July in Topsail is HOT. Not just Ehhhhhh, it’s kinda warm, but “open the gates of hell and singe your eyebrows off” hot. Some fishing tends to slow down but other types tend to speed up.
Surf fishing during the day starts to get a little slow but as long as you have some cold beverages and some good sunscreen, the chance of catching fish can be just the distraction you need. Instead of working hard trying to catch a fish out of the surf during the heat of the day, wait until the kids go to bed and the air cools through the night.
Many fish, including red drum, black drum, spots and speckled trout, bite much better after the sun goes down. Make sure you get some small chem lights to tape on the end of your surf rods so you can see if the fish are biting. Remember that in the summer, the nighttime is the right time.
Soundside, you will want to be out a little earlier than usual to find those reds on the flats. If you like flounder you will want to fish deeper during the day or try the nearshore reefs like AR-360 or the weather buoy. Sheepshead will be chewing on the bridges. The Hwy 172 bridge as well as the drawbridge and the 210 high rise will be great areas to catch some nice fish.
Ladyfish will be out in full force in July. I love targeting these guys around the bridges at night where there is lots of swift current and shrimp. If you have ever been out in the sound at night and heard something like someone dropping large rocks in the water than you have been in the presence of ladyfish. These bruisers love to eat fast moving baits like the white Rapala X-Rap or live shrimp fished crosscurrent. While they are not much for table fare, this author likes catching them more than speckled trout.
Offshore the sails will be pushing up close to the beach. There are plenty of sails caught within sight of the beach every year. Kings will be biting well but you will need to be getting deeper for them in July as it is so hot. The mahi will be in full force as well from 5 miles out. Every now and then one gets caught on the pier and, as warm as it has been so far, I would not discount that happening this year.
Stay cool and drink lots of fluids.
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