

We seeing a few small Speckled trout around Wrightsville, south of Wrightsville the bigger one’s should really start to bite any day. Grubs have been the best bet for the trout; we’re using Saltwater Assassin sea shad and shrimp patterns. Colors that have worked lately; Elec. Chicken and Chart Diamond and Chicken on a chain. Don’t forget those never fell; Mirrolures, in colors silver mullet and white on white. The water is still cool so don’t forget to work the lures a little slower.

There has been a few bluefish starting to show up around the inlets. These guys are a little early but that is good thing. The Bonita’s should be here soon, I think we will see them in a week or two. We caught a few False Albacore around the school house on 3-31. The water Temp there was 61.8` to 63. However just inshore of there around ten to fifth teen miles the water temp was 57`; it still needs to come up a bit. If you have ever caught a Bonita on light tackle or Fly rod you know just how fast they are and how much fun it is to catch them. If you have not ever caught one, you need to give it a try. This is one of my favorites to catch hands down and they are not bad to eat as well.

We are still doing some freash water fishing on some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish. The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day. The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds. Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. We are also catching some of the bass on senko worms. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.
Fishing Gear we use:

Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in size 7035 great for trout and light Red fishing. Rods: Ugly Stick Lite. Med act 7’ Braid line in the test of 10 and 20 pound. Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions or comments drop me a line at www.captainjot.com

June 5, 6 and 7 “In the Water Fishing School” Capt. Rick Bennett, myself and six other of the best local guides are putting on this school on. This school will be real-time hands on fishing experience! The school is limited to the first 25 participants! If you want to learn from the best local guides and see how we do it, take the time to check it out; http://www.rodmancharters.com/2009-inthewater-fishing-school.htmI’m really looking forward to being part of this school!

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach!

Tuesday Topsail Beach Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! It was a really nice day, not too much wind, and a lot of sunshine. I had appointments in J-ville all day today so no fishing for me. I hope to get out tomorrow of Thursday for sure. The present water temperature is around 58*, winds out of the east at 5 to 10 mph. Surf City Pier reports a few mullets, skates and sharks. Jolly Roger reports small sea mullets, skates and sharks. No report from the surf.

New Topsail Inlet Tides for Wednesday, April 1, 2009

12:29 AM EDT High Tide
7:41 AM EDT Low Tide
12:59 PM EDT High Tide
7:39 PM EDT Low Tide

More Topsail Island news........

Topsail history museum opens April 6 with new exhibit

Published: Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 3:04 p.m.

Topsail Island's Missiles and More Museum will open for the season April 6 with the introduction of its newest exhibit: "TOPSAIL...BARRIER ISLAND...HOME." The beauty of this 26-mile ribbon of sand is known and cherished by those who visit and those who live here. The new exhibit will speak to the magical influence and relaxation it provides and address its inherent physiology, its ever present fragility and the manageability required to sustain it.
Read the entire post at Star News Online

Bill takes hard line on beach erosion

Published March 28, 2009 - 8:06 PM by Kinston Free Press
Barry Smith
Freedom Raleigh Bureau

RALEIGH - North Carolina's 320 miles of coastline entice tourists to enjoy the sun, sand, surf and fishing. The tourists add a boost to the states economy.

Those who travel to the state's barrier islands will notice the sea encroaching or the sand washing away.

How to protect beaches on those islands, with their shifting inlets, has become a topic of debate in the halls of state government. Environmentalists say that some efforts to keep the sea from creeping further onto the islands amounts to waging a losing war against Mother Nature. Supporters of those efforts say they'd just like to get Mother Nature to cooperate a bit with them.
Read the entire post at Kinston Free Press website.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Topsail Beach Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! At least the wind was light enough to get out on the beach. There still wasn't much going on. I talked to one angler who had caught a very small virginia mullet and a small puffer on cut shrimp. He was fishing north of Joly Roger pier. That's all I can talk about tonight. Still not much going on.

I got an email today from the Marine Fisheries Commission. Below are the details of a meeting of the Recreational License Advisory Committee. Want to make a difference? Want to help decide how your fishing license money is spent? Attend the meeting and make your voice heard. Details below.

Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Mar. 30, 2009 Phone: 252-726-7021

RECREATIONAL LICENSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET
MOREHEAD CITY- The Coastal Recreational Fishing License Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet by conference call at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 6 in the Division of Marine Fisheries conference room, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City. The conference room will be open to advisors and the public to participate in the call.

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

For more information, contact Randy Gregory at 252-808-8078 or Randy.Gregory@ncdenr.gov or the Marine Fisheries Commission office at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.
###

Coastal Recreational Fishing License Advisory Committee Meeting
Monday, April 6, 2009 2:00 p.m.
Conference Call/NCDMF Conference Room
Morehead City, NC

AGENDA

Introduction
· Modifications to the Agenda
· Approval of Minutes
· CRFL Sales Report
· Review of Current CRFL Projects
· Review Request for Proposals
· Recommendations to the Marine Fisheries Commission

· Discussion

· Next Meeting
. Issues

End Email


Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Still Too Windy at Topsail Beach!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! Jolly Roger pier reports that a few mullets were caught this morning. They didn't see the catch, so no information on size or quantity. Surf City Pier reports sea mullets and puffers being caught. They have a picture of big Tim on the SC Pier website with his catch of a dozen virginia mullet. Click on the "What's Biting" link. Way to go Tim! I will be on Surf City Pier Monday, Lord willing, to catch a mess of those mullets for supper. Today the surf at Topsail Beach was really rough. Too rough and windy for me to surf fish. The weather is forecast to be better tomorrow. For the next seven days, there is no rain in the forecast and the high temps are in the 70's six of the seven days. The sea water temp is at 60*. It's time to get out there! See you on the pier! Good luck to all.

FISHING LICENSE NOW REQUIRED!
Don't forget, a saltwater license is required to fish in the ocean as well as the sounds behind the island.
As of January 1, 2007, anyone over the age of 16 will need a license to fish in all North Carolina "coastal waters."

For details on obtaining a license go to http://www.ncfisheries.net/recreational/NCCRFLfaq.htm or you can buy one at the local tackle shops. A license is not required to fish from any one of the island's three ocean fishing piers. They have purchased a blanket license to cover the cost for you.

Here are the New Topsail Inlet tides for Monday.

2009-03-29 4:59 AM EDT -0.06 feet Low Tide
2009-03-29 10:20 AM EDT 3.06 feet High Tide
2009-03-29 4:56 PM EDT -0.07 feet Low Tide
2009-03-29 10:41 PM EDT 3.62 feet High Tide

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny aka FishinTopsail

Opening Day at Surf City Pier

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! Surf City Pier make the Wilmington Starnews this morning. Check it out at this link. StarNewsOnline.com I missed out on the festivities, because of a migrane, but I hear it was a huge success. The free season pass was won by a Wilmington resident who braved the wind and rain to fish on opening day. There is a picture on the site of Mr. George Pelican, regulars to the Surf City Pier will remember George. He sits on the rail near the cleaning station and welcomes a free breakfast. Be sure and check out the pictures I also hear that there were several fish caught yesterday. "There Here!" and with several days next week forcast to be in the 70's, I am betting that the pier sees some action! Hope to see you all there!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Weather to bad for fishing? Today it was!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! Tried to fish in the surf today. Much too windy. Only stayed out a few minutes. I didn't realize how windy it was until I was on the beach. The blowing sand cut into my legs. Surf City Pier opens Friday at 6 am. I hope the weather is better than today. I would hate to get another cold trying to win a free season pass. Hope you all have had better luck fishing than I have so far this year. Looking for some good weather.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
www.fishintopsail.com

Topsail Beach Monday Morning Fishing Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! Took a short trip across the road to the Empie Street access in Topsail Beach. The air temp was around 57*, water temp around 54*, wind NE at 10 to 20 kts. Bait was cut shrimp. Fished tide from middle high to low. Saw lots of bottlenose dolphins, and a lot of bird acitvity offshore. Surf was pretty calm and bait wash was light. Didn't catch any fish, but what a glorious day it is!

Man, I really love this island!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Spring is Here!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! Spring has arrived, and good fishing shouldn't be far behind. I am already getting reports of a few small sea mullets in the surf as well as on the piers. And yesterday I recieved a report of black drum in the surf. The first gray trout was caught from Jolly Roger Pier last week. Of course the puffers, sharks, and skates are biting, but they are scattered. There should be larger sea mullets arriving soon.

Surf City Pier opens Friday March 27, and they are having the "First Sea Mullet" contest again this year. The first sea mullet caught from the pier will win a free Season Pass to Surf City Pier. This is a $175.00 value so it will be worth the effort to get out there on opening day. Good luck to all who will brave the elements and get out there to fish for the free pass.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Topsail Fishing Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! I am hearing that a few, very few small sea mullets are showing up in the surf, and I am assuming off the piers as well. Cut shrimp has been the productive bait. I have been to the sound a few times this week but I haven't gotten any hits on mirro-lure or grubs [Gulp]. We have full sun today and this should help warm the water a bit. We have NE winds, that won't help with the warming. We need good south wind to help the sun warm the water. The average water temp in the area is 54*. So things should start to happen soon. If you are out there flinging lead or lures, Good Luck! Let us know how you do.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Spring Fishing is Picking Up>>>!

Hello everybody, I hope spring is treating you well! Not to bad around here, two days warm then one day cool. Hey that’s spring for ya around the Carolina coast! One day breezy, two days calm sometime it’s the other way around! That’s why I love the Carolina coast we have real seasons around here! Enough about weather, to the fishing report we go!

On some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish we’ve been doing a little bit of fresh water fishing. The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day. The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds. Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. We are also catching some of the bass on senko worms. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.

On the coast fishing has been a little hit or miss for the most part. Some days we go out and get over ten Redfish some days it’s less. The best bait for the Reds lately has been fresh shrimp or live mud minnows. I have had the most luck rigging the shrimp and minnows on Carolina rigs. We are using EC L 42 style hooks in number “one” size. The Reds are running in the sixteen to twenty-five inch range with a few bigger ones mixed in from time to time.

If you would like to go the artificial root, I would recommend using scented grubs. The best bet is to use Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in Colors Molting and good penny. These Blurps are really well scented to put out one great scent trail. Those Reds will find them, trust me! Jigs heads for the grubs in ¼ to 3/8 oz, colors red and black seem to be the trick. Work’em slow around docks and drop-offs on grass lines.

There are a few trout and flounder around as well, they are not very big, but some times you can pull out a keeper. Mud minnows and grubs are the ticket for these fish. Rig the minnows on Carolina rigs, go light on the leader fifth teen to twenty pound line. Grub colors that we’re using; Chart. Diamond and Silver mullet with red head jigs. Work’em slow on shore lines and drop off on the grass lines.

Fishing Gear we use:

Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in size 7035 great for trout and light Red fishing. Rods: Ugly Stick Lite. Med act 7’ Braid line in the test of 10 and 20 pound. Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions or comments drop me a line at www.captainjot.com

In Other Fishing News: There are a few great boat and fishing expos still coming to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. www.northcarolinasportsman.com This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish. “Just a few weeks away”!!

June 5, 6 and 7 “In the Water Fishing School” Capt. Rick Bennett, myself and six other of the best local guides are putting on this school on. This school will be real-time hands on fishing experience! The school is limited to the first 25 participants! If you want to learn from the best local guides and see how we do it, take the time to check it out; http://www.rodmancharters.com/2009-inthewater-fishing-school.htmI’m really looking forward to being part of this school!

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Charters
Wilmington, NC Charter Fishing

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach!

Rainy and Windy Weekend

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! I am glad to have met one of our readers this weekend. Elijah Varner came down for a weekend of fishing at Jolly Roger Pier. Elijah and his fiance, I am embarrassed that I can't remember her name, stayed at Jolly Roger Motel. We met Friday morning for a few hours of fishing. The weather wouldn't cooperate with us, but it was nice to have a line in the water. I had a migraine Saturday, and didn't get to fish, but Elijah caught some sharks from the surf and pier. No mullets yet, but Elijah saw a nice 14 inch gray trout brought over the rail at the pier. I really enjoyed meeting Elijah who seems to me a fine young man who really loves fishing. Thanks to Elijah for asking me to fish with him. Maybe next time, we can find the fish.

Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny

Exciting things happing in 2009!!!!

Greetings All!!!!

I am very excited about the upcoming 2009 fishing season. It has been a long, cold winter, but the weather is starting to warm and the fishing is about to get red hot.

New this year will be the addition of my new 2009 East Cape Canoes "Vantage" !!!

This boat is the bomb!!! She is 19'-2" in length with a 79" beam and she will draft between 7.5-10-inches!! She is going to be powered by a new 2009 Honda 4-stroke and she will be fast!!! That means, more fishing time for you!! The guys at East Cape are supposed to start production of my new custom boat in about 2-weeks and if all goes well, I will have her ready for charters around the first of May. She will be fully equiped with all of the bells and whistles to make you fishing experience on to remember. With her integrated spray rails and sharp V entry, not only will she be fast, but she will be dry as well. A 40 gallon fuel cell will give her lots of range and with a cruise speed in the mid 30's, we can make the long runs to get to the fish, if necessary.

As I mentioned, she is going to have all the bells and whistles including a new 2009 power pole, trim tabs, 36 gallon live well, custom poling platform with new stiffy push pole, 2009 minn kota trolling motor and a front deck casting platform. She is loaded with storage which will keep her decks clean and clutter free. This boat is going to be in high demand and I am very excited to have joined forces with the guys from East Cape!! I know this boat is going to be a big hit for them and it's going to be a great addition to the Current Adventure Fleet!!

In addition to the new flats boat, i still offer offshore fishing charters aboard the Current Adventure I for King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish and more!! I know the the economy is in turmoil right now, but I am looking forward to a great year. My rates are very reasonable and I always strive to make sure that all of my customers have a great day on the water while fishing with me. When you fish with me, you will learn new techniques, have lots of hands on experience and come away a better angler!!

Check back soon for more updates on the new boat and I look forward to serving you this summer!!

As always,

Tight Lines!!!

Capt. Brent Stanley

Current Adventure Charters

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2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach!

Better Get Ready!

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2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Topsail Beach! It's almost time for spring fishing. The weather is improving quickly, and we are forecast a beautiful weekend. High Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are forecast to be in the lower to high 70's! I will be out at least Friday or Saturday, maybe even both. I think I'm gonna go to the New Topsail Inlet and give the reds and trout a try. Hope to see you out there!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Cold-Warm-Cold-Warm Fishing Report

Hello from Topsail Beach!

Spring is Springing around Southeast North Carolina! Warmer weather is in the forecast and the fishing should start to really pick up. The weather has been nothing less then UP AND DOWN lately; I’m ready for SPRING!! So give me a call and let’s go fishing! Now to the fishing report>>>

With the weather getting warming the water temps are on the raise, which is a very good thing. Redfish are biting around docks and marsh grass drops in the water way and creek mouths. Most of the falling tide and the start of the raise is the best time to catch these Reds. Anywhere you can find the sun warming the water around docks, there should be some Reds close by. Keep your eyes on the water; we’ve seen some schools of Reds just off the ICW. They can be spooky, so stay low and try to keep quiet.

The Reds are taking scented Grubs and fresh bait like shrimp or mullet. The best bet for grubs are Saltwater Assassin (Blurps), these are some of the best scented grubs on the market! Colors I would recommend; Molting, Good Penny and Drunk monkey. The best jig head colors red and black these seem to work the best. Work the grubs slow, this will let the scent spread out more so the Reds can find the grubs.

A few Speckled trout are biting, same set up as the Reds. Try to find some fish warming up in the sun, on flats and oyster rocks. Work Grubs and Mirrolure’s very slow for these fish. Good colors for the trout are Saltwater Assassin salt & pep chartreuse tail and chart/diamond. If the water is a little stained try “Chicken on a Chain” grub color. These are some of my favorite colors. If you see the Trout on the bottom cast on the edge of them not right in the school. If you cast in the school it will scare them.

The large mouth bass fishing has been good the last couple of weeks and should get better as the weather warms up! We are fishing some of the local lakes and the North East Cape Fear River. Most of the bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in the color red shad “red and black”. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best. We’ve also caught a few on wacky worms, fishing them very slow.

Fishing gear we use:

Redfish, Trout and Bass: Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in sizes 7035 and 7040. Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ rods in med-light and med action. Bass fishing Pflueger Supreme spinning reels 9030XT and an All Star ASR series rod 7’ ASR844S “great fresh water combo”!

In Other Fishing News: There are a few great boat and fishing expos still coming to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. www.northcarolinasportsman.com
This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish. “Just a few weeks away”!!

June 5, 6 and 7 “In The Water Fishing School” Capt. Rick Bennett, myself and six other of the best local guides are putting on this school on. This school will be real-time hands on fishing experience! The school is limited to the first 25 participants! If you want to learn from the best local guides and see how we do it, take the time to check it out;
http://www.rodmancharters.com/2009-inthewater-fishing-school.htm
I’m really looking forward to being part of this school!

We are booking for this up coming summer season, book now to get the day you want! Check out our web page for fishing reports and charter specials from time to time. Thanks for reading this report, and Good fishing to Ya.

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Charters
Wilmington, NC Charter Fishing

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Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Fish Taco Recipe!

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Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! A new seafood recipe has been posted. Check it out.
Fishin' Topsail's Seafood Recipes

Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Speckled Trout

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2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! I don't think the specks are ever gonna completely dry up here. They are still in the surf and near the piers, although most are too small. (DINKS) They seem to be biting mirro-lure baits best. Time of day and tide vary. Wish I could be more precise. Go Gettum!

Till next time....
tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Early Spring Fishing

Hello to all, I hope everyone is doing well. It will not be long at all before spring will be here and that can only mean one thing “spring fishing”! I can’t wait!! The weather has been really up and down lately, on the warmer and lighter wind are the days to hit the water and do some fishing. To the fishing report we go. >>>

Redfish are biting on those nice warm sunny days. We are looking for them along the ICW and mouths of creeks. The best bet for these guys is to look for them on flats, oyster rocks and grass lines on warm calm days. The Reds will be sunning and trying to find bait that is doing the same thing. Best lures to use; jigs “go light” 1/8 and ¼ oz. jig heads this way you will not spook the Reds in shallow water. Rig them with a good scented grub like Saltwater Assassin Blurps. In the sea shad pattern; colors pearl or molting seen to work the best in the winter mouths.

All so look for big schools of Redfish in the surf on very nice days as well. These schools of Reds will be close to inlets, sandbars and sometimes jetties. Use the same kinds of jigs, but use heavier jig heads like 3/8 and ½ oz. This will make it easier to cast to the Reds. A few Trout are biting as well. A good bet for them would be Mirrolure’s and Grubs. Colors for Mirrolure’s chart back and white on white. Grubs silver mullet and one of my favorites chart diamond. Remember work them slow, during the colder mouths!

In the Cape Fear River there are still a few Stripers biting. The bigger fish for the most part are starting to slow down. We are catching most of the Stripers on jigs, rattle trips and mid diving X-raps. Colors white on white, green back and silver minnow. Just look for creek mouths, drop-offs and docks that hold any kind of bait. Work these areas hard and you will catch a few Stripers, patience pays off! There are some catfish biting in the river now as well.

The large mouth bass fishing has been good the last couple of weeks. We are fishing some of the local lakes and the North East Cape Fear River. Most of the bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.

Fishing gear we use:

Redfish, Stripers and trout: Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in sizes 7035 and 7040. Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ rods in med-light and med action. Bass fishing Pflueger Supreme spinning reels 9030XT and an All Star ASR series rod 7’ ASR844S “great fresh water combo”!

In Other Fishing News: There are a few great boat and fishing expos still coming to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

February 20-22, 2009 - Carolina Power & Sailboat Show NC State Fairgrounds - Raleigh, NC. www.ncboatshows.com This show will have lots of nice boats to see!

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. www.northcarolinasportsman.com
This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish.

We are booking up for this up coming summer season, book now to get the day you want! Check out our web page for fishing reports and charter specials from time to time. Thanks for reading this report, and Good fishing to Ya.

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Charters
Wilmington, NC Charter Fishing


Bass Pro Shops Online!



Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!

Snow on Topsail, But NO Fish!

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My Pottery Page



Hello from Surf City! OK, so we got more snow this morning. Not as much as last time, but snow it was. covered the ground before the sun came out, now it's all gone. Except for little groups of snowflakes hiding in corners and under steps. Haven't heard of any fish this week on Topsail. It's cold and windy on the beach. I haven't even seen anyone fishing. No one at Surf City Pier or Jolly Roger. We haven't seen many folks walking on the beach. Of course I am sure there are the hard cases, like Donna and I, that still get out there. I hear they [I say they because I am not one of the brave souls that venture out to fish in this freezing wind] are still catching reds from the surf up north. Not sure where, but I am getting some online reports from other websites. Also getting a few stripers at the Outer Banks and in the Cape River. There are still some type of bait fish in the water, not sure what they are but the birds were really busting the water yesterday just out past the breakers. The dark spot on the water [the bait fish school] stretched out for several hundred yards to the north and south. We couldn't see the end of the school to the south. It looked like they stretched out all the way to Surf City Pier. Hope to get out soon and see some fishing buds. That's all for now.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

Wilmington, NC Winter Fishing Report

Well folks, the days are getting longer and winter is more than half way over. I’m really looking forward to this coming spring! Don’t forget, this is a great time to check over all your fishing gear. Clean up your rods and reels, oil the reels and put a touch of wax on your rods. It also maybe time to put new fishing line on your reels and check those hooks on your artificial lures. A little work now; will make spring fishing a little easier on you! To the fishing report >>>!

With the weather being very up and down lately, the fishing has been that way too! On some of the warmer days we have caught some fish. The large mouth bass fishing has been good the last couple of weeks. We are fishing some of the local lakes and the North East Cape Fear River. Most of the bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.

Redfish are schooling in the surf, we are always looking for a nice day to get out and chase them. They are pretty easy to catch; you just got to find them. That part can be a bit harder, trust me! A sunny, light wind day and good polarized sunglasses are the keys to catching these Reds. Grubs seem to be the easy go to bait for surf Reds. Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in pearl and molting color work very well. You need to use heavier jigs heads, ½ and 5/8 plus for casting. Color of the head is not a big deal Red, white and black all work just fine. Hold on tight, they fight great even in cold water!

There are still a few Cape Fear River stripers biting. The water is really starting to cool down. Most of the fish are in the four to twelve pound range, with a few bigger ones mixed in as well. We are catching the stripers on hard and soft baits. In the hard bait range; X-raps and mid-water crank baits are working well. As far as soft baits; Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) jerk shads in colors pearl and electric chicken. We are rigging the blurps Texas style, with a large bass worm hook.

Fishing gear we use:

Stripers and trout: Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in sizes 7035 and 7040. Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ rods in med-light and med action. Bass fishing Pflueger Supreme spinning reels 9030XT and an All Star ASR series rod 7’ ASR844S “great fresh water combo”!


I would like to thank everybody that came out to the Saltwater Sportsman seminar at the Hilton hotel this last weekend. We had a sell out show; I really enjoyed speaking with everyone at the show. I hope they bring it back here next year!

In Other Fishing News: There are a few great boat and fishing expos still coming to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

February 20-22, 2009 - Carolina Power & Sailboat Show NC State Fairgrounds - Raleigh, NC. www.ncboatshows.com This show will have lots of nice boats to see!

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. www.northcarolinasportsman.com
This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish.

If you get a chance you should really take the time to visit some of these shows and seminars. You will learn lots of great info from the fishing seminars and see some great new boats! For more info on these shows and seminars just go to the links on this page.

Thanks for reading this report; I’ll see ya on the water!

Good Luck Fishing,

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139



Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!

BRRRRR! It's cold!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! Water temp on the beach is now below 50* at 48*. The specks may still be here in spots, but I haven't seen any or talked to anyone who has caught any. I am hearing there are still a few inside, and the ones being caught are small. I am hearing this is the coldest winter in years, and I surely believe it. The wind just cuts through us when we are walking on the beach. Nothing biting, and it's cold on these old bones, so I am getting my reels and rods ready for spring with winter cleaning and guide replacement. Fresh line will go on most, although I think i will leave some backing on most reels and go for topshot of a better quality line, maybe braid. Just a thought, as I haven't used braid since the early 80's and my largemouth bass fishing days. I know it has changed a lot since those times. I don't get to fish for the bucket mouth bass often, but I may try to get to a freshwater lake or maybe hit the New River upstream from J'ville. Donna and I are moving to some new digs late Feb, a larger place in Topsail Beach. I am looking forward to the move, as I will have surf access as well as sound access via Banks Channel, both within walking distance. I will be busy moving, but if I hear something fantastic, like a 20 lb striper in the surf here at Topsail, I will post it. Good luck in the off season. God Bless you all and thanks for making 2008 a great year at fishintopsail.com.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

No Fish for You!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! With the recent cold front and resulting snow, fishing is dead from the surf. All the piers are now closed. Haven't seen anyone surf fishing for days. I have seen some boats in the ICW as I crossed the swing bridge, but I haven't had any reports of any catches. Snow blanketed the island for the past couple of days, but most melted today and is now a distant memory. It's still cold though. Too cold for me anyway. Can't wait for spring.
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

These pics are from the 1989 snow on Topsail Island.

Winter Fishing Around Wilmington, NC

(Snow day): A good day to sit at the house; drink coffee and write a fishing report! Well folks here is some of that “you never know weather” in North Carolina. Freezing cold and dry one day; the warm and wet another; bam snow! Go figure!! With all this crazy weather sometimes we ask; are the fish still biting? Yes they are; to the fishing report>>>

I’ve really had a mixed bag of fishing lately; a little fresh, salt and brackish water. We did some Speck fishing on 8-1, with some great success. We caught 16 Specks, 2 grays and a few black drum; two of the trout were over five pounds and one was 6.7. They mostly hit live shrimp and a few hit grubs in colors chicken on a chain and chart-diamond. We fished the falling and raising tides.

There are still some very nice Cape Fear River stripers biting. Most of the fish are in the four to twelve pound range, with a few bigger ones mixed in as well. We are catching the stripers on hard and soft baits. In the hard bait range; X-raps and mid-water crank baits are working well. As far as soft baits; Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) jerk shads in colors pearl and electric chicken. We are rigging the blurps Texas style, with a large bass worm hook.

On some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish we’ve been doing a little bit of fresh water fishing. The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day. The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds. Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best. On the last trip we caught a nice bream on a bass worm “he was hungry!

Fishing gear we use:

Stripers and trout: Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in sizes 7035 and 7040. Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ rods in med-light and med action. Bass fishing Pflueger Supreme spinning reels 9030XT and an All Star ASR series rod 7’ ASR844S “great fresh water combo”!

In Other Fishing News: There are some great boat and fishing expos coming this winter to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

January 23-25, 2009 - Raleigh Convention Center Boat Show - Raleigh, NC. www.raleighconvention.com/boatshow/ One of our top Ranger pro staff members will be at this show; C.A. Richardson of Flats Class TV and team Evinrude. This show will have lots of boats for you to take a look at, get in and get a feel for; “maybe you will find your next boat there!

January 31, 2009 - Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series – Wilmington, NC. http://www.nationalseminarseries.com/ Location: Hilton Riverside Wilmington- Grand Ballroom. This is a great day of seminars from local, regional and national fishing captains and guides! You can learn a lot at this great day of seminars.

February 20-22, 2009 - Carolina Power & Sailboat Show NC State Fairgrounds - Raleigh, NC. http://www.ncboatshows.com/ This show will have lots of nice boats to see!

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/
This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish.

If you get a chance you should really take the time to visit some of these shows and seminars. You will learn lots of great info from the fishing seminars and see some great new boats! For more info on these shows and seminars just go to the links on this page.

Thanks for reading this report; I’ll see ya on the water!

Good Luck Fishing,

Captain Jot Owens
http://www.captainjot.com/
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!

Topsail Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! Not much going on in topsail. Haven't heard of anything caught in the
surf for the last week. Cold front just about stopped everything. I
hear that boats right offshore are catching stripers. We don't seem to
get many here. They are always to the north and south, as close as
Cape Fear. If you are going out, good luck. Stay warm!!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
http://www.fishintopsail.com

SPOTTED SEATROUT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!
We got this notification from the NC Dept of Environment and Natural Resource today. Thought some of you may be interested.

[quote]
MOREHEAD CITY- The Spotted Seatrout Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resource Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.

See attached agenda.
For more information, contact Beth Burns at 252-473-5734 ext 221 or Beth.Burns@ncmail.net or the Marine Fisheries Commission office at 252-808-8022.


MFC Spotted Seatrout FMP Advisory Committee Meeting

February 12, 2009 at 6 p.m.

NCDENR Regional Field Office – Washington, NC

AGENDA



§ Introduction
§ Modifications to the agenda
§ MFC Update
§ Roles and Objectives, Travel
§ Update Timeline
§ Stock Assessment Executive Summary
§ Public Information Brochure (PIB)

· Goals and Objectives

§ Potential Issues
§ Spotted Seatrout Life History Information
§ Rules and Regulations
§ Meeting Arrangements
§ Next Meeting

· Issues

[end quote]

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
"Fishin'Topsail"

Topsail Report and Flounder Recipe

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! It was too windy for me to fish today, but Donna and I took a long walk on the beach just north of Jolly Roger Pier. The peanut pogies were in the water thick, and the birds were having a feast. We didn't see anyone catch a fish, but we enjoyed our walk. The water temp is back up to 56* today. Good news for our speck hunters.

Check out a new recipe for flounder on our recipe page.

Have a wonderful day, and get out to the beach before the water gets too cold.

The Bigger Cape Fear River Stripers Are Biting!

Folks, it’s a new year! Gas prices are down, weather has been pretty warm around these parts and fishing has been pretty good too! I hope fishing will be as good this year as it was last year; but with better gas prices!! I think that would make a lot of us happy; for this up coming summer fishing run! Let’s talk fishing, to the fishing report>>>

Those Cape Fear River stripers are still biting well. Most of the stripers have been in the 18” to 28” range with a few bigger stripers mixed in too. We caught one of our top three largest Cape Fear Rivers ever just before Christmas Eve; she was 31.6 pounds. We were fishing a drop-off on the edge of the river channel; throwing green-back x-raps 4 3/8”. When my friend Duane’s lure got smacked; the fish about took the rod out of his hand! Fifth teen minutes later he got her to the boat; photo, tagged, weighted, and released. That was one striper I’ll never forget!

The stripers are still biting good ole’ x-raps, “blurp” jerk shad (5”) and swim shads. Colors that seem to catch them, green back, blue back and some white hard lures. In the soft bait colors Electric chicken, Chicken on a chain, pearl and fire tiger seems to do the trick. We are casting on drop offs, creek mouths and turns in the river. You never know where you will catch one, you just have got to go and try!

There has been some rather nice catfish coming out of the river as well. Most of the cats are hitting chicken livers (fresh as possible). The cats are hanging around docks and brush piles. Fishing Carolina rigs with forty pound leader and L42 or circle hooks in sizes 2/0 to 4/0 will work. There has been a few cat fish over twenty pounds and larger caught.

The speckled trout have been hit and miss lately, some days we catching some days we don’t. When we do get them; live shrimp has worked, as well as grubs have. Just lately I’ve had a few friends catch some bigger trout around the Masonboro jetties. When I’m looking for bigger trout, I turn too the live shrimp, not to say that big trout will not hit lures; they will! But for ease of fishing with charters; live shrimp do the trick time and time again!

When we are using grubs these are some of the patterns that are catching trout. One grub color by Saltwater Assassin that has really been a great one this season is the new color (Chicken on a Chain). Some other colors that are producing well are salt & pepper, chart-diamond, space guppy and pearl. We rig the grubs on jig heads in colors black and red; in sizes 1/8, ¼ and ½ oz. With a twenty pound fluorocarbon leader, I don’t use a lot of floro, but I do for speckled trout fishing.

The Fishing gear we use:

Trout and Stripers: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. 12 & 20 pound Ugly Braid. Bait cast rod and reel combo Pflueger Supreme low profile with an All Star Platinum P845MC 7’ rod. Great striper set up!

In Other Fishing News: Don’t forget starting this coming weekend; there are some great boat and fishing expos coming to North Carolina. If you like fishing and boats you don’t want to miss these shows and fishing seminars! Here are the one’s that myself as well as other Ranger boats pro staff members will be at this winter.

January 9-11, 2009 - Raleigh Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo NC State Fairgrounds - Raleigh, NC. http://www.ncboatshows.com/ This is a GREAT show, with over 160 booths offering everything from the latest lures, plastics, jigs, custom rods, apparel, knives, product sample booths, hard-tops, saltwater charters, fresh water guides, cast nets, gaffs.....by far one of the best shows of its kind in the Carolina's and Virginia. I will be there along with other Ranger pro staff members who include; Jeff Cronk of Fish’n 4 Life charters and Capt. Mike Taylor of Taylor-Made charters, as well as many others fresh and salt water pros! I will have tarpon and cobia fishing seminars all three days of this show.

January 23-25, 2009 - Raleigh Convention Center Boat Show - Raleigh, NC. www.raleighconvention.com/boatshow/ One of our top Ranger pro staff members will be at this show; C.A. Richardson of Flats Class TV and team Evinrude. This show will have lots of boats for you to take a look at, get in and get a feel for; “maybe you will find your next boat there!

January 31, 2009 - Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series – Wilmington, NC. http://www.nationalseminarseries.com/ Location: Hilton Riverside Wilmington- Grand Ballroom. This is a great day of seminars from local, regional and national fishing captains and guides! You can learn a lot at this great day of seminars.

February 20-22, 2009 - Carolina Power & Sailboat Show NC State Fairgrounds - Raleigh, NC. http://www.ncboatshows.com/ This show will have lots of nice boats to see!

March 21, 2009 Saltwater Fishing School Saturday, 2615 Jefferson Davis Hwy (US 1 South) - Sanford, NC. http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/
This all-day event will feature successful tournament anglers, prominent charter captains, top notch guides, knowledgeable pro team members, experienced local fishermen, and well-informed industry professionals giving tips, plus explaining lures and techniques used to catch everyone's favorite fish.

If you get a chance you should really take the time to visit some of these shows and seminars. You will learn lots of great info from the fishing seminars and see some great new boats! For more info on these shows and seminars just go to the links on this page.

Thanks for reading this report; I’ll see ya on the water or at the shows!

Good Luck Fishing,

Captain Jot Owens
http://www.captainjot.com/
910-233-4139

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!

N.C. Aquariums Planning for Piers

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City!
Please take time to read this press release from the NC Aquariums. Thank you for your time.


Press ReleasePress Release
North Carolina Aquariums Launch Pier Efforts

[quote]
In order to preserve a coastal tradition that weather and economics have nearly erased from the shoreline, the N.C. Aquariums want to build and run three storm-resistant ocean fishing piers – one near each of the state’s aquariums at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island.

"We are losing piers along our coast, and more are likely to disappear,” said Bill Laxton, chief deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Our goal is to build three new concrete piers that will withstand coastal storms and provide future generations with invaluable ocean access."

Aquarium staff views the proposed educational piers as another avenue to advance the Aquariums’ mission of inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments.

Piers provide a vantage of the surf zone to visitors who come just to stroll along the deck. In addition, the Aquariums’ proposed pier complexes will facilitate beach access and other recreational activities.

The interest in recreational fishing presents a wonderful opportunity to teach conservation,” said Division Director David Griffin. “Getting people out into their natural surroundings is the most effective form of environmental education.”

The Aquariums have asked for $4 million from the state’s Waterfront Access and Marine Industry Fund (WAMI) toward the development of the piers. The General Assembly included the WAMI program in the 2007 state budget for projects that improve public and commercial waterfront access. The move came after a committee appointed by the legislature took a broad look at diminishing waterfront accessibility of all types.

Visitors and tourism-oriented businesses have mourned the rapid vanishing of fishing piers in the last decade. A succession of hurricanes in the late 1990s wiped out many of these gathering spots, favored by vacationers and locals alike. Soaring real estate values spelled the demise of others.

Griffin noted that fishing piers have played an important role in the culture and history of the coast, as well as in the tourism-driven economy. The price of oceanfront real estate makes the prospect of private investment in new piers unlikely.

“The North Carolina Aquariums are uniquely positioned to address this loss,” he said. “We already have well-established programs and facilities within an easy drive of all the major tourist beaches.”

The proposed piers will extend 1,000 feet into the Atlantic, with concrete pilings to withstand crashing waves and high winds, and timber decks to reflect tradition. The design will employ “green” building principles and stormwater treatment methods. The facilities also will accommodate people with disabilities.

Anglers and vacationers won’t be the only users. The proposed complexes include pier houses, exhibits, classrooms, meeting and event rooms, accommodations for other water-based activities, and staging areas for data collection and research. The sites also will provide bathhouses, parking and access for beachgoers. Among the many programs planned will be fishing conservation workshops, beach walks, sleepovers, science camps, school programs, kayak excursions and surfing classes.
“With the piers, we’ll be able to bring new programs to more people,” Griffin said.

The Aquariums already have two of the projects underway. Construction is set to begin in mid-2008 on a concrete pier to replace Jennette’s Pier at Nag’s Head, in conjunction with the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The first fishing pier on the site was built in 1939. The N.C. Aquarium Society, the Aquariums’ member-based support group, acquired the existing pier in 2003, and turned it over to the state in October. The new pier is expected to open in 2010.

The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores plans to begin design and development on its pier next summer. The Aquarium is partnering with the town of Emerald Isle to build the project at the Eastern Ocean Regional Access . The 4.1-acre site was home to the Emerald Isle Pier until it was torn down after damage from two 1996 hurricanes. The site, eight miles from the Aquarium, stretches across Bogue Banks at about its midpoint. The Aquarium plans a fishing dock, kayak launch area and other amenities on the sound side section of the property in addition to the ocean pier and facilities.

“We are excited about this partnership with the North Carolina Aquariums,” said Emerald Isle Mayor Art Schools. “We believe the project will provide tremendous benefits for North Carolinians for generations to come.”

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is considering various sites for its proposed pier project.

Each pier is estimated to cost about $12 million. The Aquariums plan to pay for the projects with money from Aquarium admission receipts, pier user fees, grants, contributions from other government agencies and donations from the Aquarium Society.

Tourism industry leaders welcome the efforts to perpetuate the familiar and family-friendly coastal icons. “The pier and sound side access here on the Crystal Coast will be a welcome addition to the area,” said Carol Lohr, executive director of the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority in Carteret County, home to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. “The expanded programs from the Aquarium, and the fact that both will be open to the public, will be another eco-friendly area the tourism authority can market and promote.”
[end quote]
This article can be read on the NC Aquariums website. Click Here

Folks, this is a great idea, and one that as pier fishing enthusiasts, we should wholeheartedly endorse. I am waiting for word from the NC Aquariums as to what we can do to help get this program implemented. I urge you to contact your state reps in Raleigh to urge them to help with this plan any way they can. We can't do a lot as individuals, but together we have a voice. Let's use it.

Thanks,

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Red's, Specks, and Dolphin Dip

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! Happy new year! Thanks for all your support last year with the message board and the blog. www.fishintopsail.com
The speckled trout are still in the water and it's cold!!! Water temp 53*, air temp 44* at noon. Water temp is still above 50, so the reds and the speckled trout will still be out there. I've seen mostly dink specks, but there have been some good ones, three to four pounds. Also some slot reds on mirro-lures. I am hearing purple, and pink, don't know the numbers. I might be down at New Topsail Inlet in Topsail Beach on Saturday. I am in a black Chevy Blazer. See you on the beach! Good luck!
Dolphin Dip at Surf City...... My brave wife Donna swam in the Dolphin Dip fund raiser at Surf City today at noon. BRRRRRRRR!! There seemed to be several hundred swimmers, along with at least that many on-lookers. I feel guilty for not swimming with her. I guess I will have to give it a go next new years. Johnny' aka "FishinTopsail"

New Years Eve Fishing Report, Topsail Island

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! Well, it's almost the new year, and it's getting really cold, but fish are still stirring around in the surf at Topsail Island. Nice reds, and dink trout were active in the surf today. Wind is fierce, and it took a lot of lead to keep your bottom rig down. It was way too windy to fish a mirro-lure without some modifications. I have fished them with a three way swivel and lead, but I didn't do that today. I like to let my bottom rig "wander" in the surf when it's rough unless there are a lot of anglers on the beach. Today, there were a lot of beach combers, but not many anglers. BRRRR! It's getting windy and COLD! Gotta turn on the heat, have a cup of coffee and watch a basketball game. (If I can find one on cable)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny aka "FishinTopsail"

Specks Still Around Topsail

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide


Hello from Surf City! I got a report today from a friend that knows a friend. Ok, so this report is unverified, but it's a report never the less. And this time of year, any report is a good report. So my friend says he and a friend were talking and the friend says he hasn't fished Topsail in years. So my friend suggested he give it a try. So this past weekend, they hit the beach and "BAM" first spot they fished they landed 15 keeper specks! No monsters, but keepers anyway. They move on another spot and land "at least thirty" but most were too small. Anyway, they had a great day fishing on Topsail, and the speckled trout are still around. Better go get them while you can!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
Surf City, NC