[Topsail Angler]

The wife and I decided to go tent camping on Hugh Taft Island (between Lea and Figure 8 islands) last night. It was very windy but we had a great time. I surf cast last night but didn't have much luck, a small shark and a ray. I got up early this morning, fixed coffee, pancakes and bacon, then shoved off to fish for a few hours while the wife went to the beach.

The drum bite was on! I boated a total of 10 drum in less than 2 hours. All in the 19 -25 inch range. I had 3 pulled hooks near the boat too. And all on my little speck rig, think I may have to check those drag washers..... It was a blast! I caught them on the marsh banks using Gulp! 3" pogies in the new penny color. Finally quit and went flounder fishing cause my arm was tired..... Caught two of those, a 17" and a 16".

Here's a sampling of the pictures

Then I headed back the beach and was treated to a show from my dog, Star and a crab she had cornered on the sand.

All in all, it was a great trip!

 

[Dave B.]

Good job! perfect size drum too.
Love the dog/crab standoff pic!!

Wait,, did you say GULP bait???

 

[surffishn]

Great Report and Pics too.I once read somewhere they had a tourny for drum with the most spots.That first pic would have to be in the money.

 

[fojoloy]

Mike--- Gotta love that pic of Star and crab. She definitely has done much back tracking. Looks like a hundred dogs have been walking behind her.

Later, Forrest

 

[Topsail Angler]

For a while it was a classic stand-off, they did a lot of sideways and circles - neither wanted to leave. Here's a couple more shots.

 

[sinker man]

Mike, you seem to have the drum and flounder all hemmed up. After last winter I was kinda expecting to hear of some nice trout to go with them. I haven't heard much about trout this year. Does that translate into some awesome fall fishing? I'm hoping so.

 

[Dave B.]

Wonder how that crab woulda done on the end of a hook??

 

[Topsail Angler]

Mike, you seem to have the drum and flounder all hemmed up. After last winter I was kinda expecting to hear of some nice trout to go with them. I haven't heard much about trout this year. Does that translate into some awesome fall fishing? I'm hoping so.

I haven't targeted trout much this summer. They are around but my summer order of preference for sound side fishing is Drum, flounder, sheephead, specks. That all changes in the fall, specks move up the list. Then in the winter it pretty much is specks and drum. I was tempted yesterday to go after some specks so I could lay claim to a "slam", but had to get home and do some chores

 

[Topsail Angler]

Wonder how that crab woulda done on the end of a hook??

I thought the same thing but didn't have the heart to take it away from Star. And besides, I had already hauled my surf gear back to the boat on the sound side.

 

[pier dweller]

Hey Mike!! you think you could save a couple of those pups for when I get down there? LOL Sounds like you and the madam had a great trip. Congrats on the fish.
You're making me want to call in for work.L.O.I. Lack Of Interest!!!

 

[backlash]

Nice Catch. I'm gettin the fever to get back to the water.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Hey Mike!! you think you could save a couple of those pups for when I get down there? LOL Sounds like you and the madam had a great trip. Congrats on the fish.
You're making me want to call in for work.L.O.I. Lack Of Interest!!!

No problem, I put 9 of them back in for ya

L.O.I.....hahaha....I like that one!

 

[nocobia]

I'll bet you had a blast out there. I love catching puppy drum on light tackle. Strong fish.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Well I hate to admit it but yesterday (July 29th, one week after above catches) I got skunked! Fished from 6:30 in the morning to noon on the incoming tide - nada except a 10" flounder I brought to the side of the boat and released. I did see one other boat catch one drum but that was it