Topsail Angler's Fishing Blog
Fall fishing has arrived
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Fall is in the air. Feel it? Cooler temperatures, first at night then the days begin to cool down too. With those cooling temperatures come some rain and thunderstorms. But generally the weather is mild barring a major storm.
As the water temperatures begin to fall up north, the fish migrate south to warmer waters. Species like Spanish mackerel, Atlantic Pompano, blues, spots and others make a visit here on their way south. Some of these species have been here all summer but really show up in big numbers this time of year.
The cooler temperatures are also a lot easier on the angler. While there is still plenty of sunshine to enjoy it’s not as hot and muggy. In fact the crispness of the morning air is a welcome feeling to most of us about this time of year. Even without the great fishing, there is something special about being out on the water in the fall, it is refreshing!
Catching report
Inshore activity is really picking up now that the storms have moved out and the water has cleared up.
Spot are being caught on the piers “two at a time” with a few being caught in the waterway near the inlets with blood worms working best. The pompano are chewing on fresh shrimp and sand fleas. Some nice one to two pounders are being caught in the surf and on the pier. Plenty of black drum and croakers are being caught on the piers using shrimp pieces.
Speckled trout are in the surf and can be found near the marsh grass and in creeks and ditches near the inlets as well. They are biting well on live shrimp but gulp! Artificial bait and a variety of lures are working well. Big drum are still being caught in the surf and around the shoals, try some cut mullet for good results. Puppy drum are still biting in the waterway. Finger mullet and small menhaden are working well but some anglers are having good results on top water lures and spinner baits.
The Spanish mackerel bite has been very hot near the inlets and beaches with the best bite in the early morning and late afternoon. Clark spoons and diamond jigs are working well. Get them now as they will be moving south soon. Plenty of blue fish are also being caught.
Kings are being caught offshore but should be moving in close to the beach as the water clears up from the storms and the bait returns. Offshore the mahi bite is moving back out closer to the gulf stream. Good catches of wahoo and tuna are also being reported.
Tight lines and hope you catch ‘em up!
Topsail Island Fishing Report
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Spots, Spots. I’m seeing spots.
‘Bout now you can hear those words from folks up and down Topsail Island. They are of course referring to the fish by that name. This tasty pan sized fish is a favorite with locals and visitors alike, many claiming they would just as soon eat a spot as a steak.
A friend of mine that works at Surf City pier says this time of year, 9 out of 10 phone calls are folks wanting to know if the spots are biting.
The fish get their name from the distinctive black spot just behind their gill. The fish looks similar to a croaker but have little barbell-like bumps under their chins, are smoother and wider, and have forked tails. Like a croaker, when caught the spot will make a croaking sound but usually softer and less frequently.
An occasional spot will be caught about anytime in the summer and fall. However this month is prime time for the little fish. They are caught from ocean piers, the surf and on the sound side from boats and the shore.
They often travel in large schools. At times you can fill a cooler full of the tasty fish in a short period. Other times, the bite can be, well, spotty.
Blood worms and shrimp pieces are two of the best natural baits. “Fish Bites” is a favorite artificial used to catch this fish. In either case, use a two hook bottom rig with a pyramid sinker is most often used. When the bite is hot, anglers will pull the fish up two at a time!
Hampstead holds the annual “North Carolina Spot Festival” each September. This year is the 45th festival and is being held September 27th & 28th. The festival is held in Hampstead off of Hwy 17 on the southbound side about a quarter mile south of the intersection with 210 west.
In addition to plenty of spot dinners – spot, French fries, slaw and hush puppies – there is plenty to do at the festival. Featured are musical performances, arts and crafts, static displays, and many vendors that are out supporting our community. All proceeds go to benefit local schools and volunteer fire departments. For more info visit their website, http://www.ncspotfestival.com/
Catching report
Fall fishing is really starting to kick in! Vinita Gass, manager of the Surf City Pier, often is heard in the summer saying, “we are catching lots of different fish, just not a lot of any one kind.” This week her report was a harbinger that fall fishing has arrived, “we are catching lots of EVERYTHING” she said.
All three piers are reporting that Spanish, blues, pompano, sheepshead, flounder and others are coming onto the planks in good numbers. The spot bite is starting to pick-up and should be in full force soon. There have been plenty of kings caught in the past week or so with a number of them in the 30 pound class.
Inshore the drum bite has been good with mullet and small menhaden doing the trick for live bait anglers. The top water action has been very good as well especially around the marsh grass on either side of high tide. The Speck bite at the north-end of the island and in the New River has been good with live shrimp being the bait of choice for many but soft plastics and scented baits are working well too.
I don’t anything to report offshore this week as the wind has been howling and not many boats made it out.
Tight lines to all!
Fishing report Sept 16
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The inshore water clarity is about normal for this time of year but the water in the first few miles off the beach is a milky green but is improving. Offshore the water is clear and very blue!
Up at the north end of the island, the specks and drum are chewing and some nice flounder too. There is plenty of bait in that water which usually means your best bet is to use some live mullet, menhaden or shrimp for bait. The specks in the river are running in the 1-3 pound size and are around the mouths to the creeks and on up to Wilson Bay. A few larger ones have also been caught this week. The reds have been hitting on top water plugs in the shallow grassy areas on the flood tide as well as on live bait about anytime.
The piers are reporting good catches of blues and Spanish in the mornings. The pompano bite has been good at times, especially in the daytime and on sand fleas and shrimp. A few sheepshead and flounder are being caught near the pilings. Night time fishing is producing some black drum a few small mullets, not many spots yet. A few kings have been caught this week too.
There has been some nice over-the-slot sized drum being caught in the surf. The best location has been Lea Island. The shoals around Rich’s inlet have been good as well.
Offshore the Wahoo bite has been hot in the 30 – 50 miles range with a few being taken closer in. Some small black fin tuna were caught this past week. The mahi bite continues to be strong from 20 miles and out with many bailers and a few nice gaffers being caught. The kings are scattered and can be found in the 10 – 30 mile range. A few have been caught closer in but the inshore bite isn’t strong yet.
Tight lines to all!
Topsail’s Piers & a catching report
Thursday, August 28, 2008
A long held tradition on our coast is the public fishing pier. Usually the piers are privately owned but available for all to enjoy. The ocean piers on Topsail Island provide easy access to deeper water and a wider variety of fish. And to be honest, they just plain make fishing easier.
Growing up in this area, like many of the local youths, I learned to ocean fish on our piers. It wasn’t till much later that I had the opportunity to fish from a boat. We would show up in early afternoon, plunk down our money for a ticket and some bait and then proceed to fish to our hearts content. Often we fished through the night and into the wee hours of the morning.
A while back, a friend and I were trying to remember all the names of the piers from over the years. We counted at least seven that have made home on Topsail Island at various times. I think I have fished on most of them at one time or another.
The recent boom in beach development has left many of North Carolina’s beach communities without a public fishing pier. The land is often “worth” more developed for residential use than for commercial purposes. We are very fortunate on Topsail Island to still have three ocean piers, one in each of the three townships.
Located in North Topsail Beach, Seaview pier is the newest pier on Topsail Island. With a pier length of 1000 feet, they also have the longest pier on the island. Their fully stocked tackle shop offers fresh bait for sale and rod rental. Their restaurant will cook your catch for you right on the spot for a small charge. They charge $8.00 for a day pass and offer a discount for military personnel.
The Surf City Ocean Pier is located just over the bridge to the right. Originally built in 1948, it was the first pier on Topsail Island. The structure was completely rebuilt after Hurricane Fran destroyed it in 1997. The 937 foot long fishing pier is owned and operated by the Lore family and features a 40 foot octagon with a live well tank at the end for King Mackerel fishing. The pier house is well stocked with tackle and bait. They have a grill with screened in dining and also will cook your catch for you. The fishing fee is $7.00 per rod for a twenty-four period.
Topsail Beach is home to the Jolly Roger Fishing Pier. Built around 1954 and currently owned and operated by the Orr family, this pier is also a landmark amongst fisherman. The pier is about 880 feet long and offers a grill for hot food and plenty of snacks and drinks. The have a well stocked tackle shop and carry a variety of baits. The cost to fish is $11 per person with each angler allowed two poles. Children under fourteen years of age are charged half price.
All three piers have a “blanket” fishing license so individuals do not need a saltwater license to fish from the pier. However this year you will need one to fish from the surf, sound side or in a private boat. They can be purchased at most of the area’s tackle shops.
Catching report:
The best way to describe the fishing this past week is “typical summer mixed bag”. Or as a friend put it, “ a lot of different fish being caught but not a lot of any one fish”.
In the surf, some pompano and drum are being caught with an occasional flounder. The piers report a mix of Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and flounder being caught with an occasional speck. A few kings have been caught also and that action should be heating up as fall approaches and more bait is along the beaches.
The marsh banks and creeks are producing some nice red drum on the flood tide stage. Try some finger mullet, small menhaden or Berkley gulp jerk baits. Some nice keeper size flounder are being taken but most anglers are throwing back two or three undersize fish for every keeper they catch.
Off shore fisherman are reporting king mackerel being caught from 10 miles out with smaller ones along the beach and near shore ledges. They are also picking up some nice mahi further out. Gag grouper have started their move inshore for the spawn with keeper size fish being caught inside of 20 miles this past week.
I hope you have an enjoyable Labor Day week-end and tight lines to all!
Mike Martin Annual Pier Tournament
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Surf City Ocean Pier is hosting the 4th annual Mike Martin Fishing tournament next week-end (August 16th and 17th). The tournament is named in memory of their former manager who died suddenly. Actually Mike had conceived the idea of an August tournament and the first one was in the planning stages when he passed. Vinita Gass the current managed picked up the torch and as they say the rest is history.
The competition begins at 6am on Saturday and runs till noon on Sunday. There are 10 categories of fish ranging from spots to kings. Each category cost $5 to enter or you can enter all 10 for $35. Last year no one weighed in a speckled trout so Edwin Lore, the owner of the pier, decided to carry it forward this year and add it to the prize money. So this year the heaviest speckled trout pays $1,000. Each of the other categories pay $100 for first place and $50 for second place.
They also have a special division for children 12 and under. This is usually the highlight of the tournament for many of us. Just seeing the excitement on the faces of those kids will keep me going for days. If you have children, this tournament is a must for your family!
They have over 40 door prizes including a week-end get-a-way for two, a fishing trip for two on the Vonda Kay, meals from area restaurants, plenty of fishing gear and many other items. They will be giving these away through out the tournament.
You are allowed to fish as many or as few of the available hours as you wish. Of course all fish entered must be caught on the pier, so buy your ticket and come on down and fish! The awards ceremony is at 2PM on Sunday.
Catching report
The catching has been slow this week with a typical mixed bag of croaker, spots, Spanish, flounder and some specks being caught near shore. Small kings are being caught about everywhere, real small ones. The bigger ones seem to be further off shore. The billfish bite has been decent with marlins and sails being caught.
Tight lines and catch ‘em up!