The Carolinas - topsail island help

This is a first post on THT. We are going to topsail island the last week on june staying at the very south end of the island. Taking a 198 DLV carolina skiff with 115 suzuki. I see a boat ramp on the southern end at Crews avenue but cant find any info. If any one has the telephone number and info would be helpful. Any other common ramps/storage and tackle shops that you like would be helpful. Also any good day trips with the wife. Any local advice is much appreciated!!!!

THere is a ramp you can use about 3 miles from the south end of the island. It used to be called Bush's Marine the town owns it now. it is like 5 bucks to put in there. THere is also a free public ramp as soon as you come on the island about 9 miles by water or land.

The best tackle shop is East Coast Tackle you will pass it when you come onto the island. They will have everything you need.

Good day trip would be to ride to Wrightsville Beach and have lunch on the water probably 45 minute ride in the ICW. There are only 1 or 2 resturants in the Topsail area you can go by boat, Sears Landing they have live bands on Sunday after noons outside in the bar area.

Inlet is pretty bad right now but they are dredging it this month so who konws what it will look like in June but hopefully it will be okay.

Hope this helps

Is the bush marina a place where you can rent a slip for a week. Dont know if i will be leaving the boat in the water or takeing it out every time.

Kelly .... if you keep your boat on the trailer. You can launch for FREE at the swing bridge or the high rise bridge, fish different parts of the back waters.
All those bays on either side of the ICW will be holding fish.
Don't forget to book a charter or Captain for hire to learn the area ...... ICM

Yes, Bush's is where they rent wet slips.
The guy that ran it last year was Ron Baxley (sp?) and the number is or was 910-328-2746.
Chris owns East Coast Sports and is pretty well plugged into the local fishing scene. Knows what is biting most days and knows what bait has been used. www.eastcoastsports.com

Is the bush marina a place where you can rent a slip for a week. Dont know if i will be leaving the boat in the water or takeing it out every time.

Forget hiring a guide. PM me for a few spots. Good luck.

never done the pm thing. Help. I do have the maps with AR, bottoms. Also lowrance HDS 8. Give me some help on the PM. Thanks

Click on his name, this will take you to his profile. Then click on Messages it will say send private message, P/M. I fish topsail a lot, mostly offshore in the 15mile range, excellent bottom fishing to be had out there. Cobia should be right along the beach then. X2 on Sears Landing we eat there a lot, great place and friendly atmosphere. Willmington is not to terribly far, about an hour by boat. East Coast will have everything you need and they keep up to date on whats biting and where to go.

As I understand it, you can run out of Riches Inlet now, lot more water than Topsail inlet, ask a local and they can help direct you there (if they haven't gotten Topsail Inlet straight by then). As far as eating locally, you can also tie off behind the assembly building (for a few hours) and walk to Homeport Restaraunt, they have good food and also a bar if you like that kinda thing!

I do appreciate everyones reply. I am only 1 year into the boating and saltwater fishing. So far i enjoy it more than the fresh water but cant fish it enough to really learn what i need to. I have done some sound fishing and trolled for spanish at Holden beach with good luck. My goal is to go out 10 miles or so on a good day and bottom fish which i belive is doable in my boat. Only having 1 motor to me limits the distance. At the end on june me and wife and another couple will be on topsail. Me and buddy will probably be fishing every day for at least a little while. Hopefully i will run into some of yall then. Thanks.

How are the house rentals on the canals? Is the flounder fishing good in October? Haven't been to Topsail since the teen years and use to love the surf fishing there. Now older and have a boat, would like to check the area for some flatties.

I have a 238 DLV with a 150 fourstroke. Just keep your outboard serviced regularly and you should be fine with a suzuki fourstroke. I fish out to about 20miles, I have Sea Tow as well. Just make sure that you keep a check on the weather online to ensure you have a good weather window. Fryingpantower.com is a good place to check weather forecast and a great place for more fishing info. A bunch of good people on there. Check it out you wont be sorry. I have only been fishing for 4 years down there and have learned a bunch, and I am hooked, just started bottom fishing in the last couple of years, and didnt know what I was missing. Usually just trolled for spanish and blues around the inlets and AR's. There are plenty of places close to topsail inlet that offer plenty of structure for bottom fishing. 6-8 Mile range.

Tight Lines

Pm sent Kelly. I'm like you when it comes to experience and getting into bottom near/offshore fishing. Letus know how you do!

There are a lot of bottom fishermen on Frying Pan web site, and a great bunch that will really help from showing you how to buddy boating to helping you find spots. Great group.
There are also several very, very good charter captains for bottom fishing and they will go on your boat to show you how to do it on your sled.
Tight lines and be safe going in and out of NTI. It can get very dicey. If you ever think that it will be bad when you are coming in, don't even try it. Every year there are boats that flip in the inlet. Go down and run in Masonboro. Yes, longer ride, more fuel, but very safe with the jetties.

Off Topsail there is a very good amount of bottom structure. Pick up a Maps Unique chart and look at all the live bottom. You can also get their numbers electronically so you can put them into your chartplotter. Well worth the $$.

pm sent redfish44