Morehead/Atlantic Beach – July 2025
Rick, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that surf anglers are casting jigs for a mix of bluefish and spanish mackerel. Those bottom fishing from the sand are finding a mixed bag of croakers, pinfish, and sea mullet.
Inshore, anglers are seeing relatively slow red drum action, but speckled trout hookups with live shrimp are readily available. Black drum are hitting those same live shrimp.
Flounder are being caught everywhere with live bait or soft plastics bounced along the bottom.
Bluefish are plentiful in deeper channels and around the inlet.
Nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a few beachfront king mackerel.
Offshore bottom fishing anglers are seeing good catches of grouper, vermilion snapper, and big black sea bass.
Offshore trollers are having success catching dolphin, with some fish being caught shallower (20-mile range).
Scattered wahoo and billfish are offshore.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that inshore anglers are finding red drum in their summer patterns, with a lot of movement required to stay on a bite. Fishing cut bait on Carolina rigs, under popping corks, or on Lupton rigs works great as the reds feed more on scent right now.
The deeper grass flats (3-4’) are seeing speckled trout blowing up on topwaters.
Around the inlets, the incoming tides are bringing bluefish and spanish mackerel.
When getting off the beach, Clarkspoons behind #1 planers in the 25’ range is a great way to end up with a cooler of fish.
Over on the shoals, bluefish (to 30”) are around for anglers looking for sight-casting action.
Nearshore reefs in the 75-90’ depths are holding barracuda, schoolie-sized amberjacks, and spadefish.
Liam and Tony Calabria, of Raleigh, caught (and released) this 55″, 60 lb. amberjack offshore of Cape Lookout using live bait.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel (mostly 14-20” range) are in the 25-40’ areas. Sight casting Hogy jigs has resulted in the best action, with trolling also producing fish.
Larger bluefish (3-10 lbs.) are schooled up out on the Cape Lookout shoals. Looking for birds can help locate these schools when they can’t be spotted in the waves.
When cruising off the beach, it is wise to always keep a cobia rod ready, as they can show up anytime.
Inshore, red drum action has been steady. Live baits are slowly picking up and will continue to improve in July. A live shrimp or mullet under a slip cork and pitched around docks has been finding hookups. Reds are also back in the marshes, where a falling tide around creeks as they drain into shallower bays is the best option.
Anglers drifting live shrimp, especially around docks, are also catching speckled trout.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that nearshore trips are seeing a mix of spanish mackerel, bluefish, sharks, amberjacks, and the occasional cobia.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting casting jigs on lighter spinning rod setups. On days they aren’t showing on the surface, trolling Clarkspoons behind planers will put fish in the boat.
Amberjacks are on artificial reefs and over rocks. They typically prefer live bait, but when fired up, they are hitting topwaters.
Cobia can be found popping up around the same structure as amberjacks.
Runs out to 85-135’ have been producing gag grouper, triggerfish, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, porgies, amberjack, cobia, and even the occasional mahi.
For smaller bottom species, run a hi-lo rig with any variety of cut bait. For the larger species, use live menhaden, pinfish, or larger cut bait.
Mahi are as close as the 15-20 mile range. They can be caught running a typical trolling spread. Anglers should also keep a pitch rod ready and rig it with live bait, cut bait, or an artificial.
Henry Rogers, of Apex, landed this 25 lb. mahi on ballyhoo around the 90’ Drop offshore of Atlantic Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Cody Garner of Reel Time Charters.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish using both trolling and sight-casting tactics.
The best bottom fishing action is in the 80-100’ range, with catches of black sea bass, grouper, snapper, and triggerfish. All species are hitting cut baits or squid on chicken rigs.
King mackerel and bailer-sized mahi are in this range, with both species being caught trolling dead baits or smaller lures (such as Sea Vixens).
Inshore, both red drum and speckled trout are scattered along the waterways, with early morning and night-time hours providing some relief from the heat. Live bait, either mullet or menhaden, has been best.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that anglers are finding decent nearshore mahi action. Smaller fish (5-7 lb. range) are being caught within 25 miles while pulling smaller spreads with cedar plugs and birdies.
Bottom fishing action on artificial reefs and live bottoms in the 120-130’ range is producing a mix of big vermilion snapper, grouper, and triggerfish.
Amberjacks have moved in and are everywhere from 10-15 miles on out. Live bait is preferred.
Closer to the beach, spanish mackerel and bluefish are widely scattered.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports some great bottom fishing action out in the 80-120’ range. Triggerfish, grouper (gags and scamps), and amberjacks make up the majority of the action from structures and ledges in this area.
Mahi have moved their way in (as they do each summer). Focus on offshore temperature changes, usually inside of 200’, when targeting them.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that anglers are pleased to find some bailer and slinger-sized dolphin moving in anywhere from 70-200’ on out. Pay attention to the water conditions as it is usually that first change from green to blue water that holds these fish. Finding grass nearby is also a bonus.
Out near the break, smaller blackfin tuna (5-10 lbs.) have arrived in good numbers, along with the occasional wahoo.
The billfish action remains strong out deep, with good numbers of blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish around.
Bottom fishing is producing vermilion snapper over structure in as shallow as 80’. These same shallower reefs and ledges (from 60-70’) are holding amberjacks.
Pushing out to 100-150’ is producing triggerfish.
