Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – November 2025
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that nearshore trips are focusing on king mackerel, which are typically schooled up and holding in 50’ of water or closer to the beach. Moving into November, targeting the 60-80’ range becomes more productive. Slow trolling live bait, dead bait, or pulling artificials can all trigger strikes.
Offshore anglers are turning their attention to the fall wahoo fishery along the edge of the break. This time of year brings not only the best numbers, but also the largest fish of the season.
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that a bunch of flounder are still around in the area, with some big doormats in the mix. There are plenty of mullet around, and this is likely what is keeping that flatfish bite active.
Red drum are scattered right now, but they are expected to start schooling back up as water temperatures cool. For now, targeting grass banks and creek mouths are producing most of the strikes.
Anglers are finding a few speckled trout in the same areas while targeting red drum. The trout are reacting well to throwing artificials either early or late in the day, but this bite really hasn’t seemed to be firing up just yet.
Sheepshead fishing, though, has been excellent. It’s been easier to target them with some of the bait stealer species starting to push out.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that inshore anglers are seeing these cooler nights helping kick off the speckled trout bite in the area, and many of these trout anglers are finding scattered red drum mixed in during their efforts.
Flounder haven’t gone anywhere, with some nice-sized flatfish still around and hitting just about any live or artificial bait worked along the bottom.
Sheepshead fishing has been excellent.
Robert Furr, of Sneads Ferry, caught this 8.8 lb. sheepshead in the ICW behind Ocean Isle Beach on a fiddler crab.
Out in the surf, anglers are reporting a mixed bag of whiting, pufferfish, black drum, and some red drum.
Off the beach, there have been some bull red drum hanging out on the nearshore reefs, and anglers looking to target king mackerel are doing best pushing out to the 10-15 mile range.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that off the beach, anglers are finding success in the 30-40’ range with bluefish, spanish mackerel, and the occasional false albacore. Sight-casting is the go-to tactic, but it depends on those (increasingly rare) calm conditions.
King mackerel are being caught by live bait anglers from Shallotte down to Cherry Grove.
Red drum are hanging around bait schools off the beach, and while the bite has been stronger just north of the area, anglers near the inlet are finding success during tide swings while bait fishing.
Inside, red drum are beginning to school up and move into the shallows as water temperatures cool, though for now they remain scattered around the inlets, in the surf zone, and just off the beach. Black drum are being caught in deeper, structured areas on shrimp.
The speckled trout bite is expected to fire up any day now. Cooler nights are helping drop water temperatures into the ideal range, and there’s still plenty of live shrimp around to keep the trout happy.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that bull red drum have been the main target on inshore and nearshore trips. These 35-45” fish are being found up and down the Brunswick County coast, and they’re hanging around schools of menhaden. Anglers are having the most success by matching the hatch—tossing live menhaden on Carolina rigs under the bait. A helpful tip: cutting the tail on your bait adds extra commotion and can trigger more strikes.
Inside the inlet, the speckled trout bite has started to pick up. Floating live shrimp around shell banks and oyster beds along the ICW and in the creeks has been the go-to tactic, with higher tides producing the best action.
Black drum and slot-sized reds have been scattered and tough to locate, but targeting docks near low tide with cut shrimp or mullet has yielded a few fish.
Offshore, king mackerel are biting best in the 40-80’ range. Slow-trolling live menhaden or dead cigar minnows over live bottom has produced solid results. As water temperatures continue to cool, anglers should look for that 68-70 degree range to stay on the kings.
Bottom fishing remains steady in the 100’ range, and out in the Gulf Stream, the wahoo and blackfin tuna bite has been heating up. Skirted ballyhoo trolled at 7 knots in the 150-180’ range has been the most productive combo.
Raelan Rock, of Ocean Isle, pulled this red drum off on an oyster bed in the Little River area. She was using a live finger mullet.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that with the weather finally starting to settle down, the offshore action should really begin to fire off. Anglers are already seeing solid success with wahoo and blackfin tuna, and the occasional sailfish is also still in the mix.
Fall trolling spreads are running between 5-7 rods, typically with a couple teasers, a shotgun rod, and ballyhoo rigged under Ilanders. Darker colors dominate this time of year, with black/purple and black/pink leading the way, though a blue/white combo should always be in the spread.
King mackerel (to 30+ lbs.) are biting best in the 50-60’ range.
Just off the beaches and around the inlet, bull red drum are showing up, often traveling beneath schools of menhaden.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that red drum have been showing up for anglers fishing fresh cut bait.
Smaller bottom rigs with a mix of baits are producing whiting, pompano, and a few spot. These are mostly singles and pairs so far, with no big runs yet.
