topsail beach Fishing Report 2025

Saturday, July 14th, 2012

Good evening everyone. We departed earlier this evening for our second annual Optima charter with Garth and his best of buddies. We loaded up on some bait that doesn't look all that stellar but maybe after it settles down, they'll turn into some champions. Anyhow, we're on our way down to try our hand at some Bluefin tuna offshore and some Yellowtail on kelps. Apparently, the Yellowtail are growing a little bit, if you can locate the right kelp as one of our code boats did, and caught some 'tails in the 15-22 lb. range. Regardless, we'll be looking first thing tomorrow morning and we'll try to make a day of it. Our weather is beautiful and we're looking for more. Wish us luck.

Lifting one of these fish completely off the deck after the long battle may be the toughest part ! Another amazing day of local big fish for captain Matt and the guys. 35 anglers. 20 bluefin tuna. Same tackle suggestions as earlier posts. If you do not own a 2 speed reel. Please rent one from Seaforth Sportfishing when you check in for the trip in the morning.

Nov. 10

No fishing today - it was all catching. Wide open dorado, yellowfin, and 30 plus wahoo. Did not matter what you cast into the ocean - sardines, maggie bay mackeral, wahoo iron and bombs - it was all awesome.Big dorado of the 30 lb variety, wahoo up to 40 lb and 15 to 30 lb yellowfin. Constant "catching" all day with only breaks to tie on new hooks and leaders. The crew show'd their experience as 17 anglers, all hooked up at the same time with flying dorado all over the place, untangled, gaffed and tagged with seamless ease. Everyone is tired and happy and settling in after a fine dinner of seared wahoo with mango ginger sauce, risotto followed by blackberry pie ala mode. Whats next? Heading after big tuna tomorrow and hoping for more of the same. A big hello to Terra and Finn. and also a big hello to Allison from Jim.

O.T.R. Lon Mikkelsen