Memorial Day Weekend Looks Great!

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! The Memorial Day weekend is looking good. The weather should be beautiful, and I think the wind will be right to catch some fish. We are catching a few puppy drum, black drum, flounder, sea mullets, and plenty of skates and sharks in the surf now. The bite is definitely improving. Pier fishing has slowed a bit, but is still good. Blues and spanish when the water is clear, and black drum, puppy drum, and sea mullets when it's dirty. Best bait is still FRESH cut shrimp. The inside bite is still spotty. We know where they should be, but they don't seem to be there in any numbers.

I am having some health problems as well as computer problems so I won't be posting as often as I would like. Thanks for understanding.

Thank God for the sacrifices of our men in uniform and their families. Remember them when you are grilling with the family, and know that there are those who voluntarily miss this holiday with their families so we can be free and safe to celebrate. Too all the veterans and active military (and families) that read the blog ...... God Bless you all.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna
aka "Fishin' Topsail" and my best catch!

Pompano

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach. Pompano made a show at Surf City Pier this week. They haven't been huge pomps, but they were big enough to make a good meal. I love pompano. The meat is white and flaky, almost like flounder, but a little more firm. A good size pompano is great on the grill. Won't fall apart when they are turned. Fishing remains good at Topsail, but not great. There are a few fish in the water for the angler who will wait for them. Mullets, some big ones, are biting a bit with most being caught at night. I am seeing more and more flounder, and more keepers. Mud minnows are the bait until the finger mullet get plentiful. You can try Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet if you don't have mud minnows. I don't think any king mackerel have been caught at Topsail this year, but spanish are giving anglers plenty of action. The last couple of days the water seems to clear up at dead high tide, and you can get a few spanish before the water muddies up again. Has anyone seen sand fleas in the surf yet? I haven't, and I can't remember when they start to show up. Must be getting old! We had a beautiful day today. There were some clouds and a few claps of thunder around noon, but nothing developed. We are looking for rain most of the day tomorrow, so if you plan to hit the piers or the surf, better bring your rain gear.

Here are the tides for Sunday and Monday.
1:04 AM EDT 2.86 feet High Tide
8:22 AM EDT 0.44 feet Low Tide
1:43 PM EDT 2.25 feet High Tide
8:11 PM EDT 0.59 feet Low Tide

This weeks weather forecast:
Sunday: Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, turning windy during the afternoon with rain likely - a thundershower is possible. High 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph, becoming NW and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Sunday night: Windy with rain...a thunderstorm or two is also possible, mainly during the evening. Low 51F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Monday: Windy with rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Monday night: Rain and wind. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 50s.
Tuesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 50s.
Wednesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

Catch 'em up!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Capt. Rick Bennett Fishing Report

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! The following is a fishing report from Capt Rick Bennett.

[quote]
"...............Inshore: Water temps have risen to around 70 and the spring weed is just about gone. Live baits are showing up. All this means it's time for the reds and flounder to turn on and that is what is happening inshore right now. Best bait is live menhaden fished on a carolina rig.
Near Shore: Near shore fishing has been pretty much on fire when the wind is reasonable; We have had very good catches of spanish, bonito and even some spring kings. Most of the fish are being caught on planers and clarkspoons.
Offshore: The king mackerel bite continues to be strong in the 18-25 mile areas. Live bait, cigar minnows, ballyhoo...all are working well.
Gulfstream: When the boats have gotten out, I have received reports of good catches of wahoo and mahi, along with some blackfin tuna............."
[end quote]

Looks like rain today, a front offshore will be pushing rain clouds in from the south. Of course we all know that the forecast is likely to be wrong for Topsail Beach. Being right on the ocean, it is frequent that the clouds stay offshore for some reason. Hopefully that will be the case today, and maybe we can get some fishing time. I'll try to get another fishing report in today.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Spring winds and Good Fishing around the area.

Hello folks, I hope everyone is enjoying this fishing season so far; except all the WIND lately!!! Man, one week of light winds and pay with two plus weeks of hard southwest! Take is North Carolina Spring for ya! The big (bar highs) will be here soon: “I hope”! Will let’s talk about the windy weather fishing report>>>

The water has really gotten dirty with all the wind lately; when we find clearer water, we are finding the fish. Most of the Spanish and Blues 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. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!

I’ve seen a few Cobia around the inlets and near shore reefs. Live bait fishing is the best bet for these great fighting fish. Fishing live baits on top as well as on the bottom will get you the best chance at catching a Cobia. I prefer bluefish, mullet and menhaden for bait; what ever is easier to get. To catch a Cobia you’ve got to put your time in, sometimes you catch one right away; sometimes you don’t. That’s why they call it fishing! The Cobia should keep getting better later in to May. It’s time now to book you Cobia trips.

We are seeing a few more Redfish around; most fish have been in the water way, bays and around some of the inlets. As more live bait shows up, more Reds will come out of the ocean and in to the sounds. This is starting to happen, the fishing should pick up in the next few weeks. The Reds we are getting are hitting fresh cut, bait live and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting. We’ve been rigging these on weed less hooks for grass fishing in some of the bays and flats.

There are some Flounder around, we’ve not caught any great numbers yet, but this should change very soon with the bait showing up. We’ve caught some small to just over keeper size in some of the local creeks and creek mouths. Most are hitting on a falling tide where the bait comes pouring out of the shallows. Mud minnows are work well now; that is until the little mullets show up in good numbers. We are using light Carolina rigs with #1 L42 Eagle claw hooks; going very light on the egg sinker: ¼ to ¾ oz.

Gear used: Spanish, Blues, Reds and Flounder: 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. Cobia: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) Rod: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class. Line: forty (40) pound Berkley Big Game braid.

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
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Spanish Blues Red Drum at Jolly Roger

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! I just got a report from Jonathon at Jolly Roger Pier that sounded mighty good! He says the fish really bit today. Lots of blues, lots of spanish, some up to 4 1/2 lbs. Some red drum, one monster slot fish, 26 inches long, 8 1/2 lbs. Surf City Pier reports much the same thing. A good weekend with spanish and blues on plugs, flounder on carolina rigs and shrimp, and an assortment on bottom rigs which included mullet, spot, croaker, speckled trout, and flounder. It's looking good anglers, let's go fishing!


Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Topsail Fishing

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

The fishing is heating up in the Topsail Island area as more reds are showing up in the backwaters. These fish are really aggressive when you can find them on rising water. I have been targeting them with topwater lures and the action has been hot when the weather cooperates. This week should be stellar as the winds die down a bit and the northern winds blow some water back into the flats.



Tight lines,
Captain Ren
www.tournamenttrailcharters.com

Topsail Fishing Update

Fishing Topsail Message Board
Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Hello from Topsail Beach! Fishing is still real slow in the surf. I don't pretend to know all the fishing news, but I do hear a lot, and what I am hearing right now is pier fishing is the place catch fish right now. The surf is still dead. Not sure why it is so slow, it should be better this far into the season. Black drum are really making a show at all three of the island's piers. Virginia mullet, a few spots, small blues, skates, and sharks are making a good show. Spanish are in the water, and when the water is clear, they are biting well. Some persistent anglers are getting these fish in good numbers. The king anglers fishing from the end of the piers are catching some nice chopper blues, but still no kings. They will be here soon. Offshore anglers are catching some nice kings, as well as lots of spanish. Inside, anglers fishing from boats are catching red drum, a few speckled trout, and some nice flounder. Fresh cut shrimp fished on carolina rigs seems to be the way to go. The action around Topsail isn't so bad, but it still isn't great yet. I have a feeling it's just around the corner. The water temp is still averaging around 70*, but should be going up soon. The weather looks good for the coming week, with rain showers likely Sunday night and Monday. Here is a 7 Day forecast.
Sunday Partly cloudy skies during the morning giving way to a few showers late. High 78F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Sunday night Showers and thundershowers likely. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Monday Showers and thundershowers likely. High 67F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Monday night A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies later at night. Low 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Tuesday A few clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.
Wednesday Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Thursday Partly cloudy, chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.
Friday Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Saturday Partly cloudy, chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.
Tides for New Topsail Inlet
Sunday
4:06 AM EDT 0.02 feet Low Tide
9:11 AM EDT 2.49 feet High Tide
3:37 PM EDT 0.03 feet Low Tide
9:32 PM EDT 3.61 feet High Tide
Monday
4:47 AM EDT 0.09 feet Low Tide
9:51 AM EDT 2.40 feet High Tide
4:15 PM EDT 0.12 feet Low Tide
10:11 PM EDT 3.49 feet High Tide

I have sprained my wrist, and I am having computer problems, so I may not be able to post regularly. I hope to have these problems solved soon. Please accept my apologies for the delays.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Red Drum Tip

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

Hello from Topsail Beach, North Carolina! The time to find red drum schooling in the inside waters is close. Sometimes these prized fish can be spooked really easily especially when they are in shallow (as shallow as six inches) water searching the oyster beds for a meal. When they are spooky, I have a technique that I use very successfully. I have an assortment of what I call "bass hooks." These J shaped hooks have a wire weed guard that make them easier to fish in heavy cover, such as submerged tree tops, log jams, rock piles, or oyster beds. I will tie one of these weedless hooks directly to my 15 lb test shock leader, without any weight, except the hook and bait, which is usually a gulp shrimp or swimming mullet, unless I can get finger mullets or live shrimp. I position my boat, so it will drift very quietly (no paddles, oars, or trolling motors) across or very near the schooling reds. My bait is drifting behind the boat, without any added action from me. Just a dead drift. Once I have found the fish, it is very seldom that I don't get a hookup using this technique. I use really light mono or braid, six or eight lb test, and add a shock leader of heavier line about the length of the rod I am using. This helps stop break offs, as these fish will almost always head for an oyster bed when hooked. Somehow it seems they know the oysters will cut the line freeing the fish. So next time you can see the schooling reds, but they seem to have lockjaw, give this technique a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for reading our blog, and submitting your questions on the Fishin' Topsail Message Board.
Catch' em up!

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

East Coast Line Wind!

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

Check out our Face Book group, Fishin' Topsail. Click on this link.

Hello from Topsail Beach!
It's bout time for the annual Line Wind at East Coast Sports. The event will take place on May 30! This is a dynamite promotion that I won't miss. The good folks at East Coast will remove your old line, and refill your spool with up to 25 lb test line for only one cent per yard! That's a hundred yards for only a dollar (Yea! I said only $1.00!) You can't buy a hundred yards of line anywhere for only a buck! Larger lb test line is only two cents per yard. Call East Coast today and get the details, or visit them online at www.eastcoastsports.com. Tell Chris that Johnny aka Fishin' Topsail sent you!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna

It's that time...........Ticks!

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



For all you outdoors men and women, you know about ticks. They have a way of getting on you, your children, your pets, etc. It's always traumatic to remove the ticks, especially for children. Here is a remedy for tick removal that my cousin, River Joe, uses when the ticks along the Deep River gets on River Joe or his family, which includes his beautiful lab dogs. He swears by this method, and I for one, will try it when I get a tick on one of my summer fishing get-aways. Thanks to Cuz River Joe for this tip.

[quote]
How to Remove a Tick

Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a try.
Please forward to anyone with children... or hunters or dogs, or anyone who even steps outside in summer!!

A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!! I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will
come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me. Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, 'It worked!'

Please pass on. Everyone needs this helpful hint.
[end quote]

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

Topsail Fishing Update

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

Hello from Topsail Beach. I am getting reports from all piers that fishing is remaining good despite the wind and rain. The general catch consists of spanish and blues during the day when the water is clear. There have been several reports of limits of spanish. Got-cha plugs and diamond jigs are the baits. We are catching mullets and black drum at night, along with some big smooth dogfish. Several reports of full coolers after a night of fishing from the piers. I am told that the smooth dogfish is good eating. Don't have a recipe, but I will pass one along when I get one. Reports from the inside indicate some slot reds, along with some spotted sea trout (specks) with a few citation sized fish. A few flounder are biting mud minnows and scented plastics. (Gulp, etc.) The catches of flounder are getting larger also. Fishing is getting better, and with the water temp averaging from 66* to 70* it's only going to get better. I am wanting the winds to lay down a bit, but I know later this summer I will be wishing for some gentle breezes. Offshore the big chopper blues and huge schools of spanish are keeping everyone happy! Charters are doing well. If you have a favorite, now is the time to book your trip. Dates are filling up rapidly. Don't get left out and miss that big slot sized red or those citation speckled trout and flounder.

Send us your fishing reports and your digital pics of your catch, and we will "Make ya famous" and post them on the blog.
Check out the Fishing Topsail Message Board. Our membership is growing, and everyone is excited about the coming season. This is just the venue we need to get our questions answered or find out about that secret special fishing spot. Catch 'em up!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Kings and Spanish

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














Hello from Topsail Beach!
The spanish are biting from the local piers, and the kings will be here soon. It is important to know how to differentiate between spanish and kings, as they have different rules for keepers. The pictures above show the difference and what to look for in your catch. Below are the catch and size limits for both fish.

2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide for Sports Fishermen - April version
North Carolina State Coastal Waters: Internal (0-3 miles) and Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ (3-200 miles)
King Mackerel 24" FL Minimum Length 3 per Day Bag Limit
Spanish Mackerel 12" FL Minimum Length 15 per Day Bag Limit

Juvenile kings look a lot like large spanish and can be confused easily. Don't think a king will not bite a gotcha plug, one of the most used baits for spanish. I have personally seen them come over the rails at local piers. Marine Fisheries Enforcement Agents really don't care if you "didn't know" the difference. So, familiarize yourself with these fish and save your money for a new fishing rod!

Tides at New Topsail Inlet

Monday, May 4
TIME TIDE HEIGHT TIDE
4:26 AM EDT 3.00 feet High Tide
11:24 AM EDT -0.03 feet Low Tide
5:08 PM EDT 3.19 feet High Tide

Tuesday, May 5
TIME TIDE HEIGHT TIDE
12:03 AM EDT 0.14 feet Low Tide
5:24 AM EDT 2.90 feet High Tide
12:13 PM EDT -0.09 feet Low Tide
6:00 PM EDT 3.41 feet High Tide

Topsail Beach Weather

Monday; Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High near 80F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Monday night; Thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Tuesday; Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Wednesday; Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 60s.
Thursday; Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.
Friday; Partly cloudy, chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 60s.
Saturday; Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.

Check the right side of this page for pier, tackle shop, and bait information, including phone numbers.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny aka Fishin' Topsail

April 30 Topsail Update

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

Sea View Pier report: "Blues were hitting off and on all day but especially in the late afternoon until dark when everybody was catching all they wanted. Spanish Mackerel did really well today around noon time and in the late afternoon. Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs worked well for both. The Mullet catch was limited mostly to the night when some coolers were filled by lucky anglers."

The other piers, Jolly Roger and Surf City Pier reported essentially the same thing. It seems that spanish are getting bigger, and the blues are moving in more with some really big ones being caught. If the water gets more clear, both the spanish and blue bite should get better. Mullets are hitting at night, with some full coolers reported at Surf City Pier this week. Speckled trout and reds are hit and miss on the inside, but flounder bite is improving and fish are getting bigger. There are some bait fish in the sounds, pin fish are showing up all along the sounds which should mean better fishing for other species if we can keep the pins off our hooks.

NC Angler Message Board is reporting a king was caught today at Ocean Crest Pier, first of the season. Weighed in at 35lbs. Congrats to the angler!

Tides for New Topsail Inlet
Friday
1:14 AM EDT 3.50 feet High Tide
8:31 AM EDT 0.06 feet Low Tide
1:52 PM EDT 2.60 feet High Tide
8:29 PM EDT 0.15 feet Low Tide
Saturday
2:19 AM EDT 3.30 feet High Tide
9:33 AM EDT 0.07 feet Low Tide
3:02 PM EDT 2.73 feet High Tide
9:44 PM EDT 0.20 feet Low Tide
Sunday
3:24 AM EDT 3.13 feet High Tide
10:31 AM EDT 0.03 feet Low Tide
4:08 PM EDT 2.94 feet High Tide
10:57 PM EDT 0.19 feet Low Tide

WECT TV Surf Report
Water temp 67*-70*
Waves 1 to 2 ft
NE-SE Winds 5 to 10 mph

Topsail Beach, NC Weather Forecast: 6:19 PM EDT THU APR 30 2009
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC

TONIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
FRIDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
FRIDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY - Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the lower 60s.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Warmer water=Hotter Fishing around the area!

Hello from Southeast North Carolina, I hope everybody is having a good fishing season so far this year! I’ve had a good one so far myself; the water temps are going up so fast this year. We are two to three weeks ahead on water temps at this time last season. It has showed too; good catch’s of Spanish mackerel in April! On that note let’s talk fishing!

The real winner for me lately has been those Spanish mackerel. My charters have done very good in the last few trips, with catches of thirty or more Spanish in a half day. 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 silver and pink flash. I really like the pink flash series, these spoons have worked very well for my charters. If you would like to go lighter; you can pull small deep diving lures as well.

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. (Hint): keep it to smaller lures when the weather gets hot! We also caught a few Bonita’s mixed in with the Spanish.

There has also been plenty of blue fish up and down the beach as well. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!

Bottom fishing just off the beach has produced some nice Black bass, grunts and small Grouper, of course on the lighter wind days! Jigs and squid are the trick, fishing the squid on simple two hook bottom rigs. Jig fishing using two to five once jigs in colors pink, green and red/white. We are fishing mostly hard and live bottom areas, in the five to ten mile range for the bottom fish.

The flounder bite is picking up some too; we are starting to see a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size. Live bait and grubs are the best bet. Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs. I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.

Red fish have been hit or miss for me lately, some days we get a few some days we don’t. This should change when more live bait shows up in the creeks and channels. What Reds we are getting are hitting fresh bait and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.

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

Spanish Alert!

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

All three piers on Topsail Island are reporting catches of spanish mackerel this weekend! Also are blues on gotcha plugs. Bottom fishing will get black drum and mullets, best bite is at night. The surf fishing has got to pick up soon! Catch 'em up!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
aka FishinTopsail

Topsail Island Fishing Report and Forecast

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

Sea View Pier at North Topsail Beach reports Large Bluefish are now being caught mainly in the morning and using Gotcha plugs. The Mullet bite is slow but steady and a lot of nice sized fish are being caught. Blowfish and Sharks round out the rest of the catch. Sea mullets are still being caught at Surf City Pier, with a few blowfish, sharks, skates, and blues, mostly on bottom rigs, but we are starting to see a few large blues on Gotcha plugs. Jolly Roger Pier reports some nice catches of black drum on cut shrimp, along with a few blues and mullets. The inside bite remains strong, with black drum and red drum bringing most of the action. Spotted sea trout are starting to show a little better, with bigger fish being caught. A few in the three to four pound range are coming from New River, and are moving closer to the New River Inlet.

Topsail Beach Weather Forecast:

Saturday, High 85* Low 59*
Areas of fog in the morning. Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. . . Except around 80 at the beaches. Southwest winds around 5 mph. . . Increasing to south 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. Overnight: clear. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. . . Becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday High 89* Low 59*
Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. . . Except around 80 at the beaches. Southwest winds around 5 mph. . . Increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Overnight: clear. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the upper 50s.

Monday High 85* Low 59* and clear.

Tuesday High 85* Low 59* and clear.

Looks like a fine week for fishing. All this warm weather and full sun should warm the water considerable. Expect the chopper blues and some small spanish to be at the piers soon. Both are already being caught offshore a couple miles from the beach. Small schools of bait fish are being reported at Oak Island and as far north as Wrightsville Beach.

Gear up anglers. They are a coming!

Tides for Saturday

3:10 AM EDT -0.19 feet Low Tide
8:20 AM EDT 2.82 feet High Tide
2:55 PM EDT -0.30 feet Low Tide
8:47 PM EDT 4.00 feet High Tide

Tides for Sunday
3:57 AM EDT -0.23 feet Low Tide
9:06 AM EDT 2.78 feet High Tide
3:39 PM EDT -0.33 feet Low Tide
9:33 PM EDT 4.07 feet High Tide

Tides for Monday
4:46 AM EDT -0.22 feet Low Tide
9:53 AM EDT 2.72 feet High Tide
4:26 PM EDT -0.30 feet Low Tide
10:23 PM EDT 4.03 feet High Tide

Now is the time to reserve a charter before all the good days are filled. Check out these locals.
Family Day on the Water Charters Capt. Chris Medlin of East Coast Sports http://eastcoastsports.com/
Capt. Mike Dennis http://www.capefear-guide.com/
Captain Jot Owens http://www.captainjot.com/
Capt. Brent Stanley http://www.currentadventurecharters.com
Last Resort Charters http://www.lastresortcharters.com/


Catch 'em up! And send proof! Take that picture and email it to us.

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

Surf Fishing at Topsail Beach

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

Hello from Topsail Beach! Donna and I walked over to the beach this afternoon and fished the incoming tide for a couple of hours. Didn't get a bite. Saw no bait in the water, should be here soon. I understand the piers are still catching a few mullet, spot, small flounder, some blues on bottom rigs, and some nice size black drum in the surf area. Weather looks great for the coming week, Should warm the surf considerably. Looking for blues on gotcha plugs when the water clears. Spanish should be here within the next two weeks, if the water warms sufficiently.
The water temp is 64*. The wind is from the SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow's tides are:

TIME TIDE HEIGHT TIDE
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


Catch 'em up!
Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
www.fishintopsail.com
http://www.fishintopsail.com

Surf City Pier Update

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

Hello from Topsail Beach. I fished Surf City Pier today with my fishin' bud Ken. We, or I should say he, caught a bunch of nice virginia mullets. I caught only two, they were nice, but only two. I was fishing about ten feet from Ken, and about ten feet from another friendly angler, (sorry can't remember his name) and both of them were reeling in the sea mullets. The anglers on both sides of me were on fire, hauling in the fish, and I only caught two. You would thing that one of those mullets would have strayed onto my bait, but not today. Fishin' bud Tim Willard cleaned a nice mess of fish he caught last night and this morning, than came back out and caught another bucket full. Everybody was catching fish. But it was a tough morning, with wind blowing out of the south west at 15 to 20 mph and gusting to 30 mph. I couldn't keep my hat on. Bit it was worth the trouble, and I will do it again tomorrow, Lord willing. I don't have a report from the other piers or surf. I will post when I hear something. I ran into my friend Yogi at the pier and got into a conversation about eating catfish. I love catfish, especially channel cats. Cut the fillets into bite size chunks, batter them and fry in hot oil. Serve them up with some home made tarter sauce, cole slaw, taters and hushpuppies! MMMMMMMM!

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny

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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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!

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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

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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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Fishing Topsail Message Board
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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

Bass Pro Shops Online!



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