Morehead/Atlantic Beach – April 2024
Rich, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that speckled trout action has been picking up a little in the creeks, and some scattered stripers are also mixed in near structure in the same areas.
Sea mullet fishing has been producing better numbers as more fish push in through the inlets and hold in the Turning Basin area. Their arrival is also being seen by anglers fishing in the surf.
The red drum action is starting to pick up, with a few even striking at topwater plugs.
When the chance to run offshore pops up, anglers are seeing really good bottom fishing and wahoo on the troll.
Moving into April, look for the bluefish to start showing up on the beach and pushing into the inlets, as the area is already seeing the first scattered blues being caught.
Atlantic bonito will be right behind the blues, and once water temperatures get over 65 degrees, the spanish mackerel start showing.
Offshore anglers should expect to see most target species stay the same next month: wahoo and blackfin while trolling, with black sea bass, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper on the bottom.
Joe Pisano, of New Jersey, hauled up this 13.77 lb. sheepshead at a nearshore reef out of Morehead City using sand fleas and crabs. He was fishing with Capt. Dale Rich of Bubba Thing Charters. Weighed at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that sea mullet started showing up inside the inlets in better numbers. Anglers targeting them around the Turning Basin will also be catching some pufferfish.
Red drum are more actively feeding, with most fish still holding in the bays as they prepare to break out into smaller groups and then settle onto the grass flats.
Speckled trout have been moving around the creek mouths. Anglers have had success fishing soft plastic jerk shads under corks with 1/8 oz. jig heads.
Black drum are being caught around hard structure with bait shrimp.
Bluefish are starting to scatter into the area.
Black sea bass fishing remains strong in the 60-80’+ range.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that bluefish are popping up in the area, and anglers anticipate seeing schools of them off the beach as soon as these unfavorable winds allow fishing efforts.
Better numbers of sea mullet have been working their way into the Port area, and they are mixed in with the occasional black drum.
Red drum are moving around inshore as they start to slowly break out of their winter schools. The catch numbers can be really good as this happens, allowing anglers to find fish more spread out back on the flats and up against the grass banks.
It’s possible to see Atlantic bonito and false albacore anytime, as well as the first early spanish mackerel of the season. For all these species, you can’t go wrong by trolling the tried-and-true Clarkspoon setups because many times the early schools will be holding deeper.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that anglers that have found a chance to get offshore have been catching some wahoo around structure.
Bottom fishing remains a great option and an almost surefire way to fill the cooler. Vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and grunts are really consistent in the 30-mile range.
Black sea bass are also plentiful, with good numbers found on the closer bottoms in the20-mile range.
Inshore anglers started to see a nice push of slot and over-slot red drum back on the flats, and this bite only gets better as more fish move in through the inlets.
Black drum and sheepshead are also being more consistent around the inshore hard structures.
In the coming weeks, Atlantic bonito and bluefish could show up any day, with early spanish mackerel not too far behind.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that speckled trout action inshore is starting to heat up as these fish orient themselves into the springtime spawning patterns. Soft plastics such as Z-Man and Vudu shrimp are both having a lot of success enticing strikes.
Red drum are on the move and breaking out of the large winter schools.
April is a great month to target the shallower nearshore bottoms (50-60’+) for some great black sea bass fishing.
Nicholas Jones, of Stuarts Draft, VA, found this red drum in the waters around Morehead City using a Slayer Baits soft plastic.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that boats found some nice wahoo chewing to the south, which is a good sign with water temperatures still cooler than the wahoo would usually prefer. Once anglers found good pieces of structure that were holding bait, the bite was on.
More efforts offshore should start producing blackfin tuna as well. It’s a hard balance, but keeping a couple lines in the spread without wire can help the strike numbers from the tuna.
If choosing to bottom fish, some large triggerfish and vermilion snappers are in the 30-40 mile range.
On the shallower side (inside 30 miles), a nice class of black sea bass are around.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that wahoo fishing remains strong when the weather window allows anglers to make the run offshore. This will be a big factor in the coming weeks, as our area can typically see a lot of unfavorable fishing conditions. Keep gear ready and an eye on the forecast to take advantage of the fishable days that show up.
Bottom fishing for triggerfish is another great option when offshore this time of year. The deeper bottom areas on the break have been holding not only better numbers, but better quality as well.
Bri, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have started seeing sea mullet showing up, with the night bite being a little better. Bottom rigs tipped with shrimp, sand fleas, or bloodworms are all enticing bites.
Bluefish should start showing up in better numbers any day now, and with the current cooler water temperatures, the pier is still seeing catches of dogfish sharks and stingrays.
