Carolina Beach – May 2026
Chuck, of Island Tackle and Hardware, reports that anglers bottom fishing in the surf are finally seeing good numbers of whiting across the beachfronts. Black drum are also mixed in, and they’re mostly being caught on fresh dead shrimp.
Anglers out on the local piers are having a lot of success sight‑casting jigs to bluefish, and spanish mackerel have also started to show.
Those fishing nearshore have been catching a bunch of Atlantic bonito and are now seeing spanish mackerel mixed in. Both trolling tactics (with Clarkspoons or deep diver plugs) and casting jigs are producing strikes.
Inshore, red drum have been the best target. Anglers are finding fish both around docks in the ICW and back along grass lines and spoil islands in the Cape Fear River.
Christian, of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching a few red and black drum in the creeks and shallow bays while focusing efforts specifically around oyster banks and shell bottoms. Fresh dead shrimp has been best for both species, whether rigged under a float or fished on the bottom. Most of the red drum have been smaller (in the 16” range), but 20” fish are mixed in.
Better numbers of red drum are now hitting artificials, with Gulp shrimp or Z‑Man baits getting more attention. As water temperatures keep warming, the fish will spread out and start crushing these artificial baits while cruising the shoreline edges.
On the nicer days, anglers can catch sea mullet in the deep river channels with two‑hook bottom rigs and fresh dead shrimp.
Shoney Vickers (right), of Asheboro, caught this 49″ black drum on a Spanish Candy jig offshore of Carolina Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Christian Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters.
Tommy, of Mungo Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some menhaden starting to show up in the area.
Black drum numbers are getting better while fishing around hard structures such as docks, with fresh dead shrimp remaining the top bait option.
Some sheepshead are pushing inside and setting up around pilings. They’re hitting both shrimp and crabs.
Red drum are scattered across docks in the area. These fish still seem pretty spooky after a long winter of pressure, with fresh cut mullet or fresh shrimp being the best options to entice a strike.
Mason, of Grand Slam Fishing Charters, reports that red drum (mostly mid- to upper-slot) are the main target inside. Dead shrimp has been producing well, even though some of those bait stealers are beginning to move in. Menhaden pods are starting to show up, too, so it’s probably best to plan on transitioning away from cut shrimp. The target areas for red drum are pretty scattered in the river, from docks and shoreline grass banks to the spoil islands.
Black drum fishing hasn’t quite kicked off yet, though this time of year, expect to see them showing up around docks in the ICW and river.
Drew, of Strike Inshore Charters, reports that red drum action remains steady while targeting oyster banks and grass points in the area. Fish are also hanging around docks, with the key being to start on the deepest end and work your way up shallow to find where the school is. The water temperatures have these fish pretty active, and they’re hitting any variety of 3-4” soft‑plastic paddletails or live mud minnows.
Tony, of Reel Teal Charters, reports that most of the red drum are still schooled up, which means the bite is either feast or famine. With menhaden now showing up, anticipate these red drum quickly transitioning out of the creeks and scattering out.
A couple of speckled trout have shown up in the river, and the arrival of bait will only help this bite, too.
Sheepshead are starting to push inside from the offshore winter areas.
Off the beach, the Atlantic bonito has been the hot bite, with #00 Clarkspoons pulled behind #1 planers being the best setup for putting fish in the boat. Smaller spanish mackerel have also started to show up in good numbers, and hopefully the area will soon see some of those bigger springtime spanish.
Robert Williams, of Inwood, WV, landed this red drum in the Cape Fear River on a menhaden. He was fishing with Capt. Drew Tyndall of Strike Charters Inshore Fishing.
Barry, of Family Ties Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito fishing has been excellent nearshore, with Clarkspoons pulled behind #1 planers being the best option for the trolling bite. If jigging or sight‑casting, Big Nic Spanish Candies are the favorite.
A bunch of bluefish are mixed in, with spanish mackerel now showing up as well.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is picking up with the rising water temperatures, and the bite in the 10-20 mile range is currently best.
Black sea bass fishing is still going strong in the 15-25 mile range.
The Gulf Stream action should start to pick up shortly with the warming waters. Wahoo and blackfin tuna have been the main catches for now, but expect mahi to show up at any moment.
Rod, of OnMyWay Guide Service, reports that the spanish mackerel have arrived, with some anglers starting to find a 3-5 lb. class of fish off Carolina Beach. Atlantic bonito have been the big target, though.
Plenty of bluefish in the 3-4 lb. range are around, and they will go for any of the same tactics that produce spanish mackerel or bonito. Also keep an eye out for the big red drum, as they are in the area, too.
King mackerel fishing has been excellent in the 15-18 mile range. Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs with cigar minnows have worked well.
Plenty of jumbo black sea bass are in the 25‑mile range.
Coming May 1, keeper season opens for gag, scamp, and graysby grouper. Anglers will find action targeting ledges, with dead bait being an easy setup to start.
Out on the break, blackfin tuna have been the most reliable target, with some wahoo mixed in. The occasional mahi is moving in already. For the mahi in particular, anglers need to review sea‑surface temperature charts and focus efforts mainly on eddies that come off the Gulf Stream.
Jeremiah, of Kure Beach Pier, reports that casting action is producing bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Bottom‑fishing efforts have been seeing a mix of sea mullet and bluefish.
