Southport/Oak Island – October 2025
TJ, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching red drum, flounder, whiting, and croaker while bottom fishing.
Casting jigs, spoons, or plugs from the beach to fish breaking on bait balls is producing bluefish and spanish mackerel, and speckled trout are being caught best in the early mornings, both from the sand and the piers.
Off the beach, bull red drum are being caught around bait balls and over nearshore structure, and trolling and casting efforts are producing spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some false albacore.
The king mackerel bite will show up along the beachfront in early October.
Inshore, flounder anglers are finding success fishing both live baits or soft plastics on jig heads.
The red drum are grouping up, and they are staged in areas where bait movements are plentiful. Black drum are in these same areas, but they are mostly hitting live or cut shrimp.
Speckled trout are biting in the early morning on both live bait under corks or topwater plugs, and anglers are catching sheepshead with live crabs fished around larger, hard structures and old docks.
Donna, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf anglers are catching keeper-sized flounder and spanish mackerel.
Local piers are seeing the same, but they are also catching black drum, sheepshead, and the occasional pufferfish.
With the bait starting its annual migration to the ocean, inshore anglers are catching red drum, flounder, and scattered speckled trout. These top three species are all holding in similar areas, such as along grass lines, near creek mouths, or over shell bottoms.
Off the beach, schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish are around the many bait balls.
The king mackerel bite should pick up, as these fish are pushing inshore as a result of the cooler water temps and abundance of bait.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore trips are targeting big red drum (30-40”), king mackerel, and larger spanish mackerel.
The kings and bigger spanish mackerel will be coming into the area in full force when the water temperatures drop to around 72 degrees.
Anglers targeting red drum off the beach are finding pods and schools under birds feeding on bait. The pods will also have sharks underneath, so be prepared to drop down a live bait rigged on heavier tackle. Anglers are also having success with the red drum when bottom fishing around nearshore structure.
Speckled trout fishing is picking up, especially on the cooler mornings. Live shrimp or topwater baits are the best producing baits.
Justin Holland, of Oak Island, caught this 30.8 lb. king mackerel a few miles off Oak Island on a live pogie.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that the red drum activity is picking up as these fish group up and hang around areas with a concentration of mullet running through. Look towards the larger banks, open water, and in areas closer to the inlets. Both cut and live mullet fished on the bottom is a good tactic.
The topwater bite for speckled trout has improved moving into fall. If fishing past early hours, a D.O.A. soft plastic and lighter jig head can help stay on the action.
The bull red drum bite is starting to show. These citation fish usually appear first in the river before working out the inlet and setting up off the beach around structure and bait.
Spanish mackerel and king mackerel are showing up in good numbers nearshore. Sight-cast around the bait balls, while also leaving a free-lined live mullet out if bottom fishing for the trophy reds.
Steve, of Reel Em Up Charters, reports that red drum and flounder fishing has been excellent in the river and adjacent creeks. Bait is plentiful and has these fish getting really aggressive in their feeding cycles.
Red drum can be found best as the tide falls. Look around creek mouths and in holes deeper into the creeks, and the best bait has been live mullet.
Flounder are holding around docks and grass banks.
Off the beach, there are over-slot red drum (to 36”+) staged up around structure or with bait balls.
Pulling spoons will get the spanish mackerel in the area to strike, but a live bait usually produces the larger fish (to 6 lbs.).
David Belk, of Charlotte, landed this 36″ scamp grouper offshore of Southport on a slow pitch jig.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers making offshore runs have had the most success bottom fishing. The catches include triggerfish and the typical staples, such as vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and the occasional grouper.
Anglers can find flounder fairly quickly when targeting structured areas and the banks inshore.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers fishing off the beach are finding bull red drum. The best plan is to target them around bait balls, in deep holes, or over nearshore structure.
While scouting around bait balls, keep an eye out for any tarpon that might be feeding around them, too.
The king mackerel bite is starting to ramp up as the cooling water temperatures bring them in shallow. Anglers are seeing some kings show up around the nearshore reefs, and they will continue the journey in closer through October.
Some nearshore sailfish may mix in with the king mackerel action, as was seen last year.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing whiting, croakers, and a few bigger spots.
Anglers sight-casting around the bait pods have been catching bluefish and spanish mackerel.
King mackerel fishing should pick up as the kings are beginning to push in shallow. Anglers out live-baiting on the end are seeing fish, but there’s only been a few hookups.
