Capt. David Baxley and wife Tammy

 Fishing Topsail Island, NC and surrounding areas

Hi folks, Capt. David here with this weeks outdoors report.

Last weeks column was missing because one of those afternoon thunderstorms hit a tree beside the house and deep-fried my computer. Anyway, the fish are biting and if you ain't fishing, you are wrong!

Inshore the Redfish are everywhere and the Flounder are plentiful. Now most of the flounder are small, but you can find a keeper. The Reds I've been catching are upper and over slot limit fish and are hanging around the creek mouth's on the falling tide. A fat Finger mullet or Pogey on a Carolina rig will work for all the BIG three: Redfish, Flounder, and Trout. Folks I ain't going to sit here and tell you that you can't catch fish on artificial bait, cause you can! Anything that will work on a Largemouth Bass will catch a big Red! Topwaters, Jigs, Jerkbaits will all catch a fish this time of the year. Just remember that saltwater will rust rubber, so clean your stuff good.

Offshore the fish are biting as well. Kings are from the beach on out, with the 45-60 foot depths being the hotspots. Spanish Mackeral are just behind the breakers in the morning and will tear a Clark spoon up. The Silver King is here as well, yes folks you heard me right, Tarpon are running the beach's now. If you plan on fishing for them the best thing to do is be outside the inlet, running the beach at daylight. Oh, bring your "A" game when you do! They ain't the Silver King for nothing.

The ledges and reefs are giving a lot of Black Bass and Snappers and farther out the Grouper bite has been good! Ain't caught none, guess you ain't on the right ledge. Folks I can't tell you enough, if you ain't catching fish, MOVE! 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. Don't waste your time sitting somewhere all day and come home with nothing. It's hard to explain to the better half why you need a boat when you ain't catching fish!

On the other side, bow season starts the 13th of Sept. and Dove season comes in Labor day weekend. So let the games begin. Hot diggity dog! I'm as excited as a Beagle in a brier patch and my stuff is ready.

Well thats about it for this week so remember, take a kid with you and be safe!

Capt. David

About the author: Capt. David Baxley  Lifetime sportsman and fisherman. Fishing Topsail area for 13 years. Full time charter fishing guide specializing in Red drum and Flounder. Light tackle,shallow water,live bait fishing. Owner of Headhunter Outdoors Fishing Charters at Topsail Phone 910-329-0818.  Visit Davids web site at http://www.headhunteroutdoors.com/.