Recreational Fishing Reports

October 20, 2024

Ocean

Fishing was once again limited due to unfavorable weather days. On the few days that were favorable, offshore anglers out of Hatteras caught limits of Dolphin including citation size specimens, along with a few Wahoo and King Mackerel. Billfish catch and release action remains good with mostly sailfish. Nearshore activity remains low & uneventful.  

Offshore success via Oregon Inlet produced Dolphin, both Black and Yellowfin Tuna caught in moderation, and a few scattered Wahoo. Nearshore anglers had their catch dominated by citation-size Bluefish, low-moderate amounts of Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel, and Little Tunny (false albacore).

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

Fishing from Hatteras Northward to Oregon Inlet yielded very high numbers of large size Bluefish, Sheepshead, and moderate amounts of over-slot Red Drum. Anglers fishing from Oregon Inlet Northward to the Virginia continued to catch limits of Spotted Seatrout with relative ease along with moderate amounts of Bluefish, Red Drum, Striped Bass, and Blue Catfish. 

Pier/Beach

Northern Dare County beach fishing produced high numbers of Red Drum on a daily basis with most of them being over-slot giants. Moderate amounts of Spotted Seatrout along with low amounts of Spot, flounder, Pigfish, Pinfish, Silver Perch, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Kingfish (sea mullet). 

September 23, 2024

Ocean

As weather conditions improved, offshore fishing results did, as well. Anglers targeting Vermillion Snapper and Gray Triggerfish in deeper waters caught their limits of the fish. There were notable catches of amberjacks have been, as well.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

Anglers fishing in the inlets had better catches as weather conditions improved. Those targeting Red Drum reported great success. There were also some nice spotted seatrout.

Piers/Beach

Pier fishing improved with the weather conditions. Anglers reported good catches of Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish. 

October 20, 2024

Ocean

Fall Wahoo fishing has been fantastic when the weather permits offshore. Along with the great Wahoo catches, anglers are also releasing good numbers of sailfish as well. Along the beaches, where most of the fishing activity took place last week due to unfavorable sea conditions, anglers reported great fall fishing with schools of hungry Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and Little Tunny. The King Mackerel fishing seemed to slow some but there still are some around as the beach water temperatures are still around 70 degrees. Large bull Red Drum are being caught along the Brunswick County beaches by anglers fishing bait pods just off the beaches.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

Inshore, fishing has been really good. The Spotted Seatrout are starting to show up throughout the area with some anglers catching limits. Good numbers of slot-size Red Drum are also being caught in the same general locations. The Cape Fear River has been good for both the drum and the trout with both species of fish being caught from the mouth of the river all the way up to downtown Wilmington. Sheepshead and Black Drum are being caught around area bridges, docks, and jetties and again the fishing last week was good for these as well. 

Piers/Beach

Last week, area piers saw a great week of fishing. The pompano catches took off last week and anglers who targeted them when they were moving through had some outstanding catches, landing fish in the 2-to-5-pound range. Along with the pompano, anglers also had good catches of kingfish (sea mullet), Spot, Bluefish, Red Drum, and Black drum. Spanish Mackerel fishing was good when the weather conditions were favorable, and a few King Mackerel were decked last week as well. Surf fishing was good, with anglers catching good numbers of pompano, slot size Red and Black Drum, Bluefish and plenty of kingfish.