Topsail Angler's Fishing Blog
Fishing report 4-22-08
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The old adage that the month of March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” was only half true this year. March roared all the way into April in these parts, at least as far as the marine weather went. Lots of wind, then just as we were sure there could be no more, it blew again.
I spoke to one charter captain that had already canceled 16 trips this year – all in March and early April. It’s a hard way to make a living with weather like we’ve had.
April started the same way. But the past couple of weeks have offered us a few days here and there to get out in the ocean and chase some fish! We have had some “blue bird” days for sure, sunny skies, warm days and little wind!
When the fleet was finally able to get out to the Gulf Stream, they found the Black Fin Tuna chewing and had some nice catches of Wahoo too. Lately the catches have included some nice sized Yellow Fin Tuna and some gaffer size Mahi. I have had good reports from the more southern areas like the Steeples and Black Jack hole. The Reports from the Big Rock area have indicated a lot of grass and green water but that should change as the trade winds shift to be more from the south and southeast.
The grouper bite has been good in the 30 - 40 miles range with plenty of red grouper and some good size gags being taken. The usual mix of bottom fish, pinkies, b-liners, black bass and grunts have been biting as well.
Closer to shore the Bonito have been running strong on the north end of the island with the southern end being left behind so far. The bite has been the best at Diver’s Rock and just south of there. Diver’s rock is about 4 nautical mile from New River inlet on a southeast heading. The action has been more in mid water column so far than on top. Anglers have had the best results from fishing on #2 planers or using their downriggers to get their lures into the 25-30 foot range. A few Spanish mackerel have made an appearance as well. More should be on the way soon.
On the piers and from the surf, the mullet and blues action has been steady. Lots of snapper and taylor sized blues but I heard one report of a nice chopper blue being caught. To get the best results of mullet catches, try to find fresh, local shrimp. By fresh I mean not having been frozen and caught within the past day or two. Sand fleas are working well but to find them you will have to visit the beach areas that were NOT renourished this past winter. On the other hand, the blues will bite about anything you put out there.
Inside the trout are still chewing with the New River producing some nice sized fish. The creeks and waterway are also holding some specks. The reds have moved onto the marsh banks but the bite has been spotty so patience and stealth are the keys.
Spring fishing has SPRUNG! Get out here and catch a few!
Tight lines to all!
A New Addition to the site: Wiki (knowledge base)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
I have just added a Wiki module to the site and have begun to populate it with articles. A Wiki is a type of knowledge base, one of the best known is the online encyclopedia known as Wikipedia. Ours is unique to the Topsail area and fishing. We hope you enjoy it as we expand it from its humble beginnings today to a master resource for our area in the future! A link is on the menu bar or you can click here.
The Bonito have ARRIVED!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Its official, spring fishing has begun! The mullet bite has been strong, plenty of nice speckled trout are being caught in the New River and its creeks and now the Bonito have showed up off of New River Inlet at Divers rock.
Speaking of Bonito, it’s one of my favorite fish and really gets my fishing blood warmed up in the spring. The bonito visit our coast line about this time of year and will stay a few weeks before heading further north.
The best time to target them is early in the morning around first dawn but you can find them at other times too. They usually travel in large schools and often can be seen busting on balls of baitfish at the surface. Quite a sight to behold for a set of winter-fatigued eyes!
Once the water gets above 62, you can start looking for them. They will come very close to the coastline but seem to prefer structure that breaks up the currents. The near shore artificial reefs are a great place to hunt for them. While they do come fairly close to shore it would be rare to be able to catch one from shore or the pier.
They spook fairly easy so you will need to approach them from up current if at all possible and then drift toward them. If they are not on the surface, use your fishfinder in combination with a vertical jigging rig to find them in the water column. Once you have located them and get close enough, they are fairly easy to target. They are a bit leader shy so I use a fluorocarbon leader, never metal or heavy monofilament.
You can fish for them much like you would for Spanish mackerel. I like to use a fast action, light duty rod and reel, much like a flounder or sea trout combo with 10 or 12 pound test line. Many fishermen like to use a light metal jig like a Maria lure or a Lurh Jensen crippled herring to target them on the surface. Anywhere from ½ to 1 ½ ounces usually works well depending on the water conditions. If they are deeper in the water column try using a diving type lure such as the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Deep Diver or pull a Clark spoon on a trolling weight.
The bonito will at first bite seem almost an easy pull, but when the fish realizes it is being pulled away from the school and it will make a FAST run trying to catch up. Then they will begrudge you every inch of line as you reel them in. Once they see the boat it starts all over again, only this time the run isn’t quite as far. Pound for pound they are one of the hardest fighting fish out there. A pure blast on light tackle and a favorite of saltwater fly fisherman!
Catching Report
The Bonito action has started around the Diver’s Rock area and should be showing up at other near shore reefs as well. The Sea Mullet bite remains strong with a mixed bag of sizes. They are biting fresh shrimp real well but some anglers are reporting some of the bigger ones on fresh sand fleas. Vinita Gass, manger of Surf City Ocean Pier, reports good catches on mullet especially at night with some grey trout and a few flounder and puffers being caught as well. The marine weather hasn’t allowed to many trips out to the stream lately but the few days when boats have made it out confirm that the Yellowfin & Blackfin tuna bite is hot and some nice size Wahoo have also been caught.
Tight lines to all!
Photo Credit: Scott Erickson of Surf City holds a nice Bonito he caught while fishing near Diver’s Rock out of New River Inlet. Photo Courtesy of SaltwaterUniversity.com
No Bonito yet
Friday, April 11, 2008
I left this morning at daybreak. The winds finally have laid down (albeit only for a day or so according to the forecast) so I wanted to find out if the temps had warmed enough for the Bonito to have arrived.
I left out of Rich Inlet and my first stop was Figure 8 reef, water temp was 59.8. A little chilly for Bonito but decided to pull some deep divers anyway. Only birds around were a bunch of loons. Nothing, nada.
Left there and tried Dallas Rocks, temp was half a degree COOLER even though I was 4 miles further out. Again tried trolling a few minutes to no avail. Then headed to the first set of box cars, about 8 nautical miles off the beach. Temps were once again only 59.3 and no activity, very little bait.
So I headed home. With only a two foot ground swell, sunny skies and only 5 knot winds it was a pleasant ride and enjoyable morning. Just NO fish.
SST Charts
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
This is the time of year when many offshore anglers start watching the SST Charts (SST=Sea Surface Temp). The data for these charts are obtained through satellites and are computed generated based on that data. The most detailed ones usually carry a fee to view them but many sites offer a free version.
Why SST you ask? Well this time of year offshore fishing is all about temperature. It has little to do with the daily air temps, they haven’t had much chance to effect the water yet. Rather its warm waters of the gulf stream. they start to move closer to shore this time of year and the winds have a tendency to break off or stretch “fingers” and “fists” of warm warm even closer.
Everyone knows that many of the migratory pelagic fish we cherish prefer warm water. But the key here isn’t just finding warm water but finding the Temperature break. That is the place where two bodies of water with slightly different temperatures meet. 1 1/2 to 2 degrees is all it takes. Fish will often “stack” up at these breaks, even with no significant bottom structure beneath them.
So studying the charts, finding a good temp. break and heading for it while watching the surface and the sonar is the strategy of many this time of year. Kings like 66- 68 degree water so look for a temp break in that range, motor to it, look for bait and there you are almost sure to find kings. Troll in a zig zag pattern across the break.
Tuna likely slightly warmer water so look for the 70 - 72 degree breaks.
Here’s some examples of charts & the sites they came from:
