Topsail/Sneads Ferry – April 2026
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that colder water temperatures on the beach have dogfish sharks, rays, and the occasional pufferfish making up most of the surf action.
There are some scattered reports of bluefish and sea mullet moving up along the coast, so any day both species should be in the Topsail Island area.
Inshore, most of the focus has been on catching red and black drum with cut bait.
Atlantic bonito are another species everyone is watching for. There are bonito being caught offshore, so it’s only a matter of time before they push toward the nearshore reefs.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that everyone is anticipating the arrival of Atlantic bonito. The colder winter may have slowed their timing, but the past two years saw an early push. The hope is that the bonito will follow that pattern again this year.
Inshore, red drum are starting to move around a bit more with the warming water. Smaller (18‑24 inch) fish and rat reds are the first to slide out of their wintering areas. The numbers are not thick anywhere yet, but the action should pick up as they spread out and more spots come alive.
These same inshore structures will be holding some black drum.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that there have been schools of bonito offshore, and with a little help from favorable winds and a slight bump in water temperatures, they should slide in right off the beach.
Bottom fishing off the beach is still centered on black sea bass for the crews running out to structure in the 10-15 mile range.
Inshore, anglers can find some red drum starting to move around as the water warms. For now, dead shrimp remains the most reliable option, with artificials only picking up a little action.
Patrick Mcloughlin and Chris Short, of Hampstead, doubled up on wahoo offshore of Topsail Island trolling a Fathom SR71 bait.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout action in the river has fired off with water temperatures on the rise. Most of the fish are still coming from the creeks, though the trout are now shifting closer to the mouths and along the banks in 3-8 feet of water.
The Big Slick and Slick Jr. soft plastics in the peppermint color pattern remain top producers, especially when rigged on 1/8 oz. jig heads. Suspending jerkbaits are also finding good success, and before long, topwater plugs will be yet another strong option, with Heddon Spook Jrs. and Rapala Skitter Walks in a white and chartreuse‑head pattern being reliable favorites.
Red drum are beginning to show on the shoals along the river’s edges. Sight casting Gulp soft plastics or topwater plugs works well for targeting these shallow flats.
Atlantic bonito should start showing any day now. Getting out at first light is typically best, as it lets you reach the fish before pressure pushes them down.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that off the beaches, anglers are starting to find some schools of bluefish.
A few scattered Atlantic bonito have been caught, though most of the fish are still a bit farther off the beach. Water temperatures are at the bottom threshold of what the bonito want, so these fish could move in strong at any time.
Black sea bass fishing remains very good in the 15+ mile range.
Taylor, of South End Adventures, reports that moving into April is when anglers can finally start to reliably find some quality nearshore action.
Atlantic bonito migrating into the area is the first action that everyone looks for each year. Usually, a few catches start coming from farther offshore, and then sometime in April the push to the beaches begins. Many of the early‑season fish are caught while trolling around bait or structure. Clarkspoons in the #4 size remain a reliable option, and a variety of deep‑diver plugs also see plenty of success.
Anglers looking to fill the box with bottom fish will continue to find good black sea bass action, with the larger fish coming from the 20‑mile range.
Ray Howard, of Lake Murray, SC, with a gag grouper that fell for cut squid on a sea bass rig. He was fishing 13 miles offshore of Topsail Island with Capt. Taylor Horell of South End Adventures.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that the first Virginia mullet of the year was caught. Water temperatures are slowly climbing, and the numbers of Virginia mullet should only improve.
Outside of Virginia mullet, dogfish sharks and rays are still around to keep anglers busy.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers out for the pier’s opening week were met with a variety of bottom fishing action, including sea mullet, pinfish, and pufferfish.
The first bluefish of the year was also caught, which is hopefully a good sign of what is ahead as we move into April.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers bottom fishing are finding some success with sea mullet, and everyone is looking forward to a stretch of true spring weather to help pick up the action.
