Topsail Island Fishing Tutorials & How-To Guides

Illustration of how to tie a Double-Hook Bottom Rig for surf fishing on Topsail Island.

Published On: July 7, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 118

Illustration of how to tie a North Carolina Surf Float Rig for surf fishing on Topsail Island.

Blog / How To / Knots & Rigs / Local Focus / Surf Fishing / Sustainable Fishing

How to Tie a North Carolina Surf Float Rig: Suspend Baits and Beat the Crabs

Published On: July 2, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 88

Illustration of a dropper loop fishing knot and high-low surf fishing rig with hooks, sinker, and leader line used for targeting pompano, sea mullet, and other North Carolina coastal species from the beach or offshore structure.

Blog / How To / Knots & Rigs / Local Focus / Surf Fishing

How to Tie a Dropper Loop: The Ultimate Surf and Bottom Fishing Rig Guide

Published On: June 30, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 146

Freshly harvested sand fleas (mole crabs) on the wet shoreline of Topsail Island beside a surf fishing rod and bait rig, demonstrating one of the most effective natural baits for pompano, sea mullet, and red drum fishing.

Blog / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Lures & Bait / Surf Fishing

How to Catch and Rig Sand Fleas: The Best Surf Fishing Bait on Topsail Island

Published On: June 25, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 251

Angler throwing a cast net in the Topsail Island backwaters to catch live bait fish such as finger mullet and menhaden, with the Surf City high-rise bridge and coastal marsh habitat in the background.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait / Skills & Techniques

How to Catch Live Bait on Topsail Island: The Ultimate Cast Net Guide

Published On: June 23, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 173

Children enjoying shore-based fishing near Topsail Island at family-friendly fishing spots including Soundside Park, local piers, and beach access areas.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Local Focus / Surf Fishing

Hooked on Topsail: 5 Easy Shore-Based Fishing Spots for Families

Published On: June 15, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 155

Family enjoying a kid-friendly fishing trip near Topsail Island while watching dolphins and learning about local wildlife from a fishing boat.

Blog / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

Managing the Meltdown: Tips for Keeping Kids Engaged on a Topsail Fishing Boat

Published On: June 12, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 91

An angler holding a copper-colored redfish while learning how to catch puppy drum in topsail marshes during sunset.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Sustainable Fishing

How to Catch Puppy Drum in Topsail Marshes: Inshore Guide

Published On: June 8, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 49

A family on a pontoon boat navigating a sunny, shallow channel on the Topsail Island Intracoastal Waterway, passing close to a red navigation buoy and green channel markers with the Surf City Bridge visible in the background.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques

Navigating Topsail Island: A Beginner’s Guide to Buoys, Shallow Channels, and Boating Etiquette

Published On: June 5, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 155

Live bait vs cut shrimp Topsail surf fishing comparison showing bait options and rigs for catching fish along the beaches of Topsail Island.

Blog / How To / Local Focus / Lures & Bait / Surf Fishing

Live Bait vs Cut Shrimp for Topsail Surf Fishing: The Complete Guide

Published On: June 3, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 135

Angler surf fishing at New River Inlet near Sneads Ferry, North Carolina during sunrise with strong tidal currents, sandy shoreline, and a fishing boat navigating the inlet channel.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques

How to Fish New River Inlet: Sneads Ferry Guide

Published On: May 29, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 287

Kayak angler fishing the shallow marsh waters of Topsail Island, North Carolina while holding a red drum at sunrise with coastal grass, calm backwaters, and fishing gear visible.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Local Focus / Lures & Bait / Sustainable Fishing

The Complete Guide to Kayak Fishing Topsail Island’s Marshes

Published On: May 27, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 109

Infographic explaining what tide is best for fishing around Topsail Island including incoming tide, outgoing tide, high tide, and low tide fishing strategies for coastal species.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques

What Tide Is Best for Fishing? Understanding Tides Around Topsail Island

Published On: May 24, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 193

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Knots & Rigs / Local Focus

Carolina Rig for Saltwater Fishing Around Topsail Island

Published On: May 22, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 181

llustrated fish-finder rig setup for surf and pier fishing showing sinker slide, pyramid sinker, swivel, leader, and circle hook with a Topsail Island pier and beach background.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques / Surf Fishing

Step-by-Step: The Fish-Finder Rig for Surf & Pier Anglers

Published On: May 18, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 226

Large flounder being landed with a net in the shallow marsh waters of Topsail Island

How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Sustainable Fishing

Topsail Island Flounder Fishing: August Season Guide

Published On: May 7, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 76

Angler casting into a green dock light for Speckled Trout at night in Topsail Island

How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

Topsail Island Night Fishing: Piers, Bridges, and Lights

Published On: May 6, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 99

Mahi-Mahi chasing a trolling lure near a weed line offshore Topsail Island

How To / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

The Ultimate Guide to Topsail Island Mahi Fishing

Published On: May 4, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 140

Angler catching a striped sheepshead fish from a skiff near a concrete bridge piling

How To / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

The Ultimate Guide to Topsail Island Sheepshead Fishing

Published On: May 2, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 260

Close-up of a fisherman properly spooling moss green braided line onto a spinning reel under tension in a workshop.

Blog / Gear & Setup / Inshore Fishing

How to Properly Spool Braid on a Spinning Reel

Published On: April 29, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 236

Angler on a dock carefully fighting a jumping redfish using light spinning tackle and a properly set drag.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Skills & Techniques

Playing & Landing Fish Safely on Light Tackle

Published On: April 10, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 227

Blog / How To / Knots & Rigs / Skills & Techniques

Tying the Improved Clinch Knot (Beginner’s Favorite)

Published On: March 30, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 231

Captain Mike Hoffman bass fishing at Sutton Lake

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Sightseeing & Fishing / Sustainable Fishing

Lake Sutton Bass Fishing: Freshwater Charters in SE North Carolina

Published On: March 5, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 246

Blog / How To / Local Guide Resources / Sustainable Fishing

New NC Sheepshead Regulations 2026: Size & Bag Limit Changes

Published On: February 28, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 338

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait / Skills & Techniques

The Spring Outlook: Prepping Your Gear and Calendar for Topsail’s First Big Push

Published On: January 6, 2026By Topsail FishViews: 148

Charter fisherman holding a large winter Redfish in a boat on the foggy Topsail Island sound waters.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait / Skills & Techniques

The Last Cast: Topsail’s Stacked Redfish Winter Tactics Before the New Year

Published On: December 4, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 142

Hooking a live shrimp for speckled trout and redfish bait.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait

Choosing & Hooking Live Shrimp for Specs & Reds Around Topsail Island

Published On: November 2, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 412

Blog / How To / Knots & Rigs / Sustainable Fishing

How to Rig a Slip Float for Inshore Fishing

Published On: October 2, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 406

A flat lay of various fishing gear on a wooden dock with a peaceful body of water and marsh in the background. The gear includes an open tackle box, several different sizes and colors of popping corks (chartreuse, orange, white, and black), and an assortment of live and artificial bait including shrimp and a small fish. In the distance, a redfish's tail is visible breaking the surface of the water, creating ripples. The warm light of a sunset or sunrise illuminates the scene.

Blog / How To / Knots & Rigs / Sustainable Fishing

Beginner’s Guide to Popping Cork Sizes and Colors

Published On: September 23, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 630

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

Speckled Trout Showdown: Top Techniques for Landing Specs in Topsail

Published On: September 13, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 379

An angler in a skiff casts a light tackle spinning rod into the calm backwaters of Topsail Island, surrounded by marsh grass at sunset.

Blog / Gear & Setup / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Skills & Techniques

Inshore Insider: Mastering Light Tackle Techniques in Topsail’s Backwaters

Published On: August 19, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 532

An angler in a small boat is fishing for flounder in the shallow, clear waters of the Intracoastal Waterway near North Topsail, with the coastline and high-rise buildings in the background.

Blog / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips / Local Focus / Sustainable Fishing

Flounder Fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway Near North Topsail

Published On: August 13, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 643

An angler in waders gently releases a red drum back into the calm, shallow waters of a coastal North Carolina marsh at sunset, emphasizing responsible catch and release.

Blog / How To / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

Catch and Release Tips for Sustainable Fishing in Coastal NC

Published On: July 27, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 489

A dramatic sunset over an inshore waterway with a boat and fisherman, as numerous fish leap from the water amidst swirling currents, illustrating a strong outgoing tide and active feeding.

Blog / How To / Local Focus

Understanding Tides and Weather for Inshore Fishing Success

Published On: July 21, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 582

A fisherman proudly displays a large 'doormat' flounder, showcasing a successful catch from a Topsail fishing trip.

Blog / Gear & Setup / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips

Flounder Fanatics: Your Guide to Gigging and Hooking Doormats in Topsail

Published On: July 14, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 573

A redfish being sight fished from a skiff in the clear, shallow waters of Topsail, NC.

Blog / How To / Skills & Techniques

Sight Fishing Secrets: Spotting and Stalking Your Catch in Topsail’s Clear Waters

Published On: June 30, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 345

A young angler on a boat in the waters of Topsail Island successfully lands a large red drum, with a white bucket full of live bait sitting at his feet.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait

Bait School: Choosing and Using the Best Live Baits for Topsail Success

Published On: June 25, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 825

An angler on a full moon fishing trip, silhouetted against the bright moonlight as they cast a line from a boat.

Blog / How To

Full Moon Fishing: Myths, Legends, and Results

Published On: June 19, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 584

A smiling fishing guide and a proud father help a young boy hold up a fish he caught during a guided fishing trip.

Blog / Gear & Setup / How To / Kid-Friendly Fishing Trips

More Than a Catch: What to Expect on Your Guided Fishing Adventure

Published On: June 16, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 594

A Red Drum fish swims in the clear, shallow waters of Topsail, with the words "Topsail.Fish" at the bottom.

Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Lures & Bait / Skills & Techniques

Red Drum Riches: Unlocking the Secrets to Catching Reds in Topsail Sound

Published On: June 12, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 919

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Blog / How To / Inshore Fishing / Local Focus / Skills & Techniques / Sustainable Fishing

Topsail’s Summer Fishing Forecast: What’s Biting and Where to Find Them!

Published On: June 9, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 788

A calm day on the water during a mid-week Topsail fishing charter | Topsail Fish | Topsail Island Fishing Guides | Topsail Island Fishing Captains | Topsail Island Fishing Charters

Blog / How To / Local Focus

Beating the Crowds: The Perks of a Mid-Week Topsail Fishing Getaway

Published On: June 5, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 741

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Blog / How To

From Novice to Angler: Making the Most of Your First Topsail Fishing Charter

Published On: May 29, 2025By Topsail FishViews: 1444

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