Topsail Angler

As much as I enjoy fishing the Topsail area, occasionally I like to try other areas. This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit Oriental, N.C. and fish the Neuse River.

While it is very nice up there, the fishing is quite different. No tides, no sand shoals and no oyster bars. Other than a few obvious spots (bridges and some rickrack) I wasn't sure where to fish. I did manage a few small puppy drum and I'm sure if I put the time in I'd learn the spots. But like they say, there's no place like home! I'm glad to be back fishing the familiar waters of Topsail!

Anglers have been hooking up Blue Marlin and a few White Marlins this past week with plenty of sailfish also being caught. One captain told me it was the best bite of the season so far and that he expected it would continue on into next week. So if you are looking for a billfish, this might be the week. You'll have to travel to the 100-fathom line to fine the Marlins but if you want to save some gas, sailfish are being caught in as close as five miles.  

The grouper bite has been good in the 20 to 40 mile range with gags, scamps and red grouper being caught. I've seen some nice reports of Wahoo in that range as well as some mahi. Closer in the kings and some mahi continue to chew. The king bite is moving closer and closer to the beach as the bait along the shoreline increases. A few citation kings were caught last week in the 12-miles range with the closer areas producing smaller fish. 

Near the inlets the Spanish bite continues to be there one day and gone the next.  However if you want a shot at a citation size Spanish (six pounds and up) try live bait around Diver's Rock and other structure a few miles from New River Inlet. A few have been caught there this past week.

Vinita at Surf City Pier reports a mixed bag of fish. While the bite has been slow some spots and mullets have been caught and an occasionally black drum or sheepshead has made it over the rail. Jolly Roger and Sea View pier report similar action.

The sounds and waterway are producing some nice flounder and drum. Live bait is working best on the flounder right now with small menhaden and finger mullet being the best choices. The drum are hitting topwater lures as well as natural baits. The speckled trout bite on live shrimp in the New River area has been strong. 

Summertime fishing is often a hurry and wait game but the fish are there so be patient and be willing to go on the hunt

Tight lines to all!

Mike Becker is an area angler who publishes a fishing blog on-line at topsailangler.com