Southport/Oak Island – July 2025
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers are catching sheepshead while targeting structure with live fiddler crabs.
Flounder are being caught everywhere, and early morning anglers are catching a few speckled trout.
Those fishing from the surf are having success bottom fishing for whiting.
Rob, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that anglers looking to surf fish in these hotter summer months need to get out early before the crowds hit the beach. Those out at sunrise are having some success casting to spanish mackerel. As the sun moves up, bottom fishing takes over, with whiting and croakers making up the catch.
Inshore anglers are finding red drum, with better action on lower tides. Cut mullet or Z-Man soft plastics are the top producers.
Black drum are around for those fishing with shrimp.
Anglers running off the beach are catching a mix of bluefish and spanish mackerel. Getting out early is key in finding the fish on top. As the sun gets high, the fish are deeper.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports a steady shallow water red drum bite, with most catches in the 18-35” range. Fishing topwater plugs, such as Rapala Skitter Walks, has been the favorite choice.
When the sun is higher or fish aren’t biting, live or cut menhaden fished on the bottom usually produces fish.
Live baits (both menhaden and mullet) are catching flounder.
While speckled trout are around, most are in the main river and seeking relief from the heat.
Cody Shumate, of Southport, caught (and released) this 7 lb., 26″ flounder in the Cape Fear River on a live bluefish.
Steve, of Reel Em Up Charters, reports that spanish mackerel and king mackerel are off the beach, with live menhaden producing the bigger fish. Some schools of bigger red drum are out there as well.
Inshore anglers are fishing deeper areas and ledges in the creeks for slot-sized red drum, with bycatch being flounder and speckled trout. Lower tides are best, especially in areas where smaller feeder creeks push into bigger water.
Black drum are being caught on live shrimp or whole fresh shrimp. Target holes around structure and near creek mouths.
Connor DiMauro, of Wilmington, with an over-slot red drum caught on a jerkbait in the Southport area.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been happy that bait is finally around in good numbers.
King mackerel and spanish mackerel are scattered off the beach in the 30-50’ depth range. Live bait fishing is best, as it can help target both the bigger spanish and the king mackerel bite.
The cobia bite nearshore has mostly faded away, with anglers finding most of the catches to be around structure further offshore and on the bottom (in the 25-30 mile range).
If out on deeper structure, there is also the chance of finding a stray mahi or two as they scatter inside of the break into depths as shallow as 70’ over the next month or two.
Lots of red drum are being caught inshore by those using little finger mullet and “peanut” sized menhaden on Carolina rigs or under slip corks. With the water heating up and sending these fish looking for relief, docks with deeper water or deeper holes with structure are the favorite target areas.
There are also plenty of speckled trout, which has been a good sign since most anglers aren’t even targeting them. Live bait under slip corks has been the setup that is best at producing trout bites.
Black drum fishing has been decent when fishing deeper structure with live shrimp. Of course, the pinfish and other bait stealers are around in large numbers, but once you hook a black drum, you usually don’t need to weed through the bait stealers as much.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that nearshore trips are producing bluefish, spanish mackerel, and sharks.
The beachfront king mackerel bite should continue as long as calmer weather holds.
Tarpon are in the area when the right conditions are present.
The gag grouper season was an overall success, with plenty of fish caught in the 50-100’ range.
Offshore (80-120’+) bottom fishing should produce scamp and strawberry grouper.
In these hotter months, anglers will find scattered mahi and cobia in the 20-25 mile range.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been productive, with catches of croakers, sharks, and stingrays.
Andrew, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers casting plugs are catching bluefish and some spanish mackerel, while bottom fishing efforts are producing the typical summer catches of whiting, croakers, and small sharks.
