Southport/Oak Island – November 2026
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers in October found bull red drum nearshore around bait balls, with a couple of the big drum sprinkled in the surf action, too.
Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish have been mixed nearshore, and anglers on the piers found some in close as well.
Bottom fishing from the surf or piers has been producing some spots, croakers, and whiting.
Inshore, the speckled trout action is just starting. A few are being caught, with anglers doing best fishing around lights at night. The trout action should be picking up soon as water temperatures cool down and the winds back off.
Steve, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that anglers that were able to sneak out onto the beachfronts found bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling. A bunch of both species were landed from the piers, too.
Some big red drum were caught from the piers in October, and others found bull red drum success out around nearshore structure or under bait balls.
Pier anglers have enjoyed some speckled trout action, especially while fishing in the early morning during that first hour of light.
Inshore, red drum remain scattered, with the occasional black drum mixed in.
Speckled trout fishing has started to take off. Plenty of smaller fish are being caught, and hopefully more keepers join in as the area moves further into November.
Eric Williams caught this 6.9 lb. black drum in the Cape Fear River using a soft plastic paddletail on a jig head. He was fishing with Capt. Lex Hunt.
Ian, of Fin Fisher Charters, reports that this big north blow helped drop the water temperatures a bit which means it’s time to think about speckled trout. Live shrimp is often the best bait if you can get your hands on some, and rigging them up under corks is typically the best tactic. Artificials such as Marker 54 shrimp imitations or a variety of paddle tail soft plastics are also good options. Good numbers of trout are already being caught, but the smaller fish are making up the biggest portion of this early season action.
Black drum fishing is picking up, and some sheepshead are sticking around. Hard structure is the key for both species, whether that structure is a dock or oyster bed.
Off the beach, there was a good bull red drum bite around the bait balls. Cut menhaden fished on the bottom has been the best way to get strikes.
Anglers are enjoying gray trout action (up to 25”) over the nearshore reefs.
Steve, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that bull red drum were the main focus of anglers in late October. Most of the fish were found around bait balls.
Late October also produced some great spanish mackerel action (to 7 lbs.).
Speckled trout fishing is kicking off with water temperatures dropping into a productive zone.
Red drum are starting to school up in the backs of creeks as they do each fall. Anglers can find the reds around docks as well, with natural baits (shrimp or mullet) being the top options. The low tide has seen better action, mostly due to fish being congregated.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers sticking close to the beach are able to find some spanish mackerel. The bite has been a little slower with the quick drop in water temperatures and stirred up conditions, but these fish can usually be found until Thanksgiving (if conditions in the area can settle soon).
Anglers are hoping to see a push of nearshore kings. The bite hasn’t been great, but the water temperatures have stayed relatively warmer than usual. The kings never schooled up this fall, so hopefully that happens as water temperatures hit 70 degrees and below.
Most of the bottom fish are starting to move in shallow, and anglers can find good action in the 60+ foot range, especially with black sea bass.
Baker Goodman, of Kannapolis, NC, caught this 48” red drum from the Oak Island surf using a live finger mullet.
Steele, of Catherine Anne Sportfishing, reports that the big spanish mackerel bite was strong towards the end of October.
The bull red drum showed up in good numbers, too, in October, especially around bait balls and on the ARs.
Some king mackerel are right off the beach.
Trolling efforts in the Gulf Stream are producing decent numbers of wahoo and sailfish.
The big numbers of fall blackfin tuna have not shown up yet, but a few are mixed in.
Looking into November, the larger schools of king mackerel should be out in the 12-25 mile range. Wahoo fishing should only improve offshore, and the blackfins should show up around the normal places like the Steeples.
Brian, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers sight casting plugs are having success hooking decent numbers of bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
The smaller bottom species (croaker and whiting) action has been steady.
More speckled trout are in the mix, and for the specks, it’s mostly an early or late bite.
