Topsail/Sneads Ferry – October 2025
Daniel, of East Coast Sports, reports that the red drum bite has been scattered but consistent, with anglers finding fish around docks, along grass banks, in shallow bays, and in the backs of creeks.
Flounder fishing remains productive, with fish both on the nearshore reefs and inside the inlets.
The speckled trout action will pick up as temperatures continue to drop.
Nearshore runs are finding a decent spanish mackerel and bluefish bite, with some schools of false albacore also showing up. The false albacore are tuned into the schools of glass minnows, so fishing small baits and lures is key.
The king mackerel are making their fall move to shallower waters, but most of these fish are still being found in the 10-30 mile range.
In the Gulf Stream, the mahi and wahoo action has become a hot bite.
Sailfish and the occasional blackfin tuna are also mixed in for those pulling baits and lures.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that speckled trout have started moving towards the inlets. Anglers will do well targeting little drop-offs in 6-8’ depths with Rapala X-Raps or soft plastics on jig heads.
Red drum fishing has been good but scattered, with topwater plugs such as Rapala Skitterwalks or MirrOlures producing most of the action.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are being caught with Clarkspoons and Mackerel Trees. Casting out smaller live menhaden is producing the bigger spanish.
False albacore have started to show up.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that anglers are catching strong numbers of speckled trout while working spots up the New River.
Live shrimp under a slip cork is a good way to find action. For the artificial crowd, Pure Flats Slick Jr. soft plastics in their “peppermint pink” color pattern continue to outproduce everything else. Rig the plastics on 1/8 oz. jig heads to allow them a soft fall through the water column.
Red drum (and also trout) are biting topwater plugs on mornings with calmer conditions.
The black drum bite will be improving, with live shrimp attracting the majority of those bites.
Jackson Johnston, of Topsail, caught this 30″ red drum in the ICW behind Topsail Island using a mullet on a jig head.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the nearshore action is picking up outside New River Inlet. Schools of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are feeding on the bait pushing out. Trolling Clarkspoons and sight-casting diamond jigs or small epoxy jigs into surface-feeding frenzies are both successful tactics.
Gray trout have started to become more prevalent over nearshore structure.
The fall king mackerel action will kick off in the coming weeks. Trolling dead bait and live bait should both bring good numbers of bites.
Anglers making a run deeper can find great bottom fish action in the 80’+ area. Bigger black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and grouper are all a part of the mixed bag catches in this range.
Joe, of Atlantic Sportfishing, reports that bottom fishing efforts will be best focused on structure in the 90-100’ range, where vermilion snapper and triggerfish are the main target species.
The larger black sea bass are also out in this range, but they will start moving in shallower as the water temperatures continue to cool.
Gulf Stream trips are seeing a big jump in wahoo action in both sizes and numbers.
Offshore trolling trips are producing some mahi and blackfin tuna.
Taylor, of South End Adventures, reports that schools of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are showing up right off the beaches.
The first king mackerel catches are happening in nearshore waters, as the kings have begun their seasonal push in shallow.
Bottom fishing anglers will find black sea bass and grunts in the 10-15 mile range, and the catch-and-release action on gag grouper in this same area is impressive.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that red drum are being caught in the evenings with both upper-slot and over-slot reds landed.
Bottom fishing with smaller baits (such as shrimp, sand fleas, or Fish Bites) is producing Virginia mullet, spots, croakers, and bluefish. Flounder are being caught on the bottom, too.
Anglers fishing with shrimp are catching scattered black drum.
Morning pier anglers are seeing some fat fall bluefish hitting Gotcha plugs and a variety of casting jigs.
Baitfish are running down the beaches, and subsequently king mackerel (to 35 lbs.) have been landed recently.
Gregory Vazquez, of Richlands, NC, caught (and released) this estimated 100+ lb. tarpon from the surf near Jolly Roger Pier using a live bluefish.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are seeing some bluefish and spanish mackerel (to 3.5 lbs.) being caught.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing spots and pompano.
Recently, over-slot red drum and some flounder are also in the mix.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers throwing Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Red drum in a variety of sizes are being caught, as well as a few speckled trout, especially in those early and late hours.
Off the end, the king rig anglers are off to a slower start, with only the occasional tarpon and large spanish mackerel going for the live bait offerings. The king mackerel should be around the pier any day, though, with anglers waiting for water temperatures to dip below 76 degrees.
Bottom fishing efforts are producing sea mullet, spot, black drum, and some sheepshead.
